Charging the Jabra Solemate Mini when staying in France

Using USB type B connector and a Europlug Type C USB charger to recharge the Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet and charging the Jabra Solemate Mini using a double pinned Type E power charger.

French power outlet

When packing for a holiday to France it is useful to know if you'll be able to charge your important electronics when you get there. However, by not knowing which wall socket is used you are likely to bring the wrong charger, thereby leaving you needing to buy or borrow a potentially expensive charger on arrival that might not be compatible. Complicated standards and sockets can all lead to confusion when planning on visiting another country, especially to the first time traveller. This step by step guide will show you exactly how to supply power to the Jabra Solemate Mini when going to France using their standard Type E or C 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets, please be aware Type E plug outlets are typically used by a majority of French. If travelling to France from a different country ensure that your Jabra Solemate Mini can accept a 240 volt supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v check the Jabra Solemate Mini is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged when charging it.

Ensure you have version 1.14 or greater of the Jabra Solemate Mini firmware, visit the official Jabra Solemate Mini support site [2] to download the latest version. You can switch off the default 'Connected' and other announcements by holding down the Volume down button when turning on the Jabra Solemate Mini until you hear 'Sound prompts off'.

Charging the Jabra Solemate Mini in France

Can the Jabra Solemate Mini be used in France?

Yes, you can connect the Jabra Solemate Mini to a French power outlet.

What is the best power charger for recharging the Jabra Solemate Mini in France?

When travelling to multiple countries then the best travel adapter for France is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of plug sockets in France (types E and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C. As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 volts to 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the included heads. If your type of Jabra Solemate Mini supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB travel chargers, along with support for more power demanding devices.

Unlike other chargers having a 4 port adapter means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to buy multiple power chargers on your French trip or using up additional wall outlets. Because you are only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand baggage while travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without using up an additional plug socket.

We recommend buying this type of flexible travel charger at your preferred electronics retailer - the travel adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for France

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids. These power adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power adapter for travellers originating from America going to France using type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from North America using type B plugs and is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it ideal for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting France. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the Jabra Solemate Mini in France?

Charging the Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

Using USB type B connector and a Europlug Type C USB charger to recharge the Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to your Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet you will need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [5].
  2. Begin by inserting the Type C USB power plug adapter into the French power outlet. This unearthed plug supply, also known as the Type C power outlet [3] or Europlug, can be recognised by the 2 adjacent holes next to each other.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Micro USB type B cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the USB charging port on the Jabra Solemate Mini. The USB charging port can be located on the bottom right of the speaker below the line in port.
  4. Switch on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery indicator on the Jabra Solemate Mini will glow red when low, yellow when half full and green when fully charged. Typically the battery will take 3 hours to completely charge although this may take longer if you use the Jabra Solemate Mini during the charging process. [AD]
Charging the Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

How to use a Type E power charger for recharging your Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet

Using USB Type B cord and a Type E USB adapter to power the Jabra Solemate Mini with a French power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the Jabra Solemate Mini from the French power outlet you will need to buy a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [5].
  2. Start by plugging the Type E USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. You can recognise this wall outlet by two large round adjacent holes for live and neutral pins plus a metal grounding pin protruding the top in a triangular pattern.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable into the bottom of the USB adapter and the other end into the USB charging port on the Jabra Solemate Mini. The USB charging port can be found to the bottom right of the speaker below the line in port.
  4. Turn on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery indicator on the Jabra Solemate Mini will glow red when low, yellow when half full and green when fully charged. Typically the battery will take three hours to completely charge although this may take longer if you use the Jabra Solemate Mini during the charging process. [AD]
How to use a Type E power charger for recharging your Jabra Solemate Mini from a French power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia web page about France
  2. Jabra - official Jabra Solemate Mini support site
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  5. USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable - Used to connect USB devices which have a USB Mini-B port to computers, power supplies and other devices.
  6. iec.ch - Type E power outlet
  7. Type E USB power plug adapter - Meeting CEE 7/5 and CEE 7/6 standards, the Type E USB power plug adapter uses the Schuko standard with two round pins and an earthing hole. It adapts European outlets such as Germany to USB-standard ports for USB device charging..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..