If you or someone you know uses a power wheelchair, it is important to understand how the batteries work. Power wheelchair batteries need to be replaced every so often, so understanding the battery will help you to select the best battery for your chair. The wheelchair battery plays a large role in the way that your power wheelchair performs.
Power wheelchair batteries are typically "deep cycle" lead-acid batteries, meaning that each discharge cycle is meant to use most of the available capacity of the battery. Deep-cycle lead-acid batteries have 3 main characteristics: capacity, current rating, and cell type.
The capacity of the battery determines how long the battery can function and is expressed as ampere-hours (Ah). Most deep-cycle lead-acid batteries have a capacity ranging from 30-90 ampere-hours, or about 3-9 hours of continuous use for a wheelchair that runs on 10 amperes. Most people however, do not use their wheelchair continuously.
Battery current, or the rate of electron flow, is expressed in amperes (A). Basically, the larger the current rating, the greater the ease for the power wheelchair to travel over rough terrain and obstacles.
Cell type indicates whether the power wheelchair battery is wet-cell or gel-cell, the two main types of wheelchair batteries currently available. Both may be used in a power wheelchair, although manufacturers typically recommend gel-cell batteries due to maintenance and environmental concerns with the wet-cell type.
However, it should be noted that wet-cell batteries do have a larger capacity, and can therefore provide more power. They are usually less expensive than gel-cell type batteries, and so are often the first choice for many power wheelchair users. Wet-cell batteries come in vented and sealed versions:
* Vented wet-cell batteries must have water added to the battery on a regular basis, due to water evaporation over time. This is often difficult, since the person doing the maintenance is exposed to battery acid each time the battery case is opened to add water. Doing this increases the risk for chemical burns. Chemical spills can also lead to wheelchair corrosion.
* Sealed wet-cell batteries do not need to have the water level maintained, since they are a closed system. But the possibility still exists for chemical spills, due to cracks in the battery case or the battery boiling over. Neither type of wet-cell battery is allowed on aircraft.
Gel-cell lead acid batteries are maintenance free, and have no possibility of chemical spills, so are easily able to be transported on aircraft. However, there is a disadvantage to gel-cell batteries and that is that they generally have 10-20% less capacity than wet-cell. They also usually cost more. But if the wheelchair user does not typically travel long distances each day, gel-cell batteries will likely be the best option.
When buying new power wheelchair batteries, make sure you have the right battery charger for the type of battery. Using the wrong battery charger may permanently damage the battery. Wheelchair batteries, as deep-cycle, are meant to drain almost fully before being recharged, and most will be able to be recharged up to 300 times before being replaced.
Basic understanding of your power wheelchair batteries will help you in purchasing your next replacement battery, thereby insuring that your wheelchair is always operating at it's best.
About the Author:
Looking for new power wheelchair batteries? Before you do, read Nan Bobby's guide to power wheelchair batteries. As the caregiver & advocate for her aging parents for nearly a decade, she experienced the many challenges of adult children caring for aging parents, & now provides a resource center on issues facing seniors & the disabled at Aging Parent Conversations.
Get all the information and photos:: http://coringa.info/health/power-wheelchair-batteries-a-guide-to-understanding-how-the-battery-works
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