"Liquid Detected" when charging iPhone

I like to use Gaia GPS to record my kayak trips, and I have a nice holder for my iPhone which is super-convenient. The problem is that the iPhone battery usually runs out before I'm done. I do have a battery pack to charge the iPhone, but most of the time when I try to use it on the water, I get a "Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector" error message--the phone won't charge, and it never dries out enough to charge until after I'm back on land.

Does anybody else have this problem?

Regardless, any ideas about how to keep the lightning port dry? It seems to me that there should be a waterproof rubber stopper/plug that would fit in the lightning port. There are such plugs that keep out dust, but not sure if they'd help with water:

https://www.amazon.com/TITACUTE-iPhone-Storage-Charging-Compatible/dp/B085ZSQB28/?th=1

Ive put my phone in a bag of desiccant after its gotten wet. It works well to absorb internal moister and eliminate that error, but I've never done it on a kayak. might help if you can come up with a good storage solution.

Have you try a wireless charger or Magnetic Portable Charger Power Bank?

I used to have an old otterbox phone case back before iPhones were "water resistant". survived several submersions albiet momentarily. has a rubber waterproof charger cover, but not sure how the new iphones and phone cases perform. That was back on like iphone 7 or something. Doesn't solve the charger issue, but I usually put my non-waterproofed electronics in ziplock bags when going out somewhere splashy, sometimes with a spare dessicant package from an old pair of shoes or beef jerky or something. Can also buy bulk dessicants online, great for my storage stuff to help dry stuff out quicker and more thoroughly.

Have you try a wireless charger or Magnetic Portable Charger Power Bank?

I think that will work, as the wireless charger in our Tesla works when the charging port is wet, and it even heats up the phone just enough so that the charging port dries out quickly. I guess that might be the easiest option...

the wireless charging bank sounds like a good solution, in fact I think I might buy one, but I rarely complain about my battery life with my latest phone.

One alternative that might work, but not sure, are these magnetic break away cables where you leave a stub in your phone and then the cable attaches magnetically https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Charging-480Mbps-Transfer-MacBook/dp/B0BVMB9V9R/ref=sr_1_5?crid=61JCP4U77RQH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oLqK21T15OsjquMebQuj05Jqip4o0fW_FQ6-qxKZ9Lr9dsELkRuUA9-Gl-4PjvO2sQ7cX-ZnmhzKQe1JgeEmWI27UZk7w2e_w986URMZhB8SaUxHc5xvtY6ETpM1cIeYlbz0thaJvrhti1x5eRxEhi9baBCA8S55Uxu7BdLkM5ydtDkwa-ca8uiMQPQUURtwElcueXliyrra13ClSs3DCWC7NNduuspQ5GQ0jOQM9js.nY13JppXA6yP2Y1gsvB7yBjN34EM7sLuL9fqE4aen5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=iphone+breakaway+cable&qid=1719408597&sprefix=iphone+breakaway+cable%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-5

the wireless charging bank sounds like a good solution, in fact I think I might buy one, but I rarely complain about my battery life with my latest phone.

One alternative that might work, but not sure, are these magnetic break away cables where you leave a stub in your phone and then the cable attaches magnetically https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Charging-480Mbps-Transfer-MacBook/dp/B0BVMB9V9R/ref=sr_1_5?crid=61JCP4U77RQH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oLqK21T15OsjquMebQuj05Jqip4o0fW_FQ6-qxKZ9Lr9dsELkRuUA9-Gl-4PjvO2sQ7cX-ZnmhzKQe1JgeEmWI27UZk7w2e_w986URMZhB8SaUxHc5xvtY6ETpM1cIeYlbz0thaJvrhti1x5eRxEhi9baBCA8S55Uxu7BdLkM5ydtDkwa-ca8uiMQPQUURtwElcueXliyrra13ClSs3DCWC7NNduuspQ5GQ0jOQM9js.nY13JppXA6yP2Y1gsvB7yBjN34EM7sLuL9fqE4aen5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=iphone+breakaway+cable&qid=1719408597&sprefix=iphone+breakaway+cable%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-5

I bet that will work. I think I'll give it a try, since I've already got a (non-wireless) battery pack.

I solved this problem by getting a newer phone. The US wireless market is weird: our prices are higher than almost any other developed nation, but that’s largely because the carriers pay huge subsidies for new devices. So depending on your carrier and plan, if you aren’t taking advantage of the subsidized device upgrades, you might already be paying, but not benefiting.

Costco has a sweet 2 pack of wireless charges I just got recently. Also I would look for a case that has the rubber port cover. You can sometimes find otterbox's on sale.

I solved this problem by getting a newer phone. …

I’ve got an iPhone 12, and it is “water resistant”, but it won’t charge if it detects any moisture in the charging port, which always happens whenever mine gets splashed. Have newer iPhones solved this issue?

I solved this problem by getting a newer phone. …

I’ve got an iPhone 12, and it is “water resistant”, but it won’t charge if it detects any moisture in the charging port, which always happens whenever mine gets splashed. Have newer iPhones solved this issue?

That's a feature not an issue.  The phone itself is water resistant meaning the water won't cause damage if it gets inside.  The moisture detection prevents shorts across the connector contacts.  Connectors aren't designed to work in wet environments, so the detection is the best it gets.

You could put a squirt of dielectric grease in the port and push the plug through that but that might be too messy for when you are off the kayak.

Maybe I'm missing something, but couldn't you simply just put a strip of gaffers tape or electrical tape over the port when your on the water? Maybe put your phone in a zip-lock bag?

Have you tried different tracking apps? Maybe the one you use is particularly data/processor heavy? I use Strava - coming from a cycling past I was very familiar with the interface. I was also pretty pleased that it had kayak as an activity. Pretty sure it has sailing too.

For reference, I have a Google Pixel 6.

I solved this problem by getting a newer phone. …

I’ve got an iPhone 12, and it is “water resistant”, but it won’t charge if it detects any moisture in the charging port, which always happens whenever mine gets splashed. Have newer iPhones solved this issue?

That's a feature not an issue.  The phone itself is water resistant meaning the water won't cause damage if it gets inside.  The moisture detection prevents shorts across the connector contacts.  Connectors aren't designed to work in wet environments, so the detection is the best it gets.

Yes, definitely a feature, but according to Apple, the issue is corrosion, not a short, per se:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102643