Charging issu My Zen won't charge more then one line on the battery display? It charges fine up til that point but then it stops!

your battery must be damaged or your charging pin must be losed which connect to device you check this point.

Your player's internal battery hs died. You will need to obtain a replacement. Check your user manual for size & type, or check it out on the web. Sellers from China offer large range of replacements.

Connect the player to a USB port on the back of a desktop PC.. Check the display for the charging icon . As the display times out after a few seconds, press any button on the player to reactivate the display. If the battery is fully depleted, the charging icon may not be displayed. Cup the player in your hands to check that the blue power LED behind the Play/Pause and Options buttons is blinking on and off repeatedly. This indicates that the player is successfully charging. After 1 hour of charging, power on the unit to activate the display. The charging icon should be displayed. Allow the player to charge for at least 6 hours. During this time, if charging from a USB port, please ensure your PC does not enter a power conservation mode (Standby, Sleep, or Hibernate) as this will interrupt charging. If the player does not indicate a charge, or will not power on after at least 6 hours of charging, please contact Customer Support.
You might try updating your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus firmware to take advantage of new features and functionality.
http://support.creative.com

Hello,

Support site for the Zen V Plus, see:
http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&CatName=MP3+Players&subCatID=214&subCatName=ZEN&prodID=15306&prodName=ZEN+V+Plus&bTopTwenty=1&VARSET=prodfaq:PRODFAQ_15306,VARSET=CategoryID:213

In the knowledge base solutions Creative gives next answer, when the player does not power on or charge:

>>>>>
To resolve this problem, establish that the player is charging correctly as follows:

1. Connect the player to a USB port on the back of a desktop PC, to a powered hub, or to a power adapter ( You can purchase the power adapter here as a separate accessory).
   
   
2. Press the reset button and observe the player.
   
   
3. Check the display for the charging icon .
   
   • As the display times out after a few seconds, press any button on the player to reactivate the display.
     
     
   • If the battery is fully depleted, the charging icon may not be displayed. Cup the player in your hands to check that the blue power LED behind the Play/Pause and Options buttons is glowing on and off repeatedly. This indicates that the player is successfully charging. After 1 hour of charging, power on the unit to activate the display. The charging icon should be displayed.
   
   
4. Allow the player to charge for at least 6 hours. During this time, if charging from a USB port, please ensure your PC does not enter a power conservation mode (Standby, Sleep, or Hibernate) as this will interrupt charging.

Creative recommends updating your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus firmware to take advantage of new features and functionality. To learn more, visit SID 29048 in our "Further Suggestions".
Note: If the player does not indicate a charge, or will not power on after at least 6 hours of charging, please contact Customer Support.

<<<<<

Reset pin on the left side with the player facing up.



Manual (Multilingual, 17,2 MB) for the Zen V Plus :
http://files2.europe.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/TSD/9851/0xE85A7F46/Zen%20V%20Plus%20Quick%20Start%20Multilingual.pdf

Hi,

To resolve this problem, establish that the player is charging correctly as follows:

1. Connect the player to a USB port on the back of a desktop PC, to a powered hub, or to a power adapter (separately available).
2. Check the display for the charging icon .
• As the display times out after a few seconds, press any button on the player to reactivate the display.
• If the battery is fully depleted, the charging icon may not be displayed.Cupthe player in your hands to check that the blue power LED behindthePlay/Pause and Options buttons is glowing on and off repeatedly. This indicates that the player is successfully charging. After 1 hour of charging, power on the unit to activate the display. The charging icon should be displayed.
3. Allow the player to charge for at least 6 hours. During this time, if charging from a USB port, please ensure your PC does not enter a power conservation mode (Standby, Sleep, or Hibernate) as this will interrupt charging.

Ifthe player does not indicate a charge, or will not power on afteratleast 6 hours of charging, please contact Customer Support.
Creativerecommends updating your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus firmware to takeadvantageof new features and functionality. To learn more, click here.

Hope this helps

Chris (ziraffa)

Hi,

To resolve this problem, establish that the player is charging correctly as follows:

1. Connect the player to a USB port on the back of a desktop PC, to a powered hub, or to a power adapter (separately available).
2. Check the display for the charging icon .
• As the display times out after a few seconds, press any button on the player to reactivate the display.
• If the battery is fully depleted, the charging icon may not be displayed.Cup the player in your hands to check that the blue power LED behindthe Play/Pause and Options buttons is glowing on and off repeatedly. This indicates that the player is successfully charging. After 1 hour of charging, power on the unit to activate the display. The charging icon should be displayed.
3. Allow the player to charge for at least 6 hours. During this time, if charging from a USB port, please ensure your PC does not enter a power conservation mode (Standby, Sleep, or Hibernate) as this will interrupt charging.

Ifthe player does not indicate a charge, or will not power on after atleast 6 hours of charging, please contact Customer Support.
Creativerecommends updating your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus firmware to take advantageof new features and functionality. To learn more, click here.

Hope this helps

Chris (ziraffa)

Hi,

To resolve this problem, establish that the player is charging correctly as follows:

1. Connect the player to a USB port on the back of a desktop PC, to a powered hub, or to a power adapter (separately available).
2. Check the display for the charging icon .
• As the display times out after a few seconds, press any button on the player to reactivate the display.
• If the battery is fully depleted, the charging icon may not be displayed. Cup the player in your hands to check that the blue power LED behind the Play/Pause and Options buttons is glowing on and off repeatedly. This indicates that the player is successfully charging. After 1 hour of charging, power on the unit to activate the display. The charging icon should be displayed.
3. Allow the player to charge for at least 6 hours. During this time, if charging from a USB port, please ensure your PC does not enter a power conservation mode (Standby, Sleep, or Hibernate) as this will interrupt charging.

If the player does not indicate a charge, or will not power on after at least 6 hours of charging, please contact Customer Support.
Creative recommends updating your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus firmware to take advantage of new features and functionality. To learn more, click here.

Hope this helps

Chris (ziraffa)

How long have you been doing this for (months)? You may have already drastically reduced the life of your battery

Battery & Charging

The Zen’s battery:

The Zen uses a 3.7v rated Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. A 3.7v rated Lithium-ion battery actually gets charged to around 4.2v with a tolerance of +/- .05v. A charge of 3.7v/3.8v is actually about a 50% SoC. At 3.3v, lithium-ion batteries have typically only utilized 70% of its 100% charge capacity.

Charging Voltage = 4.2v (4.1v)
Nominal Open-Circuit Voltage = 3.7v (3.6v)

A note on Over-Discharging and Over-Charging:

In general, Lithium-Ion batteries do not like to be overcharged (usually above 4.2v) or excessively discharged (under 2.5v-3.0v). If a Lith-ion battery falls below 1.5v, then typically you shouldn't try to recharge it at all for "safety" concerns. A fully discharged lithium-ion battery causes the formation of copper shunt in the cell which begins to get extremely hot when attempting to recharge. A lithium-ion battery should not be charged above 4.3 volts. Above 4.3 volts and the cell causes lithium metal plating on the anode. The cathode material becomes an oxidizing agent and loses stability and begins releases oxygen. This can cause the battery to heat up. Lithium-ion cells should never get above 130°C (265°F). At 150°C (302°F) the cell becomes thermally unstable and can eventually lead to a thermal runaway. These are the safety reasons why the low and high voltage cut-off and temperature sensing circuits are used. If the internal temperature of the battery gets to high, the temperature sensing circuit can initiate a mechanical pressure switch that will permanently cut-off the current path and prevent anymore charging.

How do you charge the Zen (Battery)?

It can be charged by connecting it to a USB port on a computer or by using an AC Wall Charger within the Zen's charging specs (see below).

Can I use my cell phone's AC Charger to charge my Zen?

