Sonicare toothbrush: Replace batteries?

[Muse]

Is it possible or is it a lost cause? I put the handle on the charger yesterday and it started charging as usual (I only charge when depleted) and a while later the handle stopped flashing that it was charging and it shows no life. There's a seam down the center but it doesn't seem to want to be pried open. Costco has them on sale sometimes, but not now. Has anyone replaced the batteries in these or is it a lost cause and I have to shop for another electric toothbrush?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

"It's dead, Jim!"

 

[Baked]

How long have you had it? I just use the disposable multi-pack ones from costco. works well I think.

 

[dingster1]

I replace mine all the time. Pop out the battery and put fresh ones in.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Hit up youtube, plenty of info on how to do it.

 

[allisolm]

When mine stopped recharging I bought a new handle on ebay for about $20.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

When mine stopped recharging I bought a new handle on ebay for about $20.

The batteries are also on there, along with links to changing them.

 

[RichieZ]

i had my replaced via a service on ebay, when it came back the batteries still sucked

 

[Eli]

Funny, I was just thinking about this the other day. I tend to let the batteries die completely before recharging them, thought maybe the excessive depth of discharge could be shortening their life.

Good to know you can replace them yourself though.

 

[Muse]

I replace mine all the time. Pop out the battery and put fresh ones in.

How do you open it? I just tried prying it open and the plastic shell's starting to break!

 

[manly]

Funny, I was just thinking about this the other day. I tend to let the batteries die completely before recharging them, thought maybe the excessive depth of discharge could be shortening their life.

Good to know you can replace them yourself though.

just watched the videos, and older Sonicare handles have Ni-CD batteries inside. These do exhibit a memory effect, so a full discharge is advisable. I think Sonicare's manual suggests you can top off the battery at any time, but that probably just leads to a shorter lifespan. The cells look like AAs with extra contact tabs, I wonder if Eneloops could work. With deep discharging, I've been able to get numerous years out of my handles.

The new FlexCare handles use Li-Ion batteries and should perform better without requiring deep discharging.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

How do you open it? I just tried prying it open and the plastic shell's starting to break!

It is different depending on the model. Like I said above, check youtube.

 

[Muse]

"It's dead, Jim!"

Yeah, it's dead, but it's just the gadam battery. Figure I shouldn't have to buy a whole new TB. It's one of the old ones, doesn't say the model number. All the videos I'm seeing, sites, even the ebay hits on sonicare+battery show newer models. :\

Guess I'll probably wind up picking up a new handle on ebay.

 

[Muse]

I found a an ebay listing with video that shows you how to replace the battery:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Replacement-Batteries-Sonicare-Advance-Toothbrush-/110515061442

However, mine didn't open, it just continued to crack and the case completely broke apart. That's the end of my Sonicare Advance TB...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Yeah, it's dead, but it's just the gadam battery. Figure I shouldn't have to buy a whole new TB. It's one of the old ones, doesn't say the model number. All the videos I'm seeing, sites, even the ebay hits on sonicare+battery show newer models. :\

Guess I'll probably wind up picking up a new handle on ebay.

I applaud and understand your desire to fix something rather than replace it. However, some appliances (too many) are designed to be replaced rather than fixed. The net result is an entire generation that would never think of repairing anything and, if they did, wouldn't have the foggiest of where to begin.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Yeah, it's dead, but it's just the gadam battery. Figure I shouldn't have to buy a whole new TB. It's one of the old ones, doesn't say the model number. All the videos I'm seeing, sites, even the ebay hits on sonicare+battery show newer models. :\

Guess I'll probably wind up picking up a new handle on ebay.

Check the bottom of the handle for the model number, mine is old, but still says 7300 on it.

 

[NutBucket]

The cells look like AAs with extra contact tabs.....

You can buy NiCD/NiMH batteries with tabs at any decent hobby shop.

That said, my Braun is in need of some new batteries. Time to check that out.

