JBL wireless speakers are owned by millions of users around the world. And one of the most popular questions among owners - how to charge a JBL speaker - does not arise by chance. After all, none of their portable speaker systems (Go, Flip, Clip, Charge, Pulse, Xtreme) come with a power supply, but only a charging cable. So how can you properly charge a wireless speaker so that nothing bad happens to its battery and the device lasts for many years?
How can I charge a JBL speaker?
In fact, everything is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. All we need is a quality power supply.
- For example, you can charge your smartphone or tablet if it has the same power connector as your JBL speaker.
- A more powerful power supply from a laptop with USB-C, which is included with the vast majority of modern laptops, is also perfect. For example, I often use the same cable and charger from >>Huawei Matebook D14, which I have been using for a long time.
The power of the power supply also matters - the larger it is, the faster the JBL speaker will charge to 100% and be ready for use.
- A universal extension cord (surge protector) with USB connectors or a wall socket with built-in ports is also an excellent source of energy for charging the speaker.
- More recently, so-called charging stations have appeared on sale, which are essentially stands for devices with many USB-A ports into which cables with any connector at the other end are connected. Below is a video about one such charge.
- Finally, you can charge the speaker from the laptop itself from its USB-A or USB-C port, depending on the plug on your cable
Outdated portable models most often had a micro USB connector type, but today USB-C is ubiquitous.
Making portable charging
How to charge a phone if you have batteries, a compartment for them, a charger for them or an old mobile phone and a USB extension cord?
Batteries must be AA type. In addition, a soldering iron and tester should be available.
We take 4 batteries (preferably large capacity) and insert them into the battery compartment. We measure the voltage with a tester, it should be at least 5 volts. This is due to the fact that modern phones can be charged from a USB connector, in which the voltage is 5 V.
From a USB extension cable that you don’t mind using, cut off the plug that connects to the computer. We study the pinout of the contacts, call the tester. We find + and -, remove the remaining wires with wire cutters and insulate them.
We put a thermal casing on the wires and treat it with a lighter to ensure a tight entry. We try on the place where the plug is attached.
We will need to solder the wires to the metal rivets. For this purpose, soldering acid is used, which can be applied with a tin stick, after which we tin the rivets.
We solder the wires according to their charge.
The connector must be glued to the body, having first degreased or scraped off the connector and plastic with a knife.
Apply heated glue to the body and press. Apply glue around it, closing the open contacts. The remaining unnecessary wires are bitten off and covered with glue. If necessary, it can be masked using a marker.
We insert the batteries. They must be of the same capacity. Moreover, their total capacity must exceed that of a telephone battery.
JBL Link Portable - speaker with docking station
There is one interesting model in the JBL lineup - >>Link Portable, which comes with a docking station for charging the speaker without the need to connect a cable. Although there is also a USB connector for power.
This allows you to use it not only as stationary acoustics, which are constantly located in one place in the room. But also as a regular portable speaker that you can take with you. Moreover, in order to charge the JBL Link Portable, you just need to put it on the base, and not look for a cable somewhere in a backpack or drawer.
How to disassemble a Chinese copy of jbl charge 2?
Often, after ordering on aliexpress and after receiving the package, jbl often encounters connection problems.
After a visual inspection, it becomes clear that there are not a single screw on the outside (they are not visible). Therefore, the question arises: “how to disassemble a Bluetooth speaker”? It seems that the case is glued together and after disassembling it it will not be possible to assemble the parts. But that's not true.
First of all, prepare screwdrivers of different sizes. Then peel off the rubber pads. They are glued loosely, so it will be very easy to tear them off. The bolts are located on the back, they are hidden by a decorative grille. It can be removed easily, just use a screwdriver
Be careful because... Removal may damage the coating. You will find 6 bolts that can be removed using a Phillips screwdriver
After that, open the column, there will be two parts in front of you. You will see a small battery, the question immediately arises: how can the speaker work with such a battery? There is a board on both sides, with connectors on the sides.
It is not difficult to disassemble the device; it is assembled in the reverse order.
How to fix the charging connector
JBL does not have specific recommendations or instructions for disassembling the device. Newer models have no visible fastenings. This is done to ensure maximum safety in wet or dirty conditions.
For an example of opening a portable speaker, here is a video disassembling the device from the Beeline company.
Precautions when charging the speaker
A wireless speaker is an electrical device that requires the user to comply with safety rules, although not too complicated. When charging any speaker, including JBL, the following mistakes should be avoided to avoid damage to the device:
What is your opinion: is WiFi harmful?
Yes
22.91%
No
77.09%
Voted: 36553
- I already said about the power supply - you need to use samples from famous brands and not buy dubious products from the transition. Firstly, it may not meet the stated specifications, and the device will take too long to charge. Secondly, in many cases it will lack basic protection against power surges, as a result of which the housing may ignite or the speaker itself may “burn out.” Let it be one charge simultaneously for a smartphone and a speaker, but it’s branded.
- For obvious reasons, you cannot charge the speaker with a cable with a damaged braid.
- You should also avoid charging the speaker in a damp room. Although most JBL models are equipped with moisture protection, it only applies to the time when the device is in offline mode. When connected to an outlet, the protective silicone pad does not cover the power connector, which means moisture can get into it and all that it entails. Until a short circuit occurs. So be careful!
How to troubleshoot connection problems?
To make the purchased speaker work, determine why it is not working and fix the problem.
Before the beginning
If you connect a portable speaker and it doesn't work, don't panic. Check the battery charge and see if it is turned on or not
It is worth paying attention to Bluetooth; if it is not turned on, the device will not be able to play sound. In 90 percent of cases, the startup sequence is described in the instructions that come with the purchased device.
Column not included
To turn on the column, click on “On”. But there are cases when when you press this button, the indicator lights do not respond. This indicates that the device did not turn on. The reasons are usually simple:
- The battery is 100 percent discharged;
- The device is faulty and requires repair.
Why is the speaker not visible via Bluetooth?
There are many reasons why the column is not visible when turned on. If you are not sure that you can fix the problems yourself, contact the service center.
In 80 percent of cases, the main reason is turned off Bluetooth. This happens in case of inattention or the visibility period of the paired device has expired. Before turning on, check if Bluetooth is turned on.
Drivers
The problem in 50 percent of cases also occurs in the computer. If the necessary drivers are not installed, the device will not detect portable speakers.
In addition, drivers may be incompatible with a modern device or computer operating system.
Pairing
When you buy a wireless speaker, most often it is connected to all the devices you have. This includes a computer, a tablet, a smartphone and even a TV. If you use the device with different devices, you will select the “Automatic connection” functions. In this case, other devices may not see the speaker because it is already connected to another device.
How long does it take to charge JBL speakers?
In this article we are not talking about any large speaker systems with high battery capacity.
- Mass-produced compact JBL speakers, such as Clip or Flip, have a small battery capacity. It will take about 2.5-3 hours to replenish it, depending on the power of the power supply.
- The more massive, but also portable JBL Charge or Pulse will require up to 4 hours for a 100% charge
It should be borne in mind that these figures refer to the case when the speakers are turned off. In music playback mode, you can add another 1-1.5 hours.
Why is the speaker not charging?
There are several reasons for this:
- Most often this happens due to a faulty USB cable. It should be inspected for creases and other damage. In addition, physical wear and tear may simply occur. In any case, it needs to be changed.
- Battery malfunction or exhaustion of its assigned resource. If the battery is removable, then it must be replaced with a working analogue. In the case where it cannot be pulled out, you will have to go to specialists.
- Poor contact in the socket. The reason may be either its malfunction or a non-working power supply plug.
If you tried all the above options and nothing helped, then there is only one thing left to do - take your gadget to a workshop.
How can you tell if your JBL speaker is charged?
You can determine that the JBL speaker is charged by the indicator on the case. In different modifications, this can be either a single LED that changes its color depending on the current battery level.
- Red - the battery is completely dead,
- Yellow - partially discharged,
- Green - fully charged
Or there are several single-color white LEDs that display the level as a percentage. Usually there are 4 of them, where if 1 is on, it means 25%, 2 - 50%, 3 - 75 and all - 100%.
On the JBL Link Portable, four light bulbs are combined into one line, which gradually fades as it discharges.
How to save battery power?
The main rule that you need to use if you set a goal to use a JBL speaker for as long as possible without recharging is not to listen to music at full volume. Also, if your model supports a wired connection >>to a laptop or smartphone, then it is better to turn off Bluetooth and use a cable. The wireless module also significantly reduces battery life.
And another factor that negatively affects energy conservation is the ambient temperature. If you use the speaker in a cold room or in frosty weather outside, it will discharge much faster than if it is warm.
We use the "frog"
Another option is to purchase a universal device. In everyday life it was called “crab” or “frog”. You can even charge a “frog” device with a completely damaged power connector, because the current goes directly to the battery terminals.
The frog is a plastic case with a plug that plugs into an outlet. It also has a place to mount batteries and a pair of movable “legs”. After inserting the battery into the socket, the paws are connected to the terminals with the correct polarity. The “frog”, connected to an outlet, effectively charges the phone.
The method has several disadvantages:
- The phone cannot be used while charging.
- You need to spend money to buy a “crab”. At the same time, a high-quality device is expensive (more than what you need to pay for service).
- Low security, especially when using inexpensive devices. The cheap workmanship of unknown “craftsmen” from China does not burden the pocket, but no one can guarantee the safety of the battery.
Do not leave the connected “crab” unattended. Periodically (every 20-30 minutes) check whether the battery is swollen, whether the case is overheated, and whether the charge indicators are on. These simple steps will help prevent your home from catching fire.
A much safer option for bypassing charging is to use a wireless charging station. But such technologies are supported only by the latest generation devices.
