A facebook friend posted this:

I have a question. My child stuck the charger in his mouth and then stuck it in the ipad so that charger wouldn't work. I bought a new one at walmart but it wasnt the apple brand. WELL now it is barely charging, I'm talking 4% in 5 hours.

Upon questioning, she said that it also does not charge on USB from her computer. I suggested that there is then something further wrong other than the charger. What do you think?

I think cheap garbage from walmart often won't work. I also think it's likely that she just bought a USB charger that only has a low wattage rating, sufficient for a phone battery perhaps but insufficient for an iPad. Some cheapo computers have insufficient power from their USB port to charge an iPad also. That said, it could be that the iPad is broken, but there's no way to tell unless he/she buys a proper charger with the minimum wattage rating required by that particular iPad.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

Quote
iaJim
A facebook friend posted this:

My child stuck the charger in his mouth and then stuck it in the ipad

One of the many reasons I don't have kids...
It actually sounds like the kid put the 30 pin connector side in it's mouth, the charger is probably too big for a kid's mouth. If it was wet and yucky at the time, it may very well have damaged the iPad itself. I'd probably look for foreign matter on the connector and in the connector on the iPad. (I keep my iPhone in my pocket so from time to time have to clean out some fuzzies that get into it, maybe a similar problem here.)

Also true what davester said about poor quality adapters and low wattage.

It may just be the 30-pin cord, got icked up by the kid, replaced it with a cheap knockoff. That may be why the computer isn't charging it either.

iPads WILL Charge on USB from a computer. They just charge slow. Apple even has a nice explanation about this.

A new cable and a real Apple charger are in order.

If the iPad is still alive, get one of these:
[eshop.macsales.com]

And one of these:
[eshop.macsales.com]

Jeff

Thanks all!

Follow up: She purchased a new charger, and all is well. I didn't find out what type of charger she purchased, but she's back in business. Thanks!