Panasonic ER-GB96 Beard Trimmer Manual

Operating Instructions
(Household) AC/Rechargeable Beard Trimmer
Model No. ER-GB96

Thank you for purchasing this Panasonic product.
Before operating this unit, please read these instructions completely and save them for future use.

Safety precautions

To reduce the risk of injury, loss of life, electric shock, fire, and damage to property, always observe the following safety precautions.
Explanation of symbols
The following symbols are used to classify and describe the level of hazard, injury, and property damage caused when the denotation is disregarded and improper use is performed.

DANGER	Denotes a potential hazard that will result in serious injury or death.
WARNING	Denotes a potential hazard that could result in serious injury or death.
CAUTION	Denotes a hazard that could result in minor injury or property damage.
The following symbols are used to classify and describe the types of instructions to be observed.
This symbol is used to alert users to a specific operating procedure that must not be performed.	This symbol is used to alert users to a specific operating procedure that must not be performed.
This symbol is used to alert users to a specific operating procedure that must be followed in order to operate the unit safely.	This symbol is used to alert users to a specific operating procedure that must be followed in order to operate the unit safely.

WARNING
This product
This product has a built-in rechargeable battery.
Do not throw into flame or heat.
– Doing so may cause fluid leak, overheating, or explosion.
Do not modify or repair.
– Doing so may cause fire, electric shock, or injury.
Contact an authorized service centre for repair (battery change, etc.).
Never disassemble except when disposing of the product.
– Doing so may cause fire, electric shock, or injury.
In case of an abnormality or malfunction
Immediately stop using and remove the adaptor if there is an abnormality or malfunction.
– Failure to do so may cause fire, electric shock, or injury.
<Abnormality or malfunction cases>
The main unit or AC adaptor is deformed or abnormally hot.
The main unit or AC adaptor smells of burning.
There is an abnormal sound during the use or charging of the main unit or AC adaptor.
Immediately request inspection or repair at an authorized service center.
Power supply
Do not connect or disconnect the adaptor to a household outlet with a wet hand.
– Doing so may cause electric shock or injury.

WARNING
Do not immerse the AC adaptor in water or wash it with water.
Do not clean with water when the AC adaptor is attached.
Do not place the AC adaptor over or near a water-filled sink or bathtub.
Never use the appliance if the AC adaptor is damaged or if the power plug fits loosely in a household outlet.
Do not damage or modify, or forcefully bend, pull, or twist the cord.
Also, do not place anything heavy on or pinch the cord.
– Doing so may cause electric shock or fire due to a short circuit.
Do not use in a way exceeding the rating of the household outlet or the wiring.
– Exceeding the rating by connecting too many plugs to one household outlet may cause fire due to overheating.
Do not use anything other than the supplied AC adaptor for this product.
Also, do not use any other product with the supplied AC adaptor. (See page 8.)
– Doing so may cause burns or fire due to a short circuit.
Always ensure the appliance is operated on an electric power source matched to the rated voltage indicated on the AC adaptor.
Fully insert the adaptor.
– Failure to do so may cause fire or electric shock.

Always unplug the adaptor from the household outlet when cleaning.
– Failure to do so may cause electric shock or injury.
Regularly clean the power plug and the appliance plug to prevent dust from accumulating.
– Failure to do so may cause fire due to insulation failure caused by humidity.
Disconnect the adaptor and wipe with a dry cloth.

Preventing accidents
Do not store within the reach of children or infants.
Do not let them use it.
– Putting the blade, the cleaning brush, and/or oil container in the mouth may cause accidents or injury.
If the oil is consumed accidentally, do not induce vomiting. Please drink a large amount of water, and contact a physician.
If the oil comes into contact with eyes, immediately wash thoroughly with running water, and contact a physician.
– Failure to do so may result in physical problems.
This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.
– Failure to do so may cause an accident or injury.
WARNING
The supply cord cannot be replaced. If the cord is damaged, the AC adaptor should be scrapped.
– Failure to do so may cause an accident or injury.
CAUTION
♦Protecting the skin
Do not press the blade strongly against your skin or lips.
Do not use this product for any purpose other than trimming your beard.
Do not directly apply the blades on ears or rough skin (such as swellings, injuries, and blemishes).
– Doing so may cause injury to ears or uneven skin.
Check that the blades are not damaged or deformed before use.
– Failure to do so may cause skin injury.
♦Note the following precautions
Do not allow metal objects or trash to adhere to the power plug or the appliance plug.
– Doing so may cause electric shock or fire due to a short circuit.
Do not drop it or expose it to shock.
– Doing so may cause injury.
Do not wrap the cord around the adaptor when storing.
– Doing so may cause the wire in the cord to break with the load, and may cause fire due to a short circuit.

Disconnect the adaptor from the household outlet when not using it.
– Failure to do so may cause electric shock or fire due to electrical leakage resulting from insulation deterioration.
Disconnect the adaptor or the appliance plug by holding onto the adaptor or the appliance plug instead of the cord.
– Failure to do so may cause electric shock or injury.

► Handling of the removed battery when disposing
DANGER

The rechargeable battery is exclusively for use with this appliance. Do not use the battery with other products.
Do not charge the battery after it has been removed from the product.
Do not throw into fire or apply heat.
Do not solder, disassemble, or modify the battery.
Do not let the positive and negative terminals of the battery get in contact with each other through metallic objects.
Do not carry or store the battery together with metallic jewelry such as necklaces and hairpins.
Never peel off the tube.
– Doing so may cause a fluid leak, overheating, or explosion.

DANGER
The battery contains alkaline fluid. If it comes in contact with the eyes, do not rub the eyes, and thoroughly rinse with clean water, such as tap water.
– Failure to do so may cause loss of vision. Consult a physician immediately.
WARNING
After removing the rechargeable battery, do not keep it within reach of children and infants.
– The battery will harm the body if accidentally swallowed.
If this happens, consult a physician immediately.
The battery contains alkaline fluid. If it comes in contact with the skin or clothes, rinse off with clean water, such as tap water.
– Failure to do so may cause skin injury.

Intended use

Be sure to mount the attachment after each use. Otherwise, infants may remove the blade and accidentally swallow it, or the blade may be deformed.
Apply the oil to the blade before and after each use. (See page 13.)
Failure to apply the oil may cause the following problems.
– The appliance has become blunt.
– Shorter operating time.
– Louder sound.
The appliance may become warm during operation and/or charging. This is normal.
Clean the housing only with a soft cloth slightly dampened with tap water or soapy tap water. Do not use thinner, benzene, alcohol or other chemicals.
Before using an attachment, check that it has been installed correctly. Failure to do so may cause hair to be cut too short.
Store the appliance in a place with low humidity after use.
The appliance should not be used on animals.
The following symbol indicates that a specific detachable power supply unit is required for connecting the electrical appliance to the supply mains. The type reference of power supply unit is marked near the symbol.

Parts identification

A. Main body

Water inlet
Trimming height indication mark
Dial (Height adjustment control)
Power switch
Charge status lamp
Appliance socket

B Blade

Cleaning lever
Moving blade
Stationary blade
Mounting hook

C. Comb attachment A (1 mm to 10 mm)
D. Comb attachment B(11 mm to 20 mm)
E. Comb attachment C (21 mm to 30 mm)

F. Detail trimming attachment
G. AC adaptor (RE9-86)

Adaptor
Power plug
Cord
Appliance plug

Accessories
H. Cleaning brush
I. Oil
J. Travel pouch

Charging

Turn the appliance off.
1.Connect the appliance plug to the appliance socket.
2.Plug in the adaptor into a household outlet.
Check that the charge status lamp glows.
Charging is completed after approx. 1 hour.

3.Disconnect the adaptor when the charge status lamp stops glowing.
(for safety and to reduce energy usage) <To check if charging is completed>
If you remove and reinsert the appliance plug while charging, the charge status lamp glows and turns off after approximately 5 seconds.
Notes
To keep charging the battery will not affect battery performance.
If there is noise from the radio or other sources while using or charging the product, move to a different location to use the product.
When the appliance is not used for 6 months or more, the battery will weaken (leak battery fluid, etc.). Fully charge the battery once every 6 months.
You can charge the battery before it is completely discharged. However, it is recommended to charge when the battery is completely discharged. The battery life depends strongly on factors such as how it is used and stored.
Recommended ambient temperature for charging is 0 – 35 °C. Battery performance may decrease or charging time changes under extremely low or high temperatures.
A full charge supplies enough power for approximately 50 minutes of use. (Based on dry use at 20 – 30 °C.)
The operating time may differ depending on the frequency of use.
When charging the appliance for the first time or when it has not been in use for more than 6 months, the charging time may change or the charge status lamp may not glow for a few minutes or the operating time may shorten. Please charge it for more than 8 hours in such cases.

AC operation
If you connect the AC adaptor to the appliance in the same way as for charging and turn on the power, you can use it.

If the remaining battery is too low, the blades may move slowly or stop, even with the AC operation. In this case, charge the battery for 1 minute or more.
The battery will be discharged, even with the AC operation.

How to use

Turn the appliance off.
Apply the oil to the blade before and after each use.
(See page 13.)
Do not use with shaving foam applied or when the beard is wet.
A wet beard may stick to the skin or bunch up, making it difficult to trim.
Before trimming, comb your mustache with a comb.
The appliance may not operate in an ambient temperature lower than approximately 0 °C.

Mount the desired attachment and adjust the trimming height as needed. (See page 10.)
• It can also be used without the attachment. (Trimming height: approx. 0.5 mm)
Press the power switch to turn on the power.

Removing and mounting the attachments
Take care not to injure hands, etc., with the blade when removing or mounting the attachment.
Mounting the attachment
Mount the attachment to the main body until it clicks. If the attachment is not attached correctly, it may shift and end up cutting too much during use.

Removing the attachment
Hold the main body securely and remove the attachment from the main body.

Comb attachment

The actual hair length will be a little longer than the height you set.
A setting of 10.5 mm or 20.5 mm is unavailable.
Hair trimmings may collect inside the attachment when a large volume of beard is cut, so discard hair trimmings after each use.

How to use the comb attachment
Mount the desired attachment and turn the dial and adjust the trimming height indication mark to the desired height.

Comb attachment A

Indicator	1	•	2	•	3	•	4	•	5	•
Trimming height (mm) (estimate)	1	1.5	2	2.5	3	3.5	4	4.5	5	5.5

Indicator	6	•	7	•	8	•	9	•	10
Trimming height (mm) (estimate)	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9	9.5	10

Comb attachment B

Indicator	11	•	12	•	13	•	14	•	15	•
Trimming height (mm) (estimate)	11	11.5	12	12.5	13	13.5	14	14.5	15	15.5

Indicator	16	•	17	•	18	•	19	•	20
Trimming height (mm) (estimate)	16	16.5	17	17.5	18	18.5	19	19.5	20

Comb attachment C

Indicator	21	•	22	•	23	•	24	•	25	•
Trimming height (mm) (estimate)	21	21.5	22	22.5	23	23.5	24	24.5	25	25.5

Indicator	26	•	27	•	28	•	29	•	30
Trimming height (mm) (estimate)	26	26.5	27	27.5	28	28.5	29	29.5	30

Trimming to an even length
Holding the appliance with the power switch facing outwards, trim by bringing the blade in contact with the skin and moving the appliance against the flow of the beard.

Detail trimming attachment

The trimming height cannot be adjusted.

How to use the detail trimming attachment
Slide the detail trimming attachment to switch the position of the blade to be exposed depending on the location to cut.

Trim the beard in tight sections or to detailed form
Move the blade along the skin to trim.

Without the attachment

(Trimming height: approx. 0.5 mm)

The appliance cannot trim hair to lengths less than 0.5 mm.

Trimming the downy hair
Holding the appliance with the power switch facing outwards, trim by bringing the blade in contact with the skin. Design precise lines

Place the blade at a right angle on the edge of where you want to make a precise line.
Move the blade away and down from the area you want to leave, and cut the remaining beard.

Above and below lips

Holding the appliance with the power switch at the bottom, cut across a line with the blade at a 90° angle to the skin.

Full beard
Holding the appliance with the power switch at the bottom, and keeping the blade at a 90° angle to the direction of the hairs, trim and shape your beard as desired.

Ends of mustache
Holding the appliance with the power switch facing outside, trim gradually from the ends by bringing the blade in contact with the skin.

Cleaning

Clean the main body, blade and attachment after each use.
(If not cleaned, the motion will become poor and the sharpness will worsen.)
Turn the appliance off.
Remove the main body from the AC adaptor.

With water

To remove light dirt

Remove the attachment and turn the appliance on.
Run water down the water inlet at the front of the main body, rinse thoroughly for approximately 20 seconds, and then turn the appliance off.

To remove heavy dirt

Remove the attachment and blade.
Clean the appliance, the blade and the attachments with running water.
•Be careful not to hit the main body on the sink or any other object while draining the water. Failure to do so may cause malfunction.
•Rinse with water and shake up and down several times to remove the water.
Wipe off the water with a towel and let it dry naturally.
It will dry faster with the blade removed.
Apply the oil to the blade after drying. (See this page.)
Attach the attachment and blade to the appliance.

The mark on the left means suitable for cleaning under an open water tap.

With the brush

Remove the attachment and blade.
Brush off any hair trimmings from the main body and from around the blade.
Brush any hair trimmings out from between the stationary blade and the moving blade while pressing down the cleaning lever to raise the moving blade.
Apply the oil to the blade. (See this page.)
Attach the attachment and blade to the appliance.

Lubrication
• Apply the oil to the blade before and after each use.

Remove the blade. (See this page.)
Apply a drop of the oil to each indicated point.
Attach the blade to the main body, turn on the power and allow to run for approximately 5 seconds.

Removing the blade
Hold the main body with the switch facing upward and push the blade with your thumb while catching the blade in your other hand.

Remounting the blade
Fit the mounting hook (B) into the blade mounting (A) on the appliance and then push in until you hear a click.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Action
The appliance has become blunt.	Until problems are solved, please follow each procedure as follows: Charge the appliance. (See page 8.) Clean the blade and apply oil. (See pages 12 and 13.) Replace the blade. (See page 13.) Have the battery replaced by an authorized service center?
The operating time is short.	Charge the battery for approximately 8 hours continuously to rejuvenate it.
The appliance stopped working.	If few uses remain even after charging, the battery has reached the end of its life. (Fluid may be leaking due to degradation at the end of battery life.) Contact an authorized service center for repair.Insert the appliance plug into the main body firmly and make sure the charge status lamp glows.
The appliance cannot be charged.	Charge within the recommended charging temperature of 0 °C to 35 °C.
Makes a loud sound.	Apply oil. (See page 13.) Confirm that the blade is properly attached.

If the problems still cannot be solved, contact the store where you purchased the unit or a service center authorized by Panasonic for repair.

Blade life
Blade life varies according to the frequency and period of use of the appliance.
For example, the blade life is approximately 3 years when using the appliance for 5 minutes 10 times a month. Replace the blades if cutting efficiency reduces substantially despite proper maintenance.

Battery life
Battery life will vary according to the frequency and length of use. If the battery is charged once a month, the service life will be approximately 3 years.
If the operating time is significantly shorter even after a full charge, the battery has reached the end of its life.

Removing the built-in rechargeable battery
Remove the built-in rechargeable battery before disposing of the appliance.
The battery must be disposed of safely.
Please make sure that the battery is disposed of at an officially designated location if there is one.
This figure must only be used when disposing of the appliance, and must not be used to repair it. If you dismantle the appliance yourself, it will no longer be waterproof, which may cause it to malfunction.

Remove the appliance from the AC adaptor.
Press the power switch to turn on the power and then keep the power on until the battery is completely discharged.
Perform Steps a to k , and then lift the battery to remove it.
Take care not to short-circuit the positive and negative terminals of the removed battery, and insulate the terminals by applying tape to them.

For environmental protection and recycling of materials, This appliance contains a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery. Please make sure that the battery is disposed of at an officially designated location if there is one.