Help with screen problems from discharged battery

[AndrewM]

I have a Kobo original. A few days ago, while it was plugged in charging, the screen started doing this funny thing where it flashed completely black, then white, repeatedly (I think the wall-USB charger I had it plugged into was no good, I didn't know that at the time).

I tried plugging it into my computer to charge, and left it overnight. The next morning, the screen froze in this sort of pattern:

https://i.imgur.com/1svIos4.jpg (Yes, the battery is unplugged in that photo, but plugging in the battery makes no difference to what the screen shows).

I opened it, and the battery read 3.0V, which I'm guessing is below the charging circuitry's undervoltage cutoff. So I pulled the battery and charged it with a different charger. The battery is now 4.2V, I've checked and I am getting 4.2V on the board at the battery connector, and the screen still looks like that photo above. If I push the power button the LED will flash blue, and then nothing happens. The reset button also seems to do nothing.

The tape on the battery wires is because I needed to cut them to get it on another charger, and then splice it back together.

I can plug it into my computer to check if its just the screen that's dead, but I don't remember if the default action when plugged in is "keep reading" or "manage library" - do I just need to push the select button or do I need to hit left or right and then select to get it to mount?


Has anyone run into something like this before here, or have any suggestions on where to go with this?

[crankypants]

Your charger may not provide enough amps to your Kobo. Use a better charger, and use it to charge ONLY the Kobo so the Kobo is the only thing charged at that time. I've had weird stuff happen to me with my charger didn't provide enough amps. My Galaxy Tab won't even charge at all without 2.1amps.

[AndrewM]

Originally Posted by crankypants

Your charger may not provide enough amps to your Kobo. Use a better charger, and use it to charge ONLY the Kobo so the Kobo is the only thing charged at that time. I've had weird stuff happen to me with my charger didn't provide enough amps. My Galaxy Tab won't even charge at all without 2.1amps.

I think you misread what I did.

I removed the battery entirely, charged it with an external LiPo charger to 4.2V, and reattached it.


I also can't get the kobo when the battery leads are attached to an external supply running at 4.2V, so there's something else broken somewhere.