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Untitled Document
Batteries
Three main types of battery are available on the market:
Gel batteries
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these sealed, maintenance-free batteries are so called because their conducting chemicals are suspended in a gel-like substance
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they do not last as long as wet batteries and are more expensive
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most airlines prefer to carry sealed batteries on their aircraft
Wet batteries
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designed especially for use on powered vehicles such as wheelchairs, scooters and buggies
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usually called deep cycle or electric vehicle batteries
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deep cycle batteries are those that can be frequently recharged. They are designed to release their power at an even rate during use. Because gases are formed and water evaporates from them during charging, they need topping up periodically with distilled water
Car batteries
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although cheaper, these batteries should not be used with electric vehicles except for very short periods. They are designed to give out a lot of energy for the first period of use, and then recharge themselves
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wheelchairs and scooters do not produce enough energy to enable recharging, and will not give the same quality of performance. If they are used on an electric vehicle, the guarantee will become invalid. Remember to include the on-going costs of maintenance and replacement of batteries when budgeting for an electric wheelchair.
Charging the batteries
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ideally, the wheelchair needs to be placed beside an electrical socket, so that, using the specified battery charger, the batteries are changed whilst on place on the wheelchair, usually overnight
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if this is not possible, then the batteries can be removed and charged separately, although a special charging harness, or an adaptation to the wiring may be needed
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batteries are very heavy (approx. 10kg) and, if not sealed, great care should be taken as the battery acid can burn skin, clothes and carpet
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charging should always be done in a well ventilated room as gases are given off. Although these are not poisonous, they could cause an explosion if ignited by a flame. It is also recommended that batteries should not be charged in a room where someone is sleeping.
Points to remember
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check wet batteries regularly before charging to make sure that water is covering the cells
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always use the right charger for the batteries. Dry batteries have to be charged with a constant charge. Wet batteries may be charged using a constant or a cyclic charge. Using the wrong charger will ruin the batteries
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plug the charger into the wheelchair charging point before plugging it into the mains
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the battery charger may have a mains and a charging indicator light. Check they are both on
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take care not to overcharge the batteries frequently. This changes the chemical composition and will reduce the life of the battery. Some chargers charge the batteries very quickly for the first few minutes and then slow down. Overcharging may occur if this type of charger is turned on regularly for short periods. It is much better to leave the batteries to charge overnight
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most chargers have a cut out and a light indicator which operate when the battery is fully charged
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if there is a battery level indicator, do not charge if there is 80% or more charge in the batteries. Most of the charge should be used in the battery before recharging. Batteries are designed to be used in this way. Ideally, they should be recharged when the battery level indicator reads 20% to 25% charge. Below this level, decay of the chemical components begins to take place
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when chemical decay takes place, recharging becomes impossible and new batteries have to be purchased. It takes about three months for the batteries to decay if left uncharged
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a battery indicator reading should be taken when the vehicle is stationary and the lights are switched off. Use the battery level indicator as a guide as to when to charge. Vehicles not in use should be charged once a month; vehicles used infrequently should be charged once a fortnight; vehicles in constant use should be charged daily. Daily use will increase the life span of the batteries.
General points
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do not touch both terminals at once with wet hands or place a metal object across the terminals. Although a lethal shock would not be given, a small shock can be quite nasty!
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keep the terminals free from corrosion by smearing with petroleum jelly
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if replacing the batteries, check that the new ones will fit into the allotted space.
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