i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve

i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery.

I don't know specifically. However, once you manage to get inside, it is
almost certain that the battery will be a couple of NiCd or NiMH AA cells,
possibly tagged, or possibly another easily obtainable size. Very few
consumer products use genuinely custom batteries, once you get past the
fancy casings.

Christian.

"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Paul

r.p.mcmurphy wrote:
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


I replaced the NiCd battery in my Braun with a slightly smaller NiMH, it
was fairly easy and well worth doing. Once the bottom plug is undone
(bayonet fitting) the innards can be pushed out with the metal drive pin
at the top. I seem to remember the battery was two 2/3D cells in series,
but this may be wrong - it's easy to see when you wind the cardboard
off. Of course this may be absolutely no use at all for a Sonicare Tbrush.

--
Dave S
(The return email address is a dummy)

"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.

--
Chris Green

wrote:
"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.

For a few minutes.
They will fail if left wet for days, as would be the case for trapped
moisture.

wrote in message ...
"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try
anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and
buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there
expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.

--
Chris Green

not saying it will not work or cause you any damage but over time if water
gets in it will eventually corrode and stop working

Ian Stirling wrote:
wrote:
"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.

For a few minutes.
They will fail if left wet for days, as would be the case for trapped
moisture.

.... but a toothbrush will probably dry out if stood up on normal
fashion on the charger. Why will it fail if wet anyway? A toy might
well fail because of corroision or whatever but I doubt if there's
anything much to corrode in an electric toothbrush.

--
Chris Green

"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
wrote in message ...
"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try
anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and
buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there
expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.


not saying it will not work or cause you any damage but over time if water
gets in it will eventually corrode and stop working

What will corrode? I doubt there's any steel in there.

--
Chris Green

On 21 Jan 2005 15:34:31 GMT, wrote:

"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
wrote in message ...
"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try
anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and
buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there
expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.


not saying it will not work or cause you any damage but over time if water
gets in it will eventually corrode and stop working

What will corrode? I doubt there's any steel in there.

Any metal will corrode rapidly in the combined presence of moisture and a few volts.
I would suggest a 'one time repair' by using plenty of silicone sealer when you put it back together
- you probably won't be able to get it apart again but it should last longer....

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:46:49 -0000, "Paul \( Skiing8 \)"
wrote:

"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

ta

Steve


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Paul


Most things are labelled non-replaceable because they want you to buy
a new one!

It's generally possible to get into anything if you're careful and
patient (and have a lot of different screwdrivers) and you can always
seal it up again with epoxy or something. Fair enough, you won't be
able to replace the batteries again easily, but you're still doubling
its life.

C

wrote:
Ian Stirling wrote:
wrote:
"Paul \( Skiing8 \)" wrote:
"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy
a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive
to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.


They are probably non-replaceable because the case is sealed for
waterproofness..... and that could make it hard to get into.
Also when you replace the batteries it will be hard to seal it back up.

Waterproofness hardly matters for something that has just one or two
NiCd cells in it. Battery torches and toys work quite happily
underwater in my experience.

For a few minutes.
They will fail if left wet for days, as would be the case for trapped
moisture.

... but a toothbrush will probably dry out if stood up on normal
fashion on the charger. Why will it fail if wet anyway? A toy might
well fail because of corroision or whatever but I doubt if there's
anything much to corrode in an electric toothbrush.

Failing all else - the batteries.
Also, the circuitry, ...

If water gets into fairly-well (but not perfectly) sealed things, it does not
tend to come out.

Mike Harrison wrote:
snip
Any metal will corrode rapidly in the combined presence of moisture and a few volts.
I would suggest a 'one time repair' by using plenty of silicone sealer when you put it back together
- you probably won't be able to get it apart again but it should last longer....

As an alternative - hot-melt-glue may be handy.
It can then be dissasembled by heating to 70C or so in an oven.

