5900A Powerchair Owner’s Manual DCR1236
magicmobility.com.au
35
7.12 Water warning
Avoid exposing your powerchair to any type of moisture
where possible (rain, snow, mist, saltwater or wash).
Such exposure can cause electrical and mechanical
malfunctions and may cause the chair to prematurely
rust. Refer to Section 7.13 regarding corrosion. If
your powerchair meets water, it’s important to dry
it thoroughly with a towel and then allow to dry in a
warm room for 10-12 hours. Always check the joystick
operation and brakes before using your powerchair
again. If there are doubts or inconsistencies with your
powerchair please contact your Magic Mobility agent.
•
Don’t leave the powerchair in rain or a storm
of any kind
•
Never use the powerchair in a shower or leave
it in a damp bathroom while showering.
Your powerchair has electric motors and must
never be driven through water, into rivers, creeks
and the sea.
7.13 Corrosion protection
Your powerchair has been manufactured using a range of
processes that resist corrosion. All effort has been made
to ensure its long-term durability; however, we cannot
guarantee that your powerchair will remain corrosion-
free over its lifetime. Prevention, protection and regular
maintenance is essential to reduce corrosion risk.
Powerchair corrosion is commonly caused by:
•
Chips or scratches to paintwork caused by impact
with rocks or other hard objects
•
Accumulation of grit salt, dirt and moisture on the
chassis components
•
Exposure to highly corrosive environments such
the beach or near the coast and areas close to rivers
and creeks.
Paintwork scratches and chips
If your powerchair chassis or any other steel components
are scratched or chipped leaving the bare metal exposed,
we recommend the following steps to repair the
paintwork:
•