Pride Mobility Blast HD, Owner'S Manual

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Blast/Rev F/Feb03 www.pridemobility.com 27
V I I . B A T T E R I E S A N D C H A R G I N G
5. If it is a Pride off-board charger, then there are two lights in it. The red light indicates that power to the off-board charger is on. The
green light indicates that the batteries are fully charged. If it is not a Pride off-board charger, then follow the instructions that came with
it.
6 When the batteries are fully charged, unplug the off-board charger from the wall outlet and from the controller.
Battery Break-in
To break in new batteries for maximum efficiency:
1. Fully recharge any new battery prior to its initial use. This brings the battery up to about 90% of its peak performance level.
2. Operate your Blast throughout the house and yard. Move slowly at first, and don’t stray too far until you become
accustomed to the controls and break in the batteries.
3. Give the batteries another full charge of 8 to 14 hours and operate your Blast again. The batteries will now perform at over
90% of their potential.
4. After four or five charging cycles, the batteries will top off at 100% charge and last for an extended period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the charger work?
The battery charger takes the standard wall outlet voltage of 120 VAC (alternating current) and converts it to 24 VDC (direct
current). The Blast batteries use direct current to run your power chair. When the battery voltage is low, the charger works
harder to charge the battery. This is why the ammeter initially reads five or more amps. As the battery voltage approaches full
charge, the charger doesn’t work as hard to complete the charging cycle. This explains why the ammeter drops as it approaches
a full charge. When the battery is fully charged, the amperage from the charger is nearly at zero. This is how the charger
maintains a charge but does not overcharge the battery.
Can I use a different battery charger?
You should use the charger supplied with the Blast. It is the safest, most efficient tool to charge the batteries. We do not
recommend using other types of chargers (e.g., an automotive battery charger). Your Blast’s charger will not operate after the
batteries have been discharged to nearly zero voltage. If this happens, call your authorized Pride provider for assistance.
How often must I charge the batteries?
Many factors come into play when deciding how often to charge the batteries. You may use your Blast all day on a daily basis
or you may not use it for weeks at a time.
n Daily Use
If you use your Blast on a daily basis, charge the batteries as soon as you are finished using your Blast. Your Blast will be
ready each morning to give you a full day’s service. It is recommended that you charge the batteries 8 to 14 hours after daily
use. Do not charge the batteries for more than 24 hours at a charging cycle.
n Infrequent Use
If you use your Blast infrequently (once a week or less), you should charge the batteries at least once per week for 12 to 14
hours.
NOTE: Keep your batteries fully charged and avoid deeply discharging your batteries. Do not charge the batteries for more
than 24 hours at a charging cycle.