You can put either HA in either slot in the ZPower charger and it would charge just fine because I’ve done that before. The ZPower is a contact-based charger, though, so you’d have to put it in the correct direction, and it has to sit properly inside the slot before the green light starts flashing. There’s no communication between the charger and the HA, though, and there’s no collection of battery history.
I can only offer this explaination:
They face inward when properly placed as opposed to outward when not.LOL!
Again, I read somewhere that the inductive coupling for the SmartCharger must match that of the HA.
I have since been told that they may be held up because of supply chain issues and that they are not listed in the catalogue yet because of that. I was also told to order it now so that I can be in line when they are able to deliver it. She was going to make a call to see what the timing might be and to confirm the cost. I will pass that info along when I get it.
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Something I picked up from another thread about rechargeable battery system, the fact that it may not be wise to put rechargeable batteries into dryer that may prove to be hot enough to be bad for the batteries’ longevity. I immediately thought of this new “SmartCharger” for the More, which claims to generate heat in the enclosure that doubles up as a “dryer”. I wonder whether it’s actually a bad thing that Oticon tries to spin into a good thing or what? I guess it depends on how hot it gets inside the SmartCharger enclosure. If it’s hot enough, the heat is actually more damaging to the batteries than the “drying” action.
The question is whether you need to close the lid in order for the charging to take place or not? If not, then you can leave the lid open at night during charging.
While on the go now and then, I guess keeping the lid closed to keep the HAs in place while charging once in a while is not a big deal.
It is unlikely that the the unit will generate enough heat to be an issue and it is likely that they have incorporated heat dissipation into the design. Computers and phones with rechargeable batteries do just that.
I realize this is a rather old post… but wanted to reply on this issue: Until we actually try out the unit and see how it is designed, we will have no knowledge of what it is capable of. Humidity will need to be dissipated in some fashion and if it was designed to do this function, I am sure they will have taken this into account.
The issue of how long the batteries in the unit will last and whether they will be replaceable is an interesting one. I have found that three years is usually the point at which rechargeable batteries start to go south. Could be quicker if the unit is not used much or if it is allowed to discharge completely on a regular basis. I use rechargeable batteries a lot in my work (video production) and you have to get in a routine with them to keep them in top condition and even then, they need replacement periodically. Replacement could be a new profit center for audiologists!
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I think Oticon quotes a 5 year service life on their Lithium-ion batteries but of course that remains to be seen. You’re right that a complete discharge can be more harmful to the longevity of the battery. That’s why on EVs they build buffers around real full charge and real complete discharge to prolong battery longevity. We don’t really know if Oticon builds buffers around their battery like that or not. The only data point is that I think Jim (@spudgunner) mentioned that he accidentally let his battery completely discharge only once and had to get them replaced under warranty.
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@Volusiano: I’m still not sure of the etiology of that failure:
- The batteries I originally had didn’t hold a charge nearly as well as my current replacements;
- Only one battery showed zero charge: the other had 2% left. Even that battery failed in the same way as the first within a day or two;
- The HA that said it was completely discharged fired up into a normal charge cycle as soon as I connected the charger to a power source (just like the 2% unit, and - even though that one never hit zero - it failed, too).
So, I wouldn’t want to frighten people by leading them to believe that one mistake will fry Oticon batteries.
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The buffer that EV manufacturers build is a few lines in the manual to keep the charge between 90% and 20%, and only when necessary charge to 100%.
Just stumbled across this thread . . . fwiw, Olson just published a youtube review of this charger wherein (at 5:00) he cites its dehydrator capability as an important feature since, in his opinion, moisture is a chief cause for HA’s repairs. Apparently, even in hot and dry climes (like AZ), some people sweat a lot.
Since I already have the (common) Zephyr brick dehydrator I used with my previous battery HA’s, my (since fired) Audi recommended I periodically use it with my new rechargeables. That was bad advice, as the manufacturer’s website indicates that the Zephyr and similar models produce too much heat, possibly damaging the recharageable battery. This manufacturer instead recommends its DryBoost UV dehydrator (in which you place your standard charger, the cycles run in parallel).
But Oticon on its Smart Charger web page suggests the PerfectDry LUX system as a safe alternative, which is only ~$60 and only uses a 30 minute cycle. So if one doesn’t need the extra power-bank on this charger but wants dehydration, this appears to be a good alternative.
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I stopped by a local audiologist last week as I needed a charger for my new More 1 (scored on eBay without a charger), and to my surprise they had the new SmartChargers in stock. Bought one for $300, and skipped on standard charger. Not sure why anyone would want the standard one at this point.
A few SmartChargers observations:
- It looks sleek and has a smaller and wider footprint. It’s stable and easy to plug and unplug thanks to USB-C interface (no more finding the right orientation).
- Great to have built in drying
- LEDs are smartly in the back, and don’t light up continuously, so no annoying lights by your bedside.
- Size is ever so slightly smaller than my KS10 charger, and much smaller than the KS10 charger with the battery pack option. Looks also much sleeker.
- Definitely worth it, for travel, but also power outages. Last month, after an overnight power outage, I was without hearing aids. Not only did my hearing aids not charge overnight, they drained as the outage turned them on.
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My smart charger stop functioning after 10 days usage. It is better to keep the standard charger as a standby just in case the smart charger goes death.
Used dry desiccant (food grade) for drying process or raw rice as an drying agent. Wrap 2 teaspoon of raw rice with a layer of cloth. Put the HA on top of the cloth overnight. Used for 4-5 times, then throw away the raw rice. Proven to be a good drying agent.
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@dankailo: I have suggested this on the Forum before, and the idea has been dismissed. I’m glad to see you post this from a very humid place, because your experience with rice’s effectiveness matches mine. Thank you.
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I saw a research report mentioning that Raw rice is just as good as a desiccant. Only thing is that when the desiccant expired, we are not able to see the difference. There is some desiccant with color pigment. When expired with moisture it will turn its color. There are a lot of food desiccants on the China website. Not sure whether eBay website has it or not. In hot and humid Asia , the Chinese herbal shop usually has a layer of raw rice in a glass bottle/tank to keep the highly prized abalone or bird nest.
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I ordered one on the “my second ear” website but it never shipped and I had to request a refund.
I am a hearing disabled veteran and the VA provided my smart charger as soon as it became available.
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That’s fantastic!! And thank you for your service!
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What about an efficient hearing aids drier.?
That’s amazing.de, but probably in stock on other sites
This is a good idea. We can buy the small packet of desiccant and keep it in the space during night charging. Not sure if the smart charger is air-tight or not when closed. Thanks for the wonderful idea.