Or at a minimum, whoever has the first damaged SmartCharger due to the bad battery can tell use whether they’re still able to continue charging in the plugin mode even with a bad/dead battery inside, then at least we know that it can be relegated to a plugin charging device and does not have to be thrown away or opened up if the owner is not inclined to do so.
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I guesd the problem I am complaining about is that you cannot change the batteries in
the charger.I they stop working you have to buy new charger. I am aware that you have
the same problems with cell phones and I feel the same way about this situation. I read
in this installment of this blog about someone who had the batteries changed in his
cell phone by an independant service person. This is the first time I have heard about
this and I sure will follow up on this.If i remember a new hearing aid charger costs about $300 !
This whole situation seems to me caused by corporate greed. cvkemp if you know the official
explanation the company has for having to buy a new charger when the battery goes
bad would love to hear it.And yes I like the other features you like about the charger
except the need to buy a new one when the battery goes out.
Designed obsolescence.
Hearing aid users are a captive audience.
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I can get 4 charges out of my smart charger.
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I get normal 3 to 4 charges
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I supposed to get three. I’ve only ever used it for one.
Used it twice on battery power overnight in the hospital.
Remember I have Audible/Starkey.
Willing to bet it’s the same thing.
Monkey see monkey do.
Like cell phones.
First, plug in the normal way to smart charger and then put the HA into the charger. Does the HA been charge up. If no, then used a power bank to charge the smart charger. Does it work? If yes, then used the power bank to charge the smart charger with the HA inside.
If no, then asked a electronic technician to open it up and take a photo shot of the battery. Search the internet, you might see one. Most Li battery are made in China.
A picture of what is inside the charger is good for the forum members.
This is the Philips version Smart Charger (Charger Plus), which can charge hearing aids with or without batteries (106mA on USB ports, 8mA when unloaded, and 850mA when charging 18650 battery).
This is a 18650 battery with BMS, thermal protection (TH), and a common connector.
The battery is rated at 3.6V and is 4.1V when fully charged, and the replacement batteries is 3.7V or 3.7V are ok.
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Thanks for sharing, exactly what was needed.
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Thanks for sharing. We would wait for @user419 to show us some pictures if available.
I think that if someone was brave enough to open up the charger and see what
kind of battery is there and if it could be replaced we would all be grateful.I see
that on mine there are two screws on the bottom that could be removed and also
a metal strep that is partially covered by plastic. The danger here is that the charger
may be destroyed if you try to change the batteries,Apple is very good at making
some of their products this way.
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The opened Phillips Smart charger is shown above. The 1st photo and 3rd photo is the same showing the type of battery been used in the Smart charger. This type of battery is very common in the electronic shop. If the run down battery battery (spoilt) could be take out, then the telephone shop could change it. Remember to put back temperature controller back into the new battery.
The battery shown is made by SANYO ENERGY - 2595mAh.
Maybe @Volusiano could comment further on the photos.
Thanks @menglxs for the wonderful pictures. I think the electronic shop in China can change the battery of the Smart charger easily. Get a shop in China who is willing to do job, send by courier to them and send back when done.
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Looks like the smart charger replaceable battery can be easily replaced in any of the electronic shop. Remember to put back the temperature controller back onto the new battery. Then it is done.
For those looking to purchase a travel charger, I purchased one a while ago at a substantial discount from a German firm called mysecondear.com. for 169 euros plus shipping which came to $210 plus $19 shipping. They ship promptly and it took very little time for it to get to me in the U.S. No issues with it at all except that you will need to provide a US charger but most folks have many of those so it is not an issue.
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Not sure if this has been answered earlier in the thread, but I bought a Philips Smart Charger (From Costco) for my Oticon More aids. It works fine price, difference was (CAD) $250 vs $460 for the Oticon brand charger.
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I charge my Oticon More 1 aids at home with a Philips travel charger I bought at Costco for $200. I also use a Bernafon travel charger that I keep at my significant other’s house.
Thanks for the tip on mysecondear.com, it looks like they have great prices for those lucky enough to live in Europe. But how did you get it shipped to the US? When I try to check out, it makes me select a country, and it only allows selection from European countries, and their Shipping FAQ states, “We ship to all countries in the EU.” Is there some way around this? Or did their policies change recently?
DOES not apply to HI
Hi Member 170,
I purchased my charger in March of last year and they charged me $19 to ship it to the USA, while shipping to Europe was free. My suggestion is to drop them a note directly about it and I am sure they will get back to you with an answer.
I dropped them a note and got the following back shortly thereafter:
"Hi Jeremy,
We ship within europe only, sorry!
Freundliche Grüße"
So, if you are in Europe, you can buy from them, but that is it.
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Too bad, but thanks for checking with them!