In the vast majority of cases, the response is “No!” Why? since your Oral-B electric toothbrush battery isn’t replaceable. The toothbrush handle’s electronics contain the battery. Its assembly is then sealed to keep it dry. As a result, most electric toothbrush manufacturers do not provide replacement batteries.
This is because your toothbrush’s type number and your charger’s type number are not related. They do not have to match. They used to correspond to some extent. But in recent years, they have diverged and are now independent of one another.
Things that you should know about electric chargers
Chargers that work without wires (wireless)
Wireless (induction) charging is the technology behind everything. It is from rechargeable toothbrushes. It also includes phone charging mats and the latest wireless recharging bays for electric cars.
Just take a deeper look at how it works. Be familiar with the basics of how regular electric transformers function. But, if you aren’t, you can read our article on transformers first. If you’re interested in learning more about different types of chargers, check out our article on battery chargers.
Chargers that are commonplace (ordinary)
The majority of small electronic devices we use in our homes run on low voltages. Typically, 5–10% of the voltage is used by larger electric appliances like vacuum cleaners and clothes washers. That means we usually need to use transformers to “step down” the household voltage.
The purpose of this is to make sure that electrical devices can be securely powered without blowing up. All your chargers are hidden behind all your transformers. The operation of these simple chargers is straightforward. The power goes into the charger from the wall outlet. The electricity is “stepped down” to a significantly lower voltage via a transformer inside the charger.
The charger then sends a low-voltage current to the battery in your appliance. The crucial thing to remember is that the charger contains all three elements of the transformer. These are the primary coil, secondary coil, and the iron core that connects them.
Chargers that use induction
So far, so good—but what about an electric toothbrush that doesn’t have a power cord to connect to the wall? Like a cellphone or an MP3 player, an electric toothbrush and its charger need a transformer. But, it’s intelligently split into two pieces. With half of the transformer in the toothbrush’s bottom and the rest in the charging base, it stands.
The primary coil is located in the charger base and is protected by a plastic-covered iron peg. The secondary coil is in the toothbrush’s base, which you rest on the iron peg. What is the purpose of the peg? It’s not just to keep the best battery toothbrush from swaying. It’s also the electromagnetic link between the primary and secondary coils.
When the toothbrush is placed on the peg, it creates a full transformer. This uses electromagnetic induction to transfer energy from the base coil to the toothbrush coil via the iron peg that connects them. The toothbrush’s two coil ends are simply connected to the rechargeable battery within.
Chargers with resonant frequencies have
Although they work well and are handier than cable chargers, charging mats have several limitations. You can only charge a limited number of devices at once, and your devices must be placed directly on the mat. This ensures that only the “connected” gadgets charge, with the least impact on other electrical devices in the vicinity.
Is it necessary to have electric toothbrushes plugged in all the time?
It is quite safe to unplug the power and leave the brush connected to the charging station. This will help to keep the toothbrush upright and limit the chance of it being damaged. It’s good to leave the power cable attached in most cases, but it’s not needed.
When your electric toothbrush is fully charged, how do you know?
A battery level indicator will be seen on the front of some brushes. The battery is fully charged when it is a solid green color or no longer glowing. If it’s blinking green, it’s probably charging. The colors red and yellow usually state that it is little or no charge left.
When there are no metal contacts between the toothbrush and the base, how can an electric toothbrush recharge its batteries?
If you have the best electric toothbrush, it’s likely that the toothbrush unit is completely sealed. The toothbrush is resting on the charger with no metal contacts connecting it to the base. This makes the toothbrush completely watertight, so water can’t get in through the exposed contacts.
It also prevents water from getting into the contacts and shorting the charger out. Inductive charging is the term for this type of sealed arrangement. The toothbrush and the base, in essence, form a two-part transformer. Its base housing is one part, and the toothbrush housing is the other.
The complete transformer is created when you slide the toothbrush onto the base. This allows the charge to flow. One of the coils and the metal bar are housed in the base. The second coil is found in the toothbrush. When you place the toothbrush on the base, the transformer is complete!
Do electric toothbrush chargers use energy when the toothbrush isn’t in use?
An induction charger is made up of two transformer halves, each with a coil. To charge the battery, the mains electricity in the coil of the base induces a trickle of current in a smaller coil in the toothbrush. A perfect transformer would use no energy.
Coils, somehow, are “lossy,” meaning that some power is wasted as heat even when no current is drawn through the other coil.
FAQs
What is the average lifespan of an electric toothbrush?
An electric toothbrush has a life expectancy of 3–5 years on average. Some companies provide a 60-day money-back guarantee. This implies that if you aren’t satisfied with the goods after 60 days, you have the option to return them and receive a refund.
What is the battery life of a toothbrush?
The amount of time a completely charged battery lasts is determined by how often and how long you brush. When brushing for two minutes twice a day, the Oral-B Genius will last for more than two weeks. To get the most out of your Oral-B rechargeable electric toothbrush, make sure it’s completely charged.
Is it true that the power of electric toothbrushes degrades over time?
When you use an electric toothbrush for a long time, it will eventually wear out. This can make the bristles come off, leaving you with a toothbrush that isn’t good for your teeth.
Why isn’t my Philips Sonicare toothbrush charging anymore?
If the charger is unable to charge any toothbrush, the charger may be defective. To test if the charger is functioning, put your toothbrush on it. If the toothbrush’s battery light does not illuminate, the charger must be replaced.
