SECTION 6—TROUBLESHOOTING
54
4. Place the voltmeter leads into the charger plug on the wheelchair. Most digital
voltmeters are not affected by polarity, however, analog meters (meters with swinging
needles) can be and should be used carefully. A good meter reading should be 25.5 to
26 VDC.
5. Have two individuals (one on each arm) apply as much downward pressure as
possible on the arms of the wheelchair.
6. Turn the wheelchair on and push the
joystick forward, trying to drive the
wheelchair through the stationary
object. This puts a heavy load on the
batteries as they try to push through
the stationary object. Read the meter
while the motors are straining to
determine the voltage under load.
NOTE: If the voltage drops to less than 23.5
volts from a pair of fully charged batteries while
under load, they should be replaced regardless
of the unloaded voltages.
FIGURE 6.1
Motor Testing
NOTE: For this procedure, refer to FIGURE 6.2.
NOTE: This procedure should only be performed on wheelchairs with the conventional
motor/gearbox assembly. For gearless/brushless motors, there are no serviceable parts. Return
motor to manufacturer for testing.
1. On the 4-pin motor connector, locate
the two contacts in the red and black
housings.
2. Set the digital multi-meter to measure
ohms (
Ω
).
3. Measure the resistance between the
two motor contacts.
NOTE: A normal reading is between 1 and 5
ohms (
Ω
). A reading of 0 ohms (
Ω
) or in excess
of 15 ohms (
Ω
) indicates a problem. High
readings are generally caused by bad
connections and/or damaged brushes. Contact
authorized dealer or Invacare.
FIGURE 6.2
Digital Voltmeter
Battery Charger
Connector
(+)
(-)
Ohmmeter
Ohmmeter
Motor Connector