 

[Muse]

Check the bottom of the handle for the model number, mine is old, but still says 7300 on it.

I didn't see a model number on the bottom of the handle when I looked today. However, some searching revealed it's evidently the Sonicare Advantage. No matter now, the case completely broke to pieces when I tried to get at the batteries. I don't think I'll be buying another Sonicare. I'm looking at the Oral-B models. There are many to choose from and it's pretty unclear what to get. There's talk of 50% rebates, but I can't tell if I'll get that buying online. Maybe I'll wait for a deal to become obvious to me and until I have more time to research what's out there and the ins and outs of the features. The 5000 and 4000 look pretty good. Costco has a $20 coupon now for a pair of Oral-B, but I don't know the feature set or what the base price is, I hate it when their mailers do that.

I still have a cheapy Oral-B Vitality that I picked up for around $15 a couple of years ago. It's now my only electric, but I suppose I'll get by with it until I get a better one.

 

[0roo0roo]

i took apart an oralb once, it had some weird shaped nimh or nicad, it was also sorta rusty and nasty inside as some water does seem to seep in there, so i tossed it i doubt you can do any fix worth bothering with.

 

[manly]

The Oral-B 50% rebate ended last month. It's ran twice this year so there's a chance they'll promote it again. The Costco 2-pack for $85ish is equivalent to the Oral-B 3000 model. I'm partial to Sonicare, but the Oral-B 4000 is the sweet spot for value with the 50% back rebate, and cheaper brush heads.

You can buy NiCD/NiMH batteries with tabs at any decent hobby shop.

thanks, wouldn't have known if not for this thread.

 

[Muse]

i took apart an oralb once, it had some weird shaped nimh or nicad, it was also sorta rusty and nasty inside as some water does seem to seep in there, so i tossed it i doubt you can do any fix worth bothering with.

Here's a video showing how to replace a battery in an Oral-B electric brush:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq2VthZxsts

 

[Muse]

The Oral-B 50% rebate ended last month. It's ran twice this year so there's a chance they'll promote it again. The Costco 2-pack for $85ish is equivalent to the Oral-B 3000 model. I'm partial to Sonicare, but the Oral-B 4000 is the sweet spot for value with the 50% back rebate, and cheaper brush heads.


thanks, wouldn't have known if not for this thread.

I'm thinking 4000 or 5000. Don't know if I'll wait for a rebate. Some info I saw indicated that the 50% rebate was available only from dentists, don't see anything saying it was available any other way.

Info online says the 50% rebate was good on purchases until 12/31 or so, so I was hoping I could still find it.

My dentist is supposed to call me back this morning but I'm told that he doesn't sell brushes so I'm probably SOL on that one. I'll probably pick one up on ebay. :\

Looks to me like Costco's offerings are 2nd tier.
- - - -
Edit: Dentist office just called me back (the dentist's wife, who does reception work on Mondays) and said they don't carry electric brushes, the ones I saw on display were just to show to patients, "we're not really in the business of selling brushes." I told her they could ask Oral-B for them, and she said they'd mention it to the rep. Oh well. I'll just pick the best deal I see on ebay and be done with it, enough snarking around.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Just go back to a manual toothbrush, problem solved.

 

[TwiceOver]

Just go back to a manual toothbrush, problem solved.

This. I used a Sonicare for a few years then didn't have it on a trip and used a manual and couldn't believe how much cleaner my teeth felt. Wife still uses the Sonicare since it cost such a ridiculous amount of money.

Your dentist gives you a new one twice a year for free.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

This. I used a Sonicare for a few years then didn't have it on a trip and used a manual and couldn't believe how much cleaner my teeth felt. Wife still uses the Sonicare since it cost such a ridiculous amount of money.

Your dentist gives you a new one twice a year for free.

I have read up on both of them, honestly when it comes to which does the best job, the best is the one you USE. As long as you take the time to brush properly, no one is going to look at your teeth and be able to say %100 that you use an electric or manual.