OT: Shavers

[Chris J Dixon]

When my Braun 3775 needed battery replacement, I was able instead to get a whole shaver for £35, but it is sadly now completely discontinued.

One of its real advantages is that it works fine on ac or dc from

12 V to 240 V. This means that, with the aid of an adapted lead, it can be recharged when I am in the caravan and without hook-up.

I have not found anything offering this facility nowadays.

Time has passed and both soldered-in batteries have now been replaced, but even these are beginning to loose capacity, even though I only shave the areas around my beard.

So, to the real question, does anybody know of anything currently available that will take charge from such a variety of inputs?

I'm not inclined to go for an inverter, I'd be more inclined to go for a disposable-battery shaver for holiday use, in fact I once had one.

Chris

[Theo]

Can you get one with a USB port? Then you can charge from any power adapter - 12V, mains, or an external battery pack.

Theo

[Brian]

Have you considered replacing the batteries / cells?

While Braun may have discontinued them etc, you may be able to get replacement cells and replace the battery yourself.

There are several videos on YouTube related to Braun shavers which may help.

As a last resort, you could remove the batteries, run a wire ( 2 core) from the +ve and -ve) via a small hole to a 12 V to lower voltage supply for use in the caravan. EBay sell supplies which go from 12v to a lower voltage. Current can?t be that great.

[Chris J Dixon]

As I said above "Time has passed and both soldered-in batteries have now been replaced, but even these are beginning to loose capacity"

I think I still have one more replacement battery left in stock, but I'm sure the mechanical parts, and tiny bits of plastic, must be getting near the end of their useful life.

Chris

[Tim Streater]

The word you are looking for is lose not loose.

[newshound]

+1. More and more stuff seems to be coming like that. Effectively a knock-on from the EU rules on phones, a win-win for everyone (not just for environmental waste).

[Nick Odell]

This last. It's what I use all the year round and have done ever since I used to spend a lot of time in places with unreliable or non-existent electricity supplies and standardised all my electrical/electronic kit based on AA cells. Yes, that was before the days of the smartphone but I'm still generally AA-centric.

I just realised that I'm still happily using the Philips PQ203 I bought in 2015. It's now called the Phillips PQ206 but only sells for two quid more than I paid for it then.

Nick

[S Viemeister]

Indeed. I have a USB charger for my electric toothbrush - lightweight, easy to pack, I've used it in both the UK and the US without needing bulky adapters. Our Xmas fairy lights use USBs. My SAD light is USB powered.

[Dave Plowman (News]

I found a replacement battery pack for my long obsolete Remington razor on Ebay. Not cheap - but I like the razor.

[Theo]

I'm gradually doing that, but using 18650s. They have much better power density and can be harvested for free from old laptop batteries. Lots of Chinese products (eg torches) are based around them now. There are also cheap cases which put Nx 18650s in parallel plus a switching converter to make a USB powerbank. A USB 18650 charger can be charged from just about anything.

However a bit big for a shaver. Apparently some Panasonics take removable

14500s (basically lithium ion AAs) which aren't as common but have the same flexibility and the nice power density, plus no soldering when they need to be replaced.

Theo

[Chris J Dixon]

Mea culpa.

Chris

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Chris J Dixon formulated the question :

The one I bought from lidl, works as well as my Phillishave recheargeable and it will take a charge via USB. USB chargers are available to work from 12v battery, or 240v mains.

[Chris J Dixon]

That sounds a possibility. Do any of the major brands produce one that can be recommended?

Chris

[Keith]

Have you tried:

Hello Chris,