Just brought a Philishave HQ 6879 - battery question

[Rmac86]

Hi guys,

I’m a real sucker for older Philishaves, especially unused ones and I recently bagged this one, a super reflex 6-series that I reckon is from about 2006 to 2009.

The shaver still had its original Philips hygiene seal on and the seller said it had never been used. Charging cable, brush and case were included as well as instructions etc.

I unpacked it and plugged it in, expecting the batteries to be dead, but to my surprise it started charging almost immediately! After around 4 hours of charging (per the instructions) I tried it out and it works fine. But that was 2 days ago and when I went to use it the shaver wouldn’t even turn on.

I charged it again and normal usage is restored, but am wondering how long it will last?

Should I just pay for a service to replace the battery, or just use it plugged in (it works both ways)?

 

[Jim Elliott]

Hi guys,

I’m a real sucker for older Philishaves, especially unused ones and I recently bagged this one, a super reflex 6-series that I reckon is from about 2006 to 2009.

The shaver still had its original Philips hygiene seal on and the seller said it had never been used. Charging cable, brush and case were included as well as instructions etc.

I unpacked it and plugged it in, expecting the batteries to be dead, but to my surprise it started charging almost immediately! After around 4 hours of charging (per the instructions) I tried it out and it works fine. But that was 2 days ago and when I went to use it the shaver wouldn’t even turn on.

I charged it again and normal usage is restored, but am wondering how long it will last?

Should I just pay for a service to replace the battery, or just use it plugged in (it works both ways)?

You got a great find there; unused Philishaves are a rare treat. Given its age, the battery is likely well past its prime, even if it initially seemed to charge. Older NiMH or NiCd batteries can sometimes show a charge but then drain quickly due to internal degradation.

If it works while plugged in, that’s a solid workaround, but if you want full cordless functionality, replacing the battery is your best bet. If you're comfortable with basic repairs, you might be able to swap it yourself with a compatible replacement. Otherwise, a professional service could do it, though the cost might not be worth it compared to just using it with the cord.

Do you prefer the convenience of cordless, or are you fine using it plugged in?

 

[Rmac86]

You got a great find there; unused Philishaves are a rare treat. Given its age, the battery is likely well past its prime, even if it initially seemed to charge. Older NiMH or NiCd batteries can sometimes show a charge but then drain quickly due to internal degradation.

If it works while plugged in, that’s a solid workaround, but if you want full cordless functionality, replacing the battery is your best bet. If you're comfortable with basic repairs, you might be able to swap it yourself with a compatible replacement. Otherwise, a professional service could do it, though the cost might not be worth it compared to just using it with the cord.

Do you prefer the convenience of cordless, or are you fine using it plugged in?

If I’m being honest I prefer the convenience of cordless shavings, but also don’t mind using it corded if necessary.

This is of course providing there is a convenient place to plug the shaver in - very few houses nowadays have electric outlets for shavers. I suppose I could just use an extension cord if I really wanted to.

I might just have a go at replacing the battery myself as a ‘project’ of sorts

 

[Jim Elliott]

If I’m being honest I prefer the convenience of cordless shavings, but also don’t mind using it corded if necessary.

This is of course providing there is a convenient place to plug the shaver in - very few houses nowadays have electric outlets for shavers. I suppose I could just use an extension cord if I really wanted to.

I might just have a go at replacing the battery myself as a ‘project’ of sorts

Sounds like a solid plan. If cordless is your preference, swapping the battery is definitely worth a shot, especially if you enjoy a little DIY. Since it’s already an older model, there’s no real downside to trying. Just make sure to find a compatible replacement with the right voltage and size.

And yeah, you're right about modern homes lacking dedicated shaver outlets. An extension cord works fine in a pinch, but nothing beats the convenience of a fully functional cordless shaver.

If you do go ahead with the battery replacement, let us know how it goes. It’d be great to hear if it breathes new life into your Philishave.

 

[Bear906]

If this was my shaver, I'd go through a couple dozen charge/discharge cycles to see if battery performance improves before replacing the cells. They may only need some "exercise" to rejuvenate them after such a long slumber.

 

[Rmac86]

If this was my shaver, I'd go through a couple dozen charge/discharge cycles to see if battery performance improves before replacing the cells. They may only need some "exercise" to rejuvenate them after such a long slumber.

Interesting, I will definitely try this before doing any sort of battery replacement.

I did take the razor apart to inspect the circuitry and battery arrangement and it looks fairly simple, though there seems to be a slight residue coming from the batteries. Not sure if this would affect how well they work?

 

[Bear906]

Interesting, I will definitely try this before doing any sort of battery replacement.

I did take the razor apart to inspect the circuitry and battery arrangement and it looks fairly simple, though there seems to be a slight residue coming from the batteries. Not sure if this would affect how well they work?

Uh-oh. In my estimation, this is either:

1. Some residue that got deposited there while the shaver was manufactured
2. Electrolyte residue from the cells venting when you charged them, since they sat unused for such a long time
3. Electrolyte residue from a leaking cell
4. Some combination of the above

Since you're noting short run times, I'm suspecting #2 and/or #3 is going on.

I'd be leery of recharging anything with cells that show evidence of possible venting and/or leaking. It doesn't take much of an electrolyte leak to ruin a circuit board. It's probably best to change out the cells for safety's sake.