Random 4 note/tone restarts with Oticon Opn More

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Moondoggy

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I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue. Every so often my left Oticon Opn More will play 4 notes/tones and then my right aid will respond with 4 notes/tones. My left aid will then shut down for a few seconds and play the 7 startup tones as it restarts. Once the left aid restarts it's still having an issue as both aids will repeat the 4 notes/tones restart sequence over and over until I shut both aids off and let them sit, (sometimes I place them on the charger) and after both have been off for a while I can start them and things are normal again and can remain normal for quite a while before this random event takes place again. I’m concerned enough that I’m considering having them sent in to be exchanged for a replacement set. Again, anyone else experienced this same issue and if so what did you do to resolve the issue?
 
How old are your rechargeable batteries? Here's a clip from the fitting software Genie2 / Help / Open help Files / type low battery in the search box and press the Enter key;

OpenBattery low indicator
By default, the instruments issue both an early warning when the battery voltage reaches a certain low point, and a second warning when the voltage is so low that they will turn off.

Pre-warning:The instruments can be set to emit either three alternate beeps or give a voice notification when the battery is running low. For rechargeable instruments, the pre-warning will then repeat every 15 minutes until the battery is spent. For non-rechargeable instruments, the pre-warning will then come only 15 minutes before the battery runs out.
Change battery warning: The instruments emit four short descending tones before turning off.

The fitting software at the END FITTING step has a Batteries selection in the left pane that provides information about your battery charge level and Health;
c1.jpg
 
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If your Oticon More hearing aids / (Oticon Opn hearing aids are older models) are still under warranty then you should be able to get the batteries replaced for free.

I bought a pair of Z22A replacement batteries from a local Audiologist and replaced them myself. Though, you would need the Genie 2 fitting software and a Noahlink Wireless hearing aid programming device to Reset-Battery-Statistics in order to gurantee accurate battery usage beeps.
 
Oh, battery levels don't keep working all the way to zero%. They will shutdown way before zero. I think I recall shutdown @mid-thirties?
 
Suggested DIY School Hearing Aids PDF Files; Tip: DIY School cloud storage link is in my Signature line below each of my posts.
  • Li-ion Rechargeable Battery History
  • Li-ion Rechargeable Battery Replacement
  • Li-ion Rechargeable Battery Storage
 
I'm not sure this is a battery issue. This has happen from time to time over the last year. It will do this and the stop doing it for weeks/months and then it happens again out of the blue. Again the weird part is that once it starts occurring it will repeatedly restart and it will continue until both aids are shot down and remain off for a while. Tonight it started and I put both aid in the charger. After being off for 30 minutes I put them back on. Both showed the battery level at 100% and 15 minutes was good and the the left one restarted. I then shut both aid off for 2 minutes and 4 hours has gone by and everything has been fine since and I still show 80% battery.
 
Okay, before we dismiss a battery issue; Oticon More has two inductive chargers available.
  • Oticon desk charger
  • Oticon smart charger or travel charger - with a cover on top
Both chargers use (contactless) inductive charging where a coil inside the charger transfers power to a coil inside the hearing aid without making physical contact.

Note that Oticon has recently abandoned inductive charging starting with the new/2024 Intent model which uses (+/-) contact charging plus it uses a magnet in the charger to snug the hearing aid (+/-) contacts into place.

Why? Maybe when used for hearing aids (contactless) inductive charging is not as reliable as old school (+/-) contact charging? But that is just a guess on my part?

One thing we might check if you have the desk charger; What if there is dust-or-debris buildup inside the holes of the desk charger? I like to clean the desk charger holes with Q-Tips and alcohol as preventative maintenance.
 
The only thing here is that I can look at the Oticon phone app and verify that both aids have plenty of juice when this event happens. I've decided to go see my audiologist this morning and see what she says since she also provided me with my aids.
 
I paid a visit to my Audiologist this morning and was told that my OPN More hearing aids were defective as she had never heard of that malfunction ever occurring. Fortunately, my aids are still under warranty so she sent them in and provided me a loaner set to use. She indicated that since she felt that the problem was in the circuity of the left hearing aid that she expects that I will get a new set of aids instead of them trying to repair my set so perhaps if they have made any improvements to the circuitry since I got my set I'll benefit from the improvement. Thanks for replying to my query.
 
That's cool in a way because (at a minimum) you should end up with new batteries. If you have documentation showing your hearing aid serial numbers, then ask your Audi to check the serial numbers when you get the new/or returned pair. I believe that's the only way you will know if they were replaced.
 
Late to the party on this, but FYI, I've had the OPNs now for so many years I can't remember when I got them. Anyhow they are well out of warranty and obviously my model is no longer made. One of mine finally died and have sent it in for possible repair. The other just started acting up tonight. Beeping, changing programs, clicking, etc. This is something I can't recommend, but since I'll probably get new units anyhow in the near future, I popped the unit open. You push out the three pins -- I just use regular sewing pin to get it started pushing out and then use a tweezers to take the pins out the rest of the way. Then the back slides off backward, and then the inner unit slides out. I could see it was wet, from my perspiration. Not the first time I've done this. So I had a bowl of distilled water and dunked everything in the bowl. This is to rinse off the salt that is in perspiration and salty water is a good electrical conductor, which will disrupt the circuitry. After sloshing it around in the distilled water for a few minutes, I then use a can of compressed air (used for dusting) to blow off all the water. I let them air dry for a few more minutes and then reassemble. As hoped, the crazy behavior stopped and the unit returned to normal behavior. As I say, this isn't the first time I've done this, because these units are prone to perspiration issues. The only difference this time is the weird behavior. Usually it is the 8 tones thing which is supposed to be a mic error. But really it has been a perspiration issue.
 
It's great to see that someone is capable of removing the case of a Legacy hearing aid. It requires good eyesight, or good eyeglasses.

I dunno about the four-beep/eight-beep indication of microphone error? It has been discussed before.
Here's an Oticon Legacy Link to → Oticon Opn miniRITE miniRITE-T Instructions for use which says;

Page 20
Three beeps = The battery is running low
Four beeps = The battery has run out

Page 66
If your hearing aid plays 8 beeps, 4 times consecutively,
your hearing aid needs a microphone service check

Water & dust resistant (IP68): Your hearing aid is dust-tight and protected against ingress of water, which means it is designed to be worn in all daily life situations. Therefore, you do not have to worry about sweat or getting wet in the rain. Should your hearing aid come into contact with water and stop working, please follow the following guidelines:
  1. Gently wipe off any water.
  2. Open the battery drawer and remove the battery and gently wipe off any water in the battery drawer.
  3. Let the hearing aid dry with the battery drawer left open for approximately 30 minutes.
  4. Insert a new battery.
I'm not saying which is right or which is wrong. I'm just adding documentation for this issue. :)
 
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