If you suspect that the toothbrush battery is deteriorating, here is how you can try to troubleshoot it.
All Oral B toothbrushes except Vitality and Pro 500 have a charging indicator light. The indicator light should flash green during charging. If the toothbrush is completely discharged before charring, it may take up to 15 minutes before the flashes start. When the toothbrush is fully charged, the flashing should stop.
If your empty Oral B toothbrush is sitting on the charger longer than 15 minutes and is showing no signs of life, here is how you can troubleshoot it.
Step 1 - Check The Wall Outlet
When you notice that your Oral B toothbrush is not charging, check if the wall socket you are using is working correctly. Try plugging in a different appliance, for example, hairdryer, to check if there is power in the outlet. Sometimes the bathroom sockets are powered only when the bathroom light or bathroom cabinet light is on. Check it out using a hairdryer as well. Be careful not to charge the toothbrush on a metal surface. The metal can interfere with the charging process. If there is power on the outlet, but the toothbrush still is not charging, let's continue with the next steps. At this point, we can be sure that something is broken. Either your toothbrush battery has died, or the charger is malfunctioning. If you have access to another similar Oral B toothbrush or charger, you can quickly find the faulty device.Step 2 - Check The Charger And Replace If Needed
To check your charger, either put your toothbrush on another charger unit or use another toothbrush handle that you know is working to check your charger. Pretty much all current Oral B models use the Type 3757 charger, so compatibility should not be a problem. What if you could not find another device for testing? Try charging the toothbrush for an hour and then touch the charger. If the charger is working, it should be warm. If both the charger and toothbrush are cold after being connected to the live outlet, it looks like is is time to look for a new charger.Step 3 - Check The Toothbrush
If it turns out the charger is working, the toothbrush is to take the blame. According to toothbrushbattery.com, "There are two main causes for charging faults inside the toothbrush, either damaged components for example from being dropped, or a failed battery." If the unit has been dropped to the floor, it is likely that some internal connection has cracked and lost the connection.Most of the cracked solder joints can be repaired by a skillful handyman using a soldering iron. Another cause of charging failure is the deterioration of the toothbrush battery over time.
Is it possible to replace it? The manufacturer wants you to buy a new battery, so the official answer is no.
In fact, it is possible to replace the faulty Oral B toothbrush battery, but it requires taking apart the brush and resoldering the battery. That is a subject for another article.
Covered By Warranty?
If this does not help and you still cannot charge the toothbrush, you should check if it is still covered by warranty. If it is covered, the manufacturer will solve the issue. If you have had the toothbrush for more than two years, the warranty has expired. However, one of the Oral B service centers may be able to help you.Charging Your Toothbrush Properly
The first time the toothbrush must be completely charged and discharged again (discharge not to 0%, but shortly before it is completely empty). Do not place the toothbrush on the charging station until the toothbrush indicates it should be charged. Then charge the toothbrush only as long as necessary (but until it is full) and avoid overcharging (even if most batteries don't mind).Oral B Toothbrush Charging Times
Vitality and Pro Series - 16 hours. Genius Series - 12 hours. All other models - 22 hours.This article was first posted here:
