How to Charge a Hoverboard Without a Charger?

Last Updated on March 18, 2022 by

Hoverboards are becoming very popular these days. They look cool, easy to use, and they are fun to ride. The patent was filed in 2013 by Shane Chen, who saw the Segway’s rise to prominence and emulated the product with a unique design of a self-balancing scooter all of his own.

Since then, the sale and use of the hoverboard has become increasingly popular, with many celebrities and young people eager to give it a try. 

One of the main attractions to using the hoverboard is its unique style of control and motion, which relies totally on your feet rather than any other part of your body.

The one issue that people have with the hoverboard is the limited battery life, and many people feel it could last longer than it does. 

This means that the device needs regular charging, but what do you do when your hoverboard runs out of battery without a charger around?

How can you charge your device? There are a couple of solutions to this problem without resorting to breaking open the piggy bank, though keep in mind many are temporary solutions. 

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Hoverboard?

The length of time it takes to charge a hoverboard normally depends on the hoverboard itself and the manufacturer. The reason is the same for many products, in that they would be sacrificing some for the extended battery life, be it maneuverability or cost.

Since most hoverboards are powered by a lithium-ion battery, they often take similar amounts of time to charge, which is normally a minimum of 2 to 3 hours to charge a hoverboard completely.

However, for more high quality hoverboards and lower quality hoverboards, this can change. The higher quality ones tend to make use of the latest technology and, as such, can be charged in about 1.5 hours.

The lower quality ones tend to use older batteries and can take up to 4 or even 5 hours to charge the board. 

How Long Will a Hoverboard Charge Last?

Again, this very much depends on the hoverboard and its overall quality. The cheaper hoverboards will tend to start running out of battery after 1 hour and can last up to 3 hours, but the more expensive hoverboards normally run for about 3 to 4 hours before starting to run low on battery. 

Many things can affect this time though – including the rider’s weight, the terrain, and the weather conditions – and some may run longer than others due to this. 

How to Charge a Hoverboard Without a Charger?

Even if you buy a hoverboard brand new with all the trappings, including a charger, life is rarely fair or predictable, and you may find that your charger is broken.

It may be that it was faulty to begin with, or maybe it was chewed up by the family dog – it has happened to the best of us – but now you have no way to charge your hoverboard even though you just got it.

Not to worry, there are still a few ways you can charge your hoverboard without replacing the whole vehicle completely. 

A word of note before we begin, these are temporary fixes. You should order a replacement charger as soon as possible and only use these while you wait for it.

Alternative Chargers

There are several chargers in your home that can be used (and have been used) to charge a hoverboard. One of them is a laptop charger. Some laptop chargers fit the charging port of a hoverboard, emphasis on some. Not every laptop charger is the same and not all will work.

Find the one that fits your hoverboard and gently fit it into the pins. DO NOT force the charger or rest the charger on the pins, as this will damage the hoverboard’s charging port. Once the light indicates its charging, steady the board and the charger with shoes or some kind of heavy object around the hoverboard. 

The other charger that could fit a hoverboard is a phone charger, though this is a last resort, and we do not recommend it. The voltage is very different from a phone to a hoverboard and could damage both.

If you are desperate, use the same steps as the laptop charger to charge the hoverboard. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you. 

Rock Your Hoverboard Back and Forth

This one is easy, cheap, and may give just a couple more minutes of a hoverboard ride. While the hoverboard is turned off, simply rock the hoverboard back and forth. You must do this for a few minutes, but by doing so you may get some more battery.

Still, it will only give you a few minutes of extra hoverboard time, so don’t expect to be riding for hours. 

Although these methods may work for a few days, they are all temporary and must be treated as such. If you use them as a permanent solution, you end up damaging your hoverboard, so order a replacement charger as soon as possible. 

How to Know When Your Hoverboard is Fully Charged?

When you plug in your hoverboard to charge, you should notice a light come on. This light will be red, and it tells you the hoverboard is charging.

If you do not see a red light, either the hoverboard is not charging or something is wrong with your hoverboard’s charging port. In these instances, check that it is plugged in properly before further action. 

A bright red light indicates that it is charging properly, a dim red light indicates that it is charging slowly, the voltage is too low, or it is not connected correctly. The dim red light will probably appear if you use one of the alternative charging methods we suggested. 

When the hoverboard’s light turns from red to green, that means it is fully charged and ready to go. You can now unplug the hoverboard and give it a ride. 

Should You Leave Your Hoverboard Charging Overnight?

No, definitely not. Hoverboards are not like other appliances where there is some expectation you might forget, and they have measures on them to prevent overcharging, like expensive laptops.

If you leave it charging overnight, the hoverboard battery will be affected quite badly and its ability to hold a charge will be severely limited. 

Cheaper hoverboards can have their batteries overcharge dramatically as well, which can lead to overheating and short-circuiting, ruining the entire board. 

What Should I Do If My Hoverboard Doesn’t Charge?

The first thing to do is not panic. We know hoverboards can be expensive and this can cause people to immediately worry when something goes wrong, but it is most often a minor problem. First, look at your board long and hard. 

Check for any recent damage to the board. Although most of the board’s components are protected internally, they still have exposed external parts. Look closely at the areas around the battery and the charging pin, taking care and making sure neither of these are damaged. 

If you can’t find anything, then look at your charger and make sure it is not damaged. If you find any issues, then it is best to seek advice from fellow boarders on how to fix it, if it is simple. If it is not, it is time to get professional help.

Who Can Help Me Fix My Hoverboard?

If you can’t find any problems and the board still doesn’t work or if you have found a problem, but don’t know how to fix it, take it in for a service.

It is better to get a professional to look at it, rather than pay for a whole new board after you break it more, whilst not knowing what you are doing.  

The manufacturer you bought the board from should have a service option or helpline, and they should be able to take the board off your hands and fix it for you. If you purchased a warranty, this shouldn’t cost anything, but if you didn’t, you may need to prepare yourself for high prices. 

Conclusion

There are a few ways to charge your hoverboard when the proper charger breaks, however, all of these solutions are temporary and should only be used in the short term.

The best solution is to buy a replacement charger and wait for its arrival, before hover boarding again. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWE1AumDwnU