JBL Charge 3 is known for its 20 hours of playtime, its 22.2Wh Lithium-ion Polymer battery, and its waterproof (IPX7) qualities. But, sometimes the speaker takes less time to charge than before or won’t charge at all. How to fix it?
To fix a JBL Charge 3 speaker that won’t charge, try a different charger, clean the charging port, reset the speaker, or contact JBL support.
JBL Charge 3 will take less time to charge, if the battery (Lithium-ion polymer) is old or has completed its charging cycles. To extend the life of the battery, don’t use the speaker while charging or during hot temperatures, charge the speaker every 45 days (if not in use), and don’t use the speaker at a low-battery.
Contents
Why Does JBL Charge 3 Take Less Time To Charge Than Before?
The JBL Charge 3 takes less time to charge than before if its battery (Lithium-ion Polymer 22.2Wh) is old or has completed charging cycles. To fix it, replace the battery with a new one.
Lithium-ion Polymer batteries have a certain number of charging cycles (300-500). The performance and capacity of the Lithium-ion polymer will decrease once it completes its charging cycles. You can still use batteries even after they complete their charging cycles, but you may need to recharge the battery more frequently.
A charging cycle is completed when the battery goes from full to empty (100%-o%) and you charge it back to 100%. It takes up to 2 years of daily charges to complete 500 charging cycles. However, the charging cycles of a lithium-ion battery depend on several factors, including its design, usage patterns, and charging practices.
How To Fix JBL Charge 3 That Won’t Charge?
To fix JBL Charge 3 which won’t charge, do the following things.
1. Try a Different Charger
A bad, faulty, or old USB-C charging cable won’t charge a JBL Charge 3 speaker. Use a different (or new) charger to check if the speaker starts to charge. If the speaker charges with a different (or new) charger, the old charger was faulty and you must replace it.
It’s recommended to get a short and thick USB-C charging cable as thin and long cables tend to drop voltage and aren’t as durable.
Change the wall charger and use a different wall outlet too, if the speaker still won’t charge as charging the USB-C cable. JBL Charge 3 has a requirement for a power supply of 5V / 2.3A.
2. Clean The Charging Port
JBL Charge 3 won’t charge if it has a clogged, dirty, or wet charging port as it will prevent a proper connection between the charging cable and the port. It’s recommended to clean the charging port regularly, especially if you used the speaker outdoors.
The charging port of JBL Charge 3 is located in the back of the speaker behind a small plastic door. The plastic door protects the charging port from dirt, debris, or dust, but if you charge the speaker outdoors, dirt will get inside the port.
To clean the charging port, use a small and soft brush to take the dirt out. Ensure to carefully use the soft brush as you can easily damage the charging port. You can also blow the dirt off.
3. Reset The JBL Charge 3
A JBL Charge 3 may not charge if it has a software bug or glitch. While charging is primarily a hardware-related process, software plays a role in managing and regulating the charging process. A hard reset will restore the original factory settings of the speaker, clear the internal memory, and remove software bugs or glitches.
To reset JBL Charge 3, do the following things.
- Press the power button to turn on the speaker.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth and Volume Up buttons at the same time.
- Release the buttons once the speaker turns off.
- Press the power button to turn on the speaker again.
A software bug or glitch can also occur if the JBL Charge 3 doesn’t have the latest firmware version. It’s recommended to always upgrade the firmware version when an update is available.
4. Contact JBL Support
Contact JBL support (if you still have a warranty) if the JBL Charge 3 won’t charge as it could be a hardware problem. If an important internal hardware part (e.g. charging circuit) is faulty or broken, the speaker won’t charge.
If you don’t have an active warranty, send the speaker to a local electronic repair shop and they will fix it for you.
How To Extend The Life of the JBL Charge 3 Battery?
To extend the life of a lithium-ion polymer (Li-Po) battery, you can follow these guidelines:
- Don’t Use The Speaker While Charging – The charging process produces heat inside the speaker. If you use the speaker while charging more heat will be produced. Lithium batteries can get damaged if there’s too much heat. So, it’s best to avoid using the speaker while charging it.
- Don’t Use The Speaker during Hot Temperatures – Lithium batteries don’t do well with heat. You shouldn’t store the speaker in a hot temperature environment as that can damage the battery.
- Charge The Battery Every 45 Days – The JBL manufacturer recommends charging the battery at least every 45 days (if not in use).
- Don’t Use The Speaker At Low Battery – It’s not recommended to use the speaker at a low battery. You can use it every now and then but don’t do it too much as you can damage the battery.