I believe the max input voltage of the Zen is around 5v. Most devices that can charge or run off the USB host power can handle the max 5v of USB ports. 4.2 volts is usually the max Lithium ion batteries are charged to. It is usually around when the high voltage circuit is triggered and stops the charging of the battery. I would not connect a charger to the Zen that puts out more volts then 5v with an output current beyond 2400mA (2.4A) to be safe.

When and how often to charge?

To be safe, I would avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery and usually shortens its life. Partial discharges with frequent recharges are better than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no "memory effect" like with older type Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) batteries.

Do I need to charge the Zen for hours before I use it for the first time?

With Lith-Ion batteries, the first charge isn't any different then any other charge. There is no technical need to fully charge it the first time you get it other then the fact of being able to use it longer since it will have a full charge. They are not like other types of previously used rechargeable batteries that needed the full charge at first. Most likely by the time you get everything all figured out and loaded onto the device, the battery would be fully charged anyway.

Please note: I do recommend that you at least connect the Zen to a computer while it has sufficient charge on the battery in order to properly be detected and have its devices drivers load properly. In other words, don't use your new Zen for a period of time to where you drain enough power from the battery to just come on and turn off automatically or to the point the Zen doesn't come on at all. If you do, then you may have detection and charging issues when you go to connect the Zen to the computer.

How long will the battery in the Zen last?

Lithium-Ion batteries have a life span of about 300-500 discharge/charge cycles or 2-3 years from being manufactured.

Storing or not using the Zen for long periods of time:

Lithium-ion batteries (by themselves) with no built-in voltage monitoring circuit have a really low self-discharge rate (1-2% a month) when not being used. Having the addition of voltage monitoring circuits will slightly increase the discharge rate, but should not reach the point of excessively discharging the battery to where it won't turn back on unless sitting unused for an extended period of time and if its last state before powering off was a already in a low voltage state. So, as long as you aren't storing it for long periods of time at a low discharged voltage, the battery should be ok to recharge.

Accidently left the Zen plugged into the Computer all night or for a long period of time:

I wouldn’t make a habit of doing so. Long term usage like that could shorten the life of the battery. Although you may be fine for a while, leaving it plugged in occasionally all day and night, most likely won't hurt it, but leaving it plugged in every day and night may not be a good idea. Although once it is charged to 100%, the battery's internal high voltage cut-off circuit should keep the battery from over-charging and the devices charging circuit should keep applying a trickle charge when detected a drop in charge below full. However, keeping a Lithium-ion battery plugged in and fully charged keeps the battery's temperature elevated. Exposure to prolonged elevated temperatures can cause capacity loss which can then cause the battery to no longer be able to charge or hold a charge. Plus, it may be a small chance, but there is a chance that exposure to this condition for long periods could also increase the chance of a circuit failure (charging, high voltage, temperature sensing) and allow for a severe over-charge to take place to the point of thermal runaway which has been known to cause the occasional "exploding" battery, but in most cases just melt (and take some of the device with it) or catch fire.

A note regarding USB and charging:

Per the USB specs:
USB 1.1 = Minimum supply voltage is 4.4v
USB 2.0 = Minimum supply voltage is 4.75v
Both maximum supply voltages are 5.25v and a current of 500mA.

Before the USB bus interface can begin charging a device (Zen), it must return a device identifier to the hub driver (or device driver). Once the hub driver has the returned information from the device (like power requirements, supported transfer speeds, etc.), it can then begin charging the device based on those retuned values. This process is called Enumeration. Until enumeration has completed, it may not draw more than 100mA from the bus. Once enumeration has completed, it can then begin drawing up to the 500mA allowed by the USB bus.

can you charge with an ac adaptor? was this dropped at all?

you simply fried your battery by overcharging it. Just get a new one, let it fully charge and fully die twice before you start normal charging. Then you will want to only charge it for about 2 to 3 hours or find a charger that has a smart chip that tells it when to stop charging once the battery is full.