Hardware Flashing LED Light from Dock

[Jiehfeng]

When I approached my Switch today this morning, I noticed the LED in the dock was flashing really fast. I wondered if it was some kind of update or internet connection, so I lifted up my switch from the dock and my Switch didn't turn on from sleep mode like usual. I had to click the button instead to switch on the screen (it was still on). I put the switch back (it was on 97% charge), and saw that it didn't go back to charging and the screen was still on and there was no change at all. I then tried to remove the AC Cable behind the dock and then reattached it, but now the LED still flashes, this time at a much slower pace. Is something broken here? ;-;

 

[SjorsMaster]

Perhaps your outlet let out a shock or something, and damaged the port. Otherwise I would have no idea how this could've been caused.

 

[ry755]

Try unplugging the power brick from the wall, wait a minute or two, then plug it back in.

 

[Jiehfeng]

Perhaps your outlet let out a shock or something, and damaged the port. Otherwise I would have no idea how this could've been caused.

I so hope it's not the port on my Switch, but who knows, that might've happened.

Try unplugging the power brick from the wall, wait a minute or two, then plug it back in.

Why did you highlight "from the wall"? Is it important that I plug my Switch to the wall? It's plugged to a base of multiple sockets. And also I tried that, no luck.

I'm gonna go ahead and assume the charger broke, I'll try getting a new one.

 

[ry755]

Why did you highlight "from the wall"? Is it important that I plug my Switch to the wall? It's plugged to a base of multiple sockets. And also I tried that, no luck.

I'm gonna go ahead and assume the charger broke, I'll try getting a new one.

I meant that you should try unplugging the charger from the wall/power strip since that might reset something that got screwed up inside the power brick. I doubt the power brick has any kind of logic that could get messed up though. It was just a guess.

 

[hippy dave]

I meant that you should try unplugging the charger from the wall/power strip since that might reset something that got screwed up inside the power brick. I doubt the power brick has any kind of logic that could get messed up though. It was just a guess.

Power bricks do tend to have short-circuit protection that will make them shut off for a certain length of time. I guess they'd do the same for overheating. So unplugging the brick from the mains socket for a while (if a couple of minutes doesn't do it, try 5 or 10) is a valid thing to try to reset the brick. I have no idea if this is relevant to op's problem, but there you go.

 

[Jiehfeng]

Power bricks do tend to have short-circuit protection that will make them shut off for a certain length of time. I guess they'd do the same for overheating. So unplugging the brick from the mains socket for a while (if a couple of minutes doesn't do it, try 5 or 10) is a valid thing to try to reset the brick. I have no idea if this is relevant to op's problem, but there you go.

Just tried it and left it unplugged for more than an hour, same thing. This time the LED blinks slow, but occasionally blinks faster. I'll try buying a charger as soon as i can. Really scared here, I don't have a Nintendo store in this country to go to. It doesn't even work plugging it directly to the switch, hope it's just the charger.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

When I approached my Switch today this morning, I noticed the LED in the dock was flashing really fast. I wondered if it was some kind of update or internet connection, so I lifted up my switch from the dock and my Switch didn't turn on from sleep mode like usual. I had to click the button instead to switch on the screen (it was still on). I put the switch back (it was on 97% charge), and saw that it didn't go back to charging and the screen was still on and there was no change at all. I then tried to remove the AC Cable behind the dock and then reattached it, but now the LED still flashes, this time at a much slower pace. Is something broken here? ;-;

Have you tried plugging it directly into the Switch? Could be the dock that's broken.

 

[chrisrlink]

i had the same issue (sometimes) or no video on tv mode I'm exchanging it today at gamestop plugging it in directly charges the switch (as well as putting it into the dock (but still no video on tv as i said)

 

[Deletedmember448668]

Hope you figure out the issue. Best of luck

 

[Jiehfeng]

Have you tried plugging it directly into the Switch? Could be the dock that's broken.

Check the post right above you haha. Didn't work either, so my guess is it's either the Switch port that's broken, or the charger, I'm obviously hoping for the latter.

 

[chrisrlink]

i had to replace mine now the new one works, my USB-C port was damaged check yours

 

[Jiehfeng]

i had to replace mine now the new one works, my USB-C port was damaged check yours

Yeah just checked mine, went to a store just now and came back. A new charger did not work either, so yeah the port is damaged. I sadly don't have the option of replacing mine as I've bought it online, and to top that off it's been more than a year since I bought mine so the warranty would've been done for anyway. The only seemingly option I have is to find somewhere I can repair this, which is highly unlikely. This really fucking sucks. :/

Do you guys think this would work? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Console-Mo...844261?hash=item3f9af76565:g:q88AAOSwfvJa5B8w+
Or this? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Sock...130564?hash=item362e4e8044:g:CWEAAOSwz09asf17

 

[chrisrlink]

second one i think

 

[Proto-Propski]

Yeah just checked mine, went to a store just now and came back. A new charger did not work either, so yeah the port is damaged. I sadly don't have the option of replacing mine as I've bought it online, and to top that off it's been more than a year since I bought mine so the warranty would've been done for anyway. The only seemingly option I have is to find somewhere I can repair this, which is highly unlikely. This really fucking sucks. :/

Do you guys think this would work? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Console-Mo...844261?hash=item3f9af76565:g:q88AAOSwfvJa5B8w+
Or this? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Sock...130564?hash=item362e4e8044:g:CWEAAOSwz09asf17

I'm not sure what the pricing will be considering you might be outside of your warranty, but it's a good idea to try to contact Nintendo to see about having it troubleshooted, and repaired by them, I'd recommend backing your saves up prior to sending it off just in-case they whipe the Nand, if you're uncomfortable with sending it off to Nintendo given their stance on CFW, then I'd suggest looking reputable 3rd party console repair technicians up online, and see what prices, and options are avalible to pick from, I know it sucks I had a similar issue happen to me 3DS XL took 3 month to get it repaired in the end I had to send it to a repair guy out in Japan, I wish you the best though.

 

[Jiehfeng]

I'm not sure what the pricing will be considering you might be outside of your warranty, but it's a good idea to try to contact Nintendo to see about having it troubleshooted, and repaired by them, I'd recommend backing your saves up prior to sending it off just in-case they whipe the Nand, if you're uncomfortable with sending it off to Nintendo given their stance on CFW, then I'd suggest looking reputable 3rd party console repair technicians up online, and see what prices, and options are avalible to pick from, I know it sucks I had a similar issue happen to me 3DS XL took 3 month to get it repaired in the end I had to send it to a repair guy out in Japan, I wish you the best though.

I don't live in a country with any Nintendo Centres, so if I had to I should pack my switch and send it abroad which I'm afraid to do.
The options I'm looking at now is buying the parts and fixing it myself, it doesn't look like it should be too hard, just a little soldering skills needed I believe.
Or the fact that I'm going to China soon, maybe some store there can fix it for me.

Right now I'm waiting for some expert here to tell me if I should just buy the USB Port or the whole motherboard, and how exactly do I fix it.

 

[Proto-Propski]

I don't live in a country with any Nintendo Centres, so if I had to I should pack my switch and send it abroad which I'm afraid to do.
The options I'm looking at now is buying the parts and fixing it myself, it doesn't look like it should be too hard, just a little soldering skills needed I believe.
Or the fact that I'm going to China soon, maybe some store there can fix it for me.

Right now I'm waiting for some expert here to tell me if I should just buy the USB Port or the whole motherboard, and how exactly do I fix it.

Well the power regulator on the motherboard definately could be the issue as according to your post it can still output video through the USB Type-C port just not charge, so if you're really comfortable with this then I'd recommend giving that a shot first, just my two cents seems the power regulator on the launch models are prone to malfunctioning.

 

[Jiehfeng]

Well the power regulator on the motherboard definately could be the issue as according to your post it can still output video through the USB Type-C port just not not charge, so if you're really comfortable with this then I'd recommend giving that a shot first, just my two cents seems the power regulator on the launch models are prone to malfunctioning.

Maybe the better option is for me to buy both the chip and the port and replace them, I wonder what's the difficulty in doing that...

EDIT: Didn't read that right fully, actually no, there's no video either. Both charging and video output does not work.

 

[Proto-Propski]

Maybe the better option is for me to buy both the chip and the port and replace them, I wonder what's the difficulty in doing that...

EDIT: Didn't read that right fully, actually no, there's no video either. Both charging and video output does not work.

Oh my bad must have miss-read your post then, well in that case I agree replace them both, just to be sure. dunno how hard it'll be soldering the type-c port, or if it'll come on the motherboard itself, but you can look up some teardowns of the Switch for the motherboard replacement surely that isn't too hard to start with.

 

[Jiehfeng]

Oh my bad must have miss-read your post then, well in that case I agree replace them both, just to be sure.

Thanks for the help.
I just found this: https://www.tfix.co.uk/guides/damaged-nintendo-switch-charging-port-repair/
The site also gives repair services, especially for no HDMI output/charging issues, but the price is high at a 100 pounds. The repair looks pretty difficult and requires tools that go beyond just soldering because of the way the chips are mounted on to the motherboard, it's mentioned in that website I linked. My only option here is to go to China and see if I can get it repaired for cheaper, if they do the repairs, it should be cheaper definitely.