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:43:29 -0000, "r.p.mcmurphy"
wrote:

i have an aging sonicare toothbrush with a slowly failing battery. i
understand there supposed to be non replaceable...but im gonna try anyway!
has any one on here had a go at doing this? im loathed to go out and buy a
new one....cus its one gadget i wouldn't be without...but there expensive to
replace just cus it needs a new battery.

Hi,

This should help, if your brush is one of the 'Elite' range:

http://www.sonicare.com/owners/elite_manual/manual_recycling.asp

CAUTION
Caution should be exercised when using any household tools (such as a
screwdriver) to remove the battery.

1 Deplete the battery of any charge by removing the handle from the
charger base, turning on the product and allowing it to run until it
stops. Repeat this step until the product will no longer operate.

2 Remove the soft touch rib by inserting a screwdriver under it and
breaking it out.

3 Remove the nut from the brush head and place onto the handle.Tighten
the nut onto the handle (A) until the housing comes loose and then
pull the nut forward (B).

4 Insert a screwdriver between the electronic circuit board and the
plastic part close to each end of the battery; twist and break the
battery connection from the electronic circuit board in 2 locations.

5 Separate the rechargeable battery from the appliance by means of a
screwdriver.

==================


For the Advance range it looks like you have to break into the casing
somehow (( :

http://www.sonicare.com/owners/advance_manual/manual_recycling.asp

Battery Recycling
Your Sonicare toothbrush will give you many years of use. However,
once it no longer functions, DO NOT put your Sonicare handle or
batteries in the garbage. The nickel-cadmium batteries used to power
your Sonicare toothbrush must be recycled or disposed of properly.

As a service to you and our environment, we will recycle your Sonicare
toothbrush for you. For more information about this program, contact
us (U.S. customers only).

If you wish to personally recycle your Sonicare toothbrush handle at
the end of its life, insert a flat-head screwdriver in a slot between
the 2 halves of the handle at the threaded end, and then break apart
the 2 halves. Remove the batteries from the inside of the handle and
dispose of them properly in accordance with your local recycling
program.

The batteries inside your Sonicare toothbrush cannot be replaced. Do
not attempt to replace batteries by opening your Sonicare toothbrush.

Recycling is important because it helps us to conserve our natural
resources and protect our environment. Please help take care of our
environment!

Handle contains nickel-cadmium batteries. Batteries must be recycled
or disposed of properly.

==================


Maybe a dremel, plastic pipe cutter or even a normal pipe cutter would
be a fairly neat way of cutting through the casing if need be.

Leaving it on the charger when not in use should give the best battery
life (and IME gives the best performance).

Also I only use mine in the evenings as some dentists feel they're too
fierce to be used more than once a day. Teeth should be just as clean
in the morning and the heads will last twice as long than using it
twice a day.

HTH,
Pete.

On 21 Jan 2005 17:21:11 GMT, Ian Stirling wrote:

Mike Harrison wrote:
snip
Any metal will corrode rapidly in the combined presence of moisture and a few volts.
I would suggest a 'one time repair' by using plenty of silicone sealer when you put it back together
- you probably won't be able to get it apart again but it should last longer....

As an alternative - hot-melt-glue may be handy.
It can then be dissasembled by heating to 70C or so in an oven.

HMG may not adhere very well to the fairly shiny plastic, and may crack off

Mike Harrison wrote:
On 21 Jan 2005 17:21:11 GMT, Ian Stirling wrote:

Mike Harrison wrote:
snip
Any metal will corrode rapidly in the combined presence of moisture and a few volts.
I would suggest a 'one time repair' by using plenty of silicone sealer when you put it back together
- you probably won't be able to get it apart again but it should last longer....

As an alternative - hot-melt-glue may be handy.
It can then be dissasembled by heating to 70C or so in an oven.

HMG may not adhere very well to the fairly shiny plastic, and may crack off

True.
In my experience, it works fairly well - as long as you're not trying to
glue bits end-end.
Which thinking about it, may well be the case.