Replace battery in Braun toothbrush

[Richard Tobin]

I want to replace the rechargable battery in a Braun / Oral-B electric toothbrush. There are several videos on youtube showing how to disassemble one, such as

which appears to show a very similar model, but it doesn't work for me.

I've removed the ring at the top, and the base, and released the little plastic clips, but the mechanism doesn't slide out as shown in the videos. I've applied a lot of pressure, so I think there must be some concealed screw or similar.

Has anyone solved this problem?

-- Richard

[John Williamson]

As they seem to change the design every time Tesco restock, no. The brushes fit, but that's the only link I can see.

The ultrasonic weld sealing it may have worked on yours, but not the one in the video. It's unlikely there's a screw, they're too expensive to fit on stuff in that price range.

[Peter Parry]

If it is more than a few years old you will probably find there is quite a lot of corrosion inside and that may be preventing it from sliding out.

[DerbyBorn]

Peter Parry wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Are you pressing the shaft inwards to help push the mechanism out? Worth cleaning any limescale off it first or the rubber seal will be damaged.

[polygonum]

When I took apart an old one, for which I had already got and started to use a replacement, the insides were somewhat mucky near the top. Decided that the effort of cleaning it all properly was disproportionate to any possible benefit - and there was no point replacing the battery but not cleaning it. After all, that muck might have been a major part of the cause of it becoming so slow and ineffective.

The above was despite always washing the device down with plenty of water.

[Timothy Murphy]

But WHY do they make it so difficult to replace the battery? Why are toothbrushes different to every other device?

Are there any decent electric toothbrushes with (easily) replaceable batteries?

[John Williamson]

I use one which needs a pair of AAA cells which are reasonably easy to change, given the need to make the battery compartment completely watertight.

[Richard Tobin]

Yes, and I've tried banging it on a hard surface and hitting it with a hammer.

This is Edinburgh :-)

I suspect they have taken to filling them with glue.

-- Richard

[Richard Tobin]

So you but a new one instead. It's called planned obsolescence.

They aren't. Shavers are much the same, and so are many mobile phones. Even Apple laptops now have the battery glued in.

-- Richard

[polygonum]

My first electric toothbrush used some sort of disposable (AA or AAA - cannot remember). Actually used rechargeables and it was a real pain - and, being many years ago, the available cells were not as good as today. At least the sealed in ones allow recharging without any fuss at all.

[DerbyBorn]

[e-mail] (Richard Tobin) wrote in news:ls7hng$11p4$2 @macpro.inf.ed.ac.uk:

If they made the battery replaceable then they would need a waterproof but acceptably useable hatch. They would need battery connections that did not deteriorate - soldering would be out of the question. The replacement would have to be "doable" by the lowest common denominator otherwise it would not get approval. Making it "No user serviceable parts inside" is their way out.

[Timothy Murphy]

I've never seen any mobile phone except the iPhone that does not have a removable battery.

In my view this is a sufficient reason in itself to go for Android.

[Andy Burns]

My Nexus4, Nexus5, Nexus7 haven't got removable batteries (without screwdriver & soldering iron at least), I thought I would dislike that, but given I never needed to replace the battery in my Nexus1, I realised it was a non-issue. Similarly the dropping of the SD card slot.

[Timothy Murphy]

I do not think that would be very difficult. I have garden water timers - from Hozelock and Lidl - that have replaceable batteries, in a situation that must get much wetter than toothbrushes. Also outdoor LED lights, weather stations, etc.

I would suspect some sort of secret agreement between Braun and Philips.

[polygonum]

Nokia 1520. And by golly, you can see them at a distance. :-)

[DerbyBorn]

Timothy Murphy wrote in news:ls7nu8$je0$ [e-mail]:

My outdoor LED lights are only waterproof by virtue of the shape of them which channels water away from the electronics. Not waterproof at all - merely sheltered from rain. There are no seals to protect from water in any direction. No experience of the other devices - could they cope with perhaps being left in a washbasin of water?

[Tim Streater]

Stuff like that is too cheap to bother fixing, given the conditions of use. I also find that the £10 Oral-B ones last a year if you're lucky. For longer life you need to buy the more expensive model. The one I have now still going strong after about 8 years.

[Richard Tobin]

Google Nexus 4 and 5.

-- Richard

[S Viemeister]

The Nexus 5 doesn't have a removable battery.

[Peter Parry]

They have to survive in quite a harsh environment with an abrasive slurry at the oscillating end. I've never had any problem taking OralB toothbrushes apart, the older ones just required a half twist using the charger as the tool and the innards then slid out. However the innards were always so corroded it wasn't sensible to try just to fit new batteries.