Cochlear.com tells me in an email that after 1/1/26 I will no longer be able to buy microphone covers for my Nucleus 7. Since a Nucleus 8 would be on my nickel I will keep my Nucleus 7. Would microphone covers for the Nucleus 8 fit on my Nucleus 7?
Thanks
@nelhop I’m not sure about the microphone covers. I know the N8 is slightly smaller than the N7, at a guess I’d say no…
I know this isn’t recommended but I washed my N7 & N8 microphone covers. Using a soft child’s toothbrush I gently cleaned the covers in warm water only, no detergent…Air dried them for a few hours then put them in my dry box for a full cycle, just to make sure they are properly dried. I check the non replaceable filters are still intact before putting them away for reuse. They work fine for me, I’ve not had a problem at all. As I said it’s not recommended though…
The rechargeable batteries on the N7/N8 work on both devices… Otherwise you will have to stock up on microphone covers before the 1/1/26.
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If you must do that, I propose a final rinse with distilled water. This is because when tap water dries, calcium salts previously dissolved in the water may precipitate.
Distilled water contains no dissolved substances, so after evaporation, there should be no residue on the microphone membranes.
WARNING:
distilled water is not to be drunk! It may cause life-threatening acute hyponatremia.
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They do not fit. I have an N7 & an N8 right now, having just fitted my N8 yesterday. The batteries seem interchangeable despite official Cochlear advice that they should not be used for the wrong device. If they really had different internal specs, they would have made the connectors incompatible.
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Seems odd they wouldn’t continue with maintenance items like coils, magnets and mic covers.
I got the email and also the letter in postage about the N7 as well.
I like Sheryl’s idea about gently washing the mic covers. Bimodal’s comment about distilled water is good too. Actually using distilled water to wash them would clean them pretty good. The lack of ions in the distilled water is a magnet to things that get the mic covers dirty.
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I know that Nucleus 6 is out of service support since at least 2023, probably 10 years after its announcement.
Thanks for the information from all of you. I will buy a few more microphone covers and clean them as needed per your instructions. It’s a shame Cochlear charges $40 for a couple of pieces of plastic that probably costs them less than a cent. But that’s business and there are no competitors.
Eva (Nelhop)
I have caught better prices on eBay but it’s rare.
As these parts get older they will get cheaper for awhile.
I have found K2 mic covers for about half price. Getting the right color is the challenge. Unless you don’t care which I have done. It is kind of fun sometimes.
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