AA powered Sonicare Xtreme e3000, great companion to flashlights

[Handlobraesing]

Ok, so it's actually here. I don't know why it took them so long to come out with it.
http://www.sonicare.com/dp/prof_products/xtreme_pro_series.asp

It makes a great companion to flashlights, because its designed for 2 AA alkalines and runs great on NiMH and it's only $30. Apparently the circuit is the same as other models using NiCd, so it actually shuts off around 0.9v/cell protecting the cells.

The charge lasts a lot longer than the NiCd sealed(which I'd guess is around 700 mAh) into usual Sonicare brushes since you can use eneloops. Not having to take the tree stump charger with you is a great benefit.

This electric tooth brush has the same function as their very basic model, the Advance. It is marketed towards pre-teens and teens, and there is a 2 minute shut off timer and nothing else but it uses a brush head for the Elite series. It's got blue dots decoration that looks like the 80s Sony logo ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sonyd50.JPG )

You'll can't charge the batteries without taking them out, but each charge should last 2-3 times as much as the usual NiCd, but you won't have to throw out the entire brush just because the battery won't hold charge either.

 

[Thujone]

Are you suggesting adding this to your EDC? :thinking:

 

[gunga]

Hmmm, probably a good idea. I saw this a little while ago and promptly forgot about it.

My E-series brush seems to only last about a week even tho I use the Ni-CD batteries carefully (fully discharge). I do like the 30 second intervals on the fancier models but don't use any other features so this is probably a godo replacement purchase.

Should be killer with eneloops!

 

[bhds]

Not sure if I have the extreme version but the battery operated sonicare I have is piece of crap. Works fine but it was built to fail. Completely non-watertight.:thinking:

 

[Handlobraesing]

Not sure if I have the extreme version but the battery operated sonicare I have is piece of crap. Works fine but it was built to fail. Completely non-watertight.:thinking:

Do you have a real Sonicare(i.e. not just an "electric tooth brush"). The Xtreme is the only Sonicare with user replaceable batteries.

 

[Mr Happy]

I had a 'sealed' electric toothbrush, but water got in through the motor shaft from the brush head down to the main battery compartment. It soon died after that.

 

[WDG]

I had a 'sealed' electric toothbrush, but water got in through the motor shaft from the brush head down to the main battery compartment. It soon died after that.

Unless there's been some recent change, Sonicare doesn't have a motor shaft. It's sealed at the end the brush attaches to, and vibrates the brush with a magnetic field. The brushes have some kind of strong magnets at the attachment end. I'm assuming the batteries are at the other end, which shouldn't really be getting very wet, anyway.

Glad to hear about the AA version - we love our Sonicare!

 

[aceo07]

I have a Sonicare AA powered verison, it stopped working after 2 months. Water will leak in and rust everything no matter what you do, unless you're lucky. There are quite a few reviews on Amazon.com that seem to have the same problem. I made all efforts to seal up any holes and dry up after using it up.

 

[bhds]

Sorry, didnt mean to throw a grenade and run:laughing:

Mine is a orange Phillips Sonicare. As aceo07 said, there is a lot of online reviews complaining about water leakage and failure within a few months. I examined mine when I bought it and found numerous entry points for water. Take the brush off and look in. You will see the seam of the 2 halves. If you blow on the top half you can feel the air exiting out the sides and also into the battery compartment. Also, the battery cap has 2 big holes on the bottom.
I took a 2 part epoxy and completey sealed the seam and holes. Used it on a 2 week vacation last month and it seemed to be water tight.

I love my regular sonicare and the portable should hold up for a while, but I just dont understand how they could build such a poorly designed product. What were they thinking? Good thing they dont build boats

 

[Mr Happy]

I bought a sonicare e3000 today, after seeing this thread. Mine seems quite well sealed, with no obvious gaps leading into the motor or battery compartment. There are no holes in the battery cap either. Maybe they've changed the design recently?

I suspect the designers were torn between trying to achieve a perfect seal and failing, or providing sufficient ventilation for any moisture that gets inside to escape.

One thing I noted is you should lay it on its side rather then upright, so that water from the brush head doesn't run down and puddle at the base. It seems to have a special stand provided at the back for this purpose.