Why is the "n" on my nook color charger glowing red?

[sandystarr28]

I got a message saying to plug in my nook, battery at 20%. Usually, it glows yellow until charged, then turns green. I have never seen the light red before. I actually suspect this cord is warping due to high heat. This is the second time I have had power cord issues (the first time B&N replaced my nook and power cord). Actually the third, since I had a cord connection melt, but I just replaced the cord myself, thinking that noone in customer service would believe me anyway. But red? What gives?

[ps56k]

my USB connector is glowing red without it being attached to the Nook...

I had not noticed this previously.   The charger brick is not hot or anything, and it appears to charge just fine.  It turns the yellow when it is charging, and then green when fully charged.

It's just showing red when the cable is just lying there - unplugged from the Nook -

[bobstro · Accepted solution]

I had nearly the same problem, except mine would turn red the instant I plugged it into my NOOK, charged not. Just take the cable and charger into the store, grab a new charger and cable box off the shelf and take it up to the counter. They exchanged mine with no fuss.

From what I've read, problems with the LED in the charge cable indicate wiring problems. The cables themselves are delicate, so considering it's a $25 item, and that you MUST use the B&N charger and cable, I'd have no qualms about asking for replacement of a defective unit.

[ps56k]

since I never noticed this previously - just wanted to confirm the idle state...

When the charger is plugged into AC, and the cable is not plugged into the Nook - the "N" shows nothing....    as mine is showing a faint "red" when not plugged in - but then functions normally when plugged into the Nook Color - and charges just fine....

It's just the unplugged idle state for me - showing a faint red -

[bobstro]

All my functional cables are off when disconnected, and either yellow(ish) when charging, or green when fully charged when connected. I've only seen the red state on my defective cable. Given how sensitive these cables are, I wanted a swap while under warranty.

[BruceMcF]

The normal "yellow" is produced by a combination of a red LED and a green LED, with the green LED going when the plug makes a circuit in the Nook and the red LED turned on by a current drain through the plug. Then when its charged and the current drain stops, the red LED stops glowing and only green shows through.

Red with the cable unplugged from the Nook means something is shorting somewhere with the red LED in the path of the short circuit ~ possibly in the Nook side plug itself, since its a stress point. Physically, if its a faint red and the brick is not getting warm, that indicates its only a trickle of current ... but better safe than sorry, so get it swapped at a B&N store at some convenient time.

It it turns bright red, then that seems like it would upgrade it to "get the cable swapped ASAP".

[ps56k]

interesting observation on the Red + Green = Yellow (for additive RGB scheme)

I tried just the cable in another USB output charger, and it still showed a faint red... so bad cable -

Heck it even showed a fainting Red when charger unplugged from the AC outlet !

Went to the local BN with both charger & cable in hand.  The guy at the Nook display swapped just the cable, and said the probs are with the cable - charger is fine.  Tested things there... all ok.

Brought home - all good - the cable doesn't show Red when unplugged and charges fine.

[redhdgirl417]

I "chatted" with a B&N CR tonight and was told because I didn't buy my NC from B&N (I bought it at my local Walmart) that I needed to contact Walmart with my dead charging cord issue.  It's still a B&N product and under their one year warranty, not a Walmart warranty, I thought.  Any ideas?  Walmart doesn't even carry the cords in their stores!

[daenas]

Recently my cord was doing the opposite.  It would stay green while charging even when the NC was at 30%!  I chatted, on the BN website, w/ tech support and they are sending me another one.

[daenas]

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redhdgirl417 wrote:

I "chatted" with a B&N CR tonight and was told because I didn't buy my NC from B&N (I bought it at my local Walmart) that I needed to contact Walmart with my dead charging cord issue.  It's still a B&N product and under their one year warranty, not a Walmart warranty, I thought.  Any ideas?  Walmart doesn't even carry the cords in their stores!

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They are full of it and I hope you got a name to report them.  If your NC is still under warranty then you demand you get a new cord.  I got mine from Staples and I've had 2 cords replaced now.  Contact them again and don't take NO for an answer from them.

[ps56k]

why make things so complikcated....

I just went to my local BN store, walked over to the Nook display,

said hi to the store employee and just held up my bad "red glowing" charging cable.

He then found a replacement, gave it to me, we chatted a little, and I left.

In most cases, you are not being cross examined or asked for your "papers" - 

just learn to keep your mouth shut and be nice -

[redhdgirl417]

Thanks.  Walmart pretty much came back with their 15 day return policy expiration answer.  I will get ahold of B&N again.

[redhdgirl417]

I will try that approach, going directly to the store.  I saw that they have this nifty "chat" feature under support but with that nifty feature they ask for your serial number and can see you didn't buy it directly from them.  Which IMO shouldn't mean anything...they manufacturer it, not the other company selling their product for THEM.

[daenas]

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redhdgirl417 wrote:

I will try that approach, going directly to the store.  I saw that they have this nifty "chat" feature under support but with that nifty feature they ask for your serial number and can see you didn't buy it directly from them.  Which IMO shouldn't mean anything...they manufacturer it, not the other company selling their product for THEM.

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Shouldn't matter.  A product warranty is a product warranty and from the manufacturer plus you got a year from the date you bought it, at whatever store, from BN.  The serial number is just to make sure you are registered.  If it really matter where we bought them, then I never would have received two new replacement cords.  The rep was lazy and didn't want to help you.