22 Years' Battery Customization
Jul 17, 2021 Pageview：772
The battery of your wheelchair should not stop you from moving around. Batteries play a vital role in the performance of your mobility equipment. Electric wheelchairs are convenient and can cover a greater terrain compared to manual ones. However, they need to be replaced frequently. For this reason, it is important to understand how the batteries work in order to purchase the correct cell for your wheelchair. Before you select your next power battery, here are things to keep in mind.
Electric Wheelchair Batteries Price
The two types of wheelchair batteries are called deep-cycle AGM and gel sealed lead acid. In most cases, the gel-sealed lead acid is expensive compared to deep-cycle AGM. The prices vary depending on features and specifications.
Deep cycle AGM batteries have a large capacity, unlike the other ones. Additionally, they are able to provide more electrical power. On the other hand, gel sealed lead acid is safe compared to deep cycle, seeing that there are no accidents caused by chemical spillage. Despite the high cost, these batteries can be recharged many times prior to replacement.
Electric Wheelchair Battery Usage
A fully charged wheelchair battery can last for at least 9 hours. This can cover a range of at least 10 miles or more depending on many factors such as weight, battery health, and age.
The time for charging an electric wheelchair's battery depends on the amps of the charger. Battery capacity is determined by Amp-hours. As an example, a 70Ah battery charged by an 8 amp charger takes at least 8 hours to full. A charger with more amps will charge faster. Users should check the specifications and charging needs of the battery prior to connection. Moreover, if the charger does not fill a 12V battery in 9 hours, there could be a problem; hence you should replace it. Further, you should charge the cell after using the power equipment.
The charger purchased with your wheelchair is designed to charge the batteries quickly and safely. Here are steps to charge the battery using an off-board charger:
●Place the wheelchair near the electrical supply.
●Put the wheelchair in drive mode and turn off the power controller.
●Plug the off-board charger into the controller's socket.
●Plug the charger in the electrical supply.
●Remove the off-board charger from the electrical supply then the controller when it is fully charged.
The wheelchair charger features LED lights that shows various charging conditions in a different time. This includes charger power on, charging in process, and charging complete. If the LED light does not show charging complete in 24 hours, remove the supply and contact your seller.
Besides that, a new battery requires several charging cycles to achieve a vital chemical balance in order to have good performance and a long life span. These steps are:
●Charge a new battery fully before first use. This will make it reach 90% of performance.
●Move the wheelchair slowly around the house until you familiarize yourself with the battery and controls.
● Charge the battery fully for at least 13 hours, then operate the equipment again.
●After 4-5 charging cycles, the wheelchair battery will top to 100%.
How long does an electric wheelchair battery last?
While the batteries are designed to be durable, the overall lifespan will be between 1-2 years. Nevertheless, it would be affected by the following things:
●Weight: more weight causes battery strain. Furthermore, you should avoid carrying heavy items.
●Terrain: its life is affected by the type of terrain you climb. A complex path causes wear and tear.
●Charging: how often you charge the wheelchair affects battery life. Undercharging frequently can cause damage.
●Speed: users should maintain a moderate speed.
When wheelchair batteries fall to a deep discharge state, they become useless. Nonetheless, you can embrace the best ways to take care of your tool.
Here are tips for maintaining the power of the battery:
●Always examine the battery terminals if there are signs of corrosion: use a wire brush to clean rust on the terminals, then re-grease with petroleum jelly.
●Avoid extension cords: extension cables can cause electric shock or fire.
●Proper charging: it is ideal for charging the battery every night even if it has not drained completely. Keeping it fully charged will improve cycles. This is because the life of a deep cycle battery is determined by discharge in between cycles. Moreover, this approach ensures that you stay at the recommended depth of discharge.
●Proper charger: use the wheelchair charger to avoid damages.
●Disconnect the battery if you will not use the equipment for more than 15 days: disconnect the cable that connects the batteries. Also, you can charge it fully once a week since it will still drain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Wheelchairs Batteries
1. What steps should I follow when putting my power wheelchair in storage?
It is obvious that batteries are highly affected by the environment. Therefore, users have to determine the temperature of a room. For instance, you can get an extra bedroom. Besides that, you should fully charge before the storage. Lastly, charge it fully at least twice a month to prolong the life span.
Can I let my wheelchair battery die completely?
When you allow the battery to die completely, a chemical reaction occurs inside. As a result, it may influence health and long-term performance. This could reduce the capacity and lead to over-sulfation. In a similar manner, keeping it overcharged several times can make it lose the ability to keep more power. If you want to maintain good performance, avoid both spectrums.
What temperature should I keep my battery when in use and charging?
The recommended operating room temperature of an electric wheelchair is 25 degrees celsius. This is not possible to maintain when outdoors, but ensure it is kept at the ideal room temperature. Batteries should not stay in extreme heat and cold.
Final Thoughts
It is no doubt that battery-powered wheelchairs are the best choice for people with physical disabilities. They offer great ease and needless effort, unlike manual equipment. In addition to that, they can power the wheelchair for long distances. However, the battery can lose charge hence find yourself stranded. Therefore, you have to consider the length of time a battery can last. Above and over, you have to follow ways to extend battery life.
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