Replacing the Battery of a Braun Beard Trimmer (by Capitan Farloc)

Indice

Is your Braun beard trimmer not holding a charge anymore? Before you toss it aside or buy a new one, try replacing the battery! This step-by-step guide shows you how to open up your Braun trimmer, identify the correct battery, and safely replace it — no technical background needed.

Introduction

I’ve been using a Braun 5280 travel beard trimmer for quite some time now. This trimmer has a built-in rechargeable battery that needs to be charged for around 6 to 8 hours whenever it runs out.
Once the battery reaches the end of its life cycle and can no longer hold a charge, the trimmer becomes unusable. Even when keeping the power cable connected, the current supplied is only enough to charge the battery but not to power the motor directly.

Braun beard trimmer razor repair

Opening the Trimmer

At this point, replacing the rechargeable battery becomes necessary.
The first step is to open the trimmer, which is done by following these actions in sequence:

1) Remove the top head, the one with the blade.
2) Detach the two clips located on either side of the central pin, gently prying them with a small flathead screwdriver.

Release the clips on the sides of the central pin of the razor

3) Remove the clips using a pair of spring tweezers, making sure to note their original position for when it’s time to reassemble them.
4) Pay close attention to the locking springs of the head located at the two upper corners in the picture, as these are likely to fall out when we split the razor casing open. You just need to know how they fit back in, as during reassembly they can be placed back into their slots before closing everything up.

Once the clips have been unhooked, they will need to be removed using spring tweezers.

Remove the printed circuit board

5) Using a small screwdriver, gently pry along the side groove of the trimmer. This should cause it to split into two halves.
6) Still using the screwdriver, it should be possible to lift up the circuit board. By carefully pulling it with your fingers, you can slide it out of its slots and remove it completely.

Once the razor is opened we will have to remove the printed circuit board

What type of battery to buy

The battery inside is a rechargeable AA type, either Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) or Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMh), with tab terminals (as shown in the first image above).
You can use either of the two battery types mentioned above. NiMh batteries have a higher capacity (so the charge lasts for more hours), and although they are significantly more expensive, I recommend them.
It is not possible to use any other type of rechargeable battery, as the charging methods for other types are different and would damage both the battery and the charging circuit.

The rechargeable battery is AA size with metal terminals to be soldered

Replacing the battery

Using a low-power soldering iron suitable for electronic circuits, simply desolder the terminals of the old battery and solder those of the new one (always ensure the polarity is correct). Remember to dispose of the old battery in one of the designated containers for spent batteries, as these types of rechargeable batteries are highly polluting if not properly disposed of.
When reassembling everything, ensure the electronic circuit is properly placed into its housing, and the two locking clips of the head can be slotted into place before closing the two halves of the razor casing.

Solder the terminals of the new battery, respecting the polarity

Hoping this article has been helpful, I bid you farewell.

Thank you and see you next time.
Luciano (Capitan Farloc)

Warning!

The advice and instructions provided on this site come from hobbyists rather than professional technicians, meaning there is no guarantee that they are accurate or represent the best solution.
Additionally, using the tools and techniques described here should be done with careful consideration of one’s own abilities.
These articles assume that the tasks will be performed by individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to use the required tools safely, without risking harm to themselves, others, or property.
Therefore, the owners of this site cannot be held responsible for any direct or indirect damages resulting from the application of the content found here.
Before undertaking any DIY activity, it is strongly recommended to read the Safety Notice, which provide a basic (though non-exhaustive) list of precautions to follow.

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