Most JBL Bluetooth speakers, including the Flip 3, offer portable operation via their lithium ion batteries. And when said battery dies, you can recharge the speaker with an AC or car adapter. Sometimes though, the JBL Flip 3 is not charging fully. Even when you connect the adapter it still does not charge. So to solve that, we supply tips here to help.
How to Tell that the JBL Flip 3 is Not Charging
You can tell that the speaker is not charging, by reading the battery gauge on the top of the unit. Now the meter often changes from white to pulsing red during play. This is to alert you that the battery is almost dead.
But there’s a problem if this flashing keeps going, even when you attach the charger. Why? Because the battery gauge should change at this point though, to blinking white, when you apply charger power. When the gauge stops flashing red, this means that the speaker is getting some power from the adapter. But if the red blinking continues, then correct recharging is likely not happening.
You can also feel the power supply’s case ten or fifteen minutes after connecting it to the speaker. Then, it should feel warm. The same with the speaker too. Note that the speaker itself heats up a little also during correct recharging. But if you detect no warmth, then again, the JBL Flip 3 is likely not charging.
Moreover, the battery gauge normally shows battery recharging status. I.e. As long as charging continues, one of the progress lights in the meter flashes white. And the gauge fully darkens when charging completes. But if the battery meter still blinks after several hours, then charging is likely not working correctly.
Thus when the speaker is not charging, though it should be, you’ll want to find out why. So in this piece, we offer reasons the JBL Flip 3 may not charge. Then we give possible fixes.
JBL Flip 3 Not Charging, Reasons and Fixes
As we stated above, it’s normal that the battery status gauge pulses red when the battery inside is almost dead. But again, the light should switch to a blinking white when you connect the charger.
Normally though, this gauge glows white when the battery is not getting near dead. It can look as follows in this case.
Or, if the speaker is OFF, then once recharging finishes, the status light goes dark.
Now the meter light may not change to flashing white when you connect the charger. If not, then several things might cause this, and we list these below thus.
1.The Power Outlet May Not Be Live
The Problem
The adapter for the JBL Flip 3 may not output any energy. Why not? Because it is not receiving any to begin with. This can happen due to a defective circuit or tripped breaker. A blown fuse, faulty wiring, or power failure may also be to blame.
The Fix
Check that your outlet has power by plugging in a lamp or other device. Then, reset circuit breakers if tripped. And if the outlet has a light switch that controls it, then flip that ON. Or, try a different outlet.
2. The USB Adapter is Defective or Too Small
The Problem
The JBL Flip 3 not charging can also happen because the adapter is outputting SOME but not FULL amperage.
Now as these adapters age, their output energy can fall off over time. So this supply might not deliver the correct amount if very old. So you may see the speaker’s battery fullness gauge begin flashing white. Yet it never goes dark. Note that this speaker needs 1 amp at 5 volts (5 watts) to recharge in the 3.5 hours spec time. Yet charging will likely not go as fast if it does not meet these requirements.
The Fix
Replace the adapter. Get one that has a USB-A plug and delivers the maximum 5 volts at 2 amp (10 watts). Many typical supplies meet these specs. But double check the one you plan to buy, to be sure.
3. The USB Charging Cable is Too Long, Too Thin, or is Defective
The Problem
The USB cable can limit the charging current too much, even if your power supply is working well. This might happen with very long or thin cables.
The Fix
To resolve this, use as short a cord as will still work. Or, upgrade to a thicker, higher current cable. Keeping cord lengths to six feet or shorter. Also pick a cable certified to carry at least 2 amps for fastest charging.
4. The Battery in the Flip 3 is Defective
The Problem
As lithium ion batteries age, they lose their ability to fully charge. Add to that the characteristics of the charge current they draw, changes with age. Normally, as a battery recharges, it draws less amps as it fills. But when cells in the battery fail, it may draw too many or too few amps. Therefore this confuses the speaker’s charging circuits. Indeed they may behave like no charging is occurring. So the status lamp reflects this. It does this either by never stopping its white blinking. Or it never changes to white in the first place.
The Fix
To repair this, replace the battery. But understand that you likely will not easily get the old one out of the Flip 3. Indeed, changing the battery means that you must take the speaker apart, and this can be a daunting effort.
Also note that doing this likely breaks the moisture seal. So the Flip 3 will no longer be safe to use, should you expose it to water afterwards.
Breaking this seal may alter the sound quality as well. So get someone to replace the battery who knows how to pick the right Flip 3 replacement. They should also be able to restore the seal to as it was, as they reassemble the speaker. A good battery should fit well inside the speaker and provide 3.7 volts at 3 amp hours, or 11.1 watt-hours. But we suggest using only JBL certified batteries for this speaker.
5. The Speaker Might be Defective when the JBL Flip 3 Is Not Charging
The Problem
Even with the right adapter, the current that actually reaching the battery may be too low or high. This can happen when the battery management system inside the Flip 3 goes awry. Note that these circuits monitor the battery status. Then they cut the current when they detect a full battery.
But when they go off kilter, the battery might see no power at all. Thus, the speaker never recharges. Again, in this case, the battery gauge might continue blinking white. And you may also see that the speaker doesn’t play as long before running dead. Or it might not play at all, even with the charger present.
The Fix
The best answer here, is simply to get a new JBL Flip 3. Why? Because the electronics in this unit are quite small. So unless you can replace the system board(s) yourself, just buy another speaker to save much stress.