Which device/s kill Lightning Cable's 4th pin?

Question

Level 3

525 points

Which device/s kill Lightning Cable's 4th pin?

Hi,

I've been using iOS devices that use Apple's lightning charging cables since I purchased an iPhone 5 a number of years ago. That stable now includes that same iPhone, plus 2 more 5S'es, 2 iPads, and an iPad mini.

During all of that time, I have only ever used authentic lightning cables, until last month when, in frustration, I opted to purchase 2 cheaper versions due to the fact that over the past 12 months ALL of my Apple Lightning Cables have ended up with blackened pins - the 4th pin from the left.

This has resulted in the cables either not being recognised at all, bringing up an error message that it's not compatible, or "bouncing" - rapidly starting to charge, then stopping - start/stop/start/stop etc.

Now, 1 of the 2 non-Apple cables has failed as well.

What is happening to my Apple and now non Apple cables?? I can't afford to keep buying more and more of them. I just paid over $700 for a new iPad and Case for my son for school - I don't need to have to buy new cables every month!

I am beginning to suspect it may be the latest iPhone 5S, just by elimination... (most recent device before the iPad purchased last month) But don't know for sure - may be one of the others with a fault?? ??

Help?

Travis

Posted on Feb 25, 2017 3:59 AM

Reply

Answer 1

cosmichobo Author

Level 3

525 points

Feb 25, 2017 2:42 PM in response to cosmichobo

The first 2 are genuine Apple cables from my i-devices. The other 2 are non-genuine, and less than 2 months old. I've thrown out a number of other Apple ones too because of the same failure. The opposite sides of the cables look the same.

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Answer 2

Mar 25, 2017 12:55 AM in response to cosmichobo

So this happened to my mom's 5s after she got her phone wet and the 4th pin turned that color. I also bought a new iPhone 7 Plus 2 months ago and I've been using the cable very carefully, the thing is my phone got wet and I always try to clean the inside part of the charging port so it doesn't mess up, but the other day my phone got wet again and I forgot to clean the inside part (30 minutes had elapsed already and I had already connected my EarPods) and today I realized my phone was charging REALLY slow, I unplugged the cable and the 4th pin was black. Now, that means the charging port is messed up, it will damage ANY cable that I put in, because the problem lies in the charging port and when you go to the Apple Store they tell you they won't honor your warranty because it's corrosion for your phone, but they do honor it for the cable and I am SO frustrated right now, because I know my phone won't ever charge the same and it will damage any cable I connect to it. What's even more frustrating is Apple won't do anything about it, and I know I'm my case it's water damage and it's not that common, let's just wait until everyone with an iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus starts getting this same exact problem, because you can't say nothing is happening when everyone's blacked pin is the exact same 4th pin, I'm so done with this problem.