"b" wrote in message
ups.com...
This is a handheld shaver , typeGRUNDIG BETA G8234
I would say late 80s vintage, a relative dug it out recently after
about 8 years' nonuse and found it wasn't working.

I plugged it in and the charge light comes on, but the unit would not
react in 'on' mode, even with the mains lead connected. Having opened
it up, the two NiCad cells have deteriorated. I have two questions:

1. is this likely to be JUST a matter of changing the cells? if so,
why did the thing not work off the mains? Is it normal in certain
shavers for the power not to be connected to the motor in any way, but
the motor to be wired via the charging circuit ?

Yes. If a cell is shorted, the power supply won't be able to deliver full
voltage to the motor with the cell in place. The power supply is designed
to survive this, since it's a common failure mode, but it won't work until
the cells are changed and at least partly charged up.

2. Are these cells likely to be 'standard' 1.2v cells? no voltage ref
is visible.

Yes.

(I'm speaking on the basis of experience with Norelco (Philips) shavers.)