Earbuds in the case, lid shut, wait patiently – and in the morning the battery is still dead. Classic. Even better when you notice one bud is warm like a hand warmer you forgot in your pocket. Don't panic. Most of the time the cause is mundane and doesn't require servicing.
Why won't the buds charge?
The NL25 buds charge through small metal contact pads on the bottom of the case. If dirt, earwax, pocket lint, or even a single hair gets between them, the charging connection drops out or becomes intermittent. The bud then tries to charge, fails, tries again – and that cycle heats it up for nothing.
Another classic: the case itself is dead. 300 mAh isn't a massive battery, and if the case hasn't been charged in weeks, it simply has nothing to give.
A third possibility applies to brand new earbuds. The NL25's contact pads may have a protective film from the factory. It's small, transparent, and easy to miss. If it's still on, no charging will happen.
How to fix it
- Check for protective films. If the earbuds are new, inspect the contact pads closely. The little plastic film peels off with a fingernail.
- Clean the contacts. Remove the buds from the case. Wipe the contact points on the bottom of the buds and the matching contacts inside the case with a dry cotton swab or microfibre cloth. Earwax is stubborn stuff, but it'll come off with a bit of elbow grease.
- Charge the case itself. Plug the case into a charger with the original USB-C cable and let it charge for at least an hour. Press the case button once – the LED will show you the case's charge level.
- Put the buds back in and check the fit. The buds need to click into the case properly. If a bud is even slightly crooked, the contacts won't line up. Gently press both buds down until you feel them snap into place.
- Do a factory reset. Buds in the case, lid open, hold the case button down for five seconds. The LED will flash. This resets the charging logic as well as the pairings.
- Try a different charging source. Not all USB-C cables are created equal. Use the original cable and try a different wall charger or a computer USB port. Wireless charging works too – pop the case on a Qi charger and see if the indicator light comes on.
What about the warming up?
Mild warmth during charging is normal. A 35 mAh battery is tiny, and chemistry is just chemistry. But if a bud gets noticeably hot – as in uncomfortable to hold in your hand – and still isn't actually charging, you're likely dealing with a contact issue causing a continuous charge-retry loop. Cleaning and a reset usually sort this out.
If a bud still gets seriously hot after cleaning and resetting, don't leave it charging overnight. Get in touch with us.
If nothing helps
If you've cleaned the contacts, done a reset, tried a different cable and charger, and one bud still won't charge or keeps overheating – then it's most likely a fault that needs servicing. Drop us an email at info@valco.fi. Include your order number and a photo of the inside of the case, and we'll get things moving faster.
We repair devices in Kajaani. No need to cry, even if the instructions told you to – save those tears for the moment you hear how good these sound when they're working properly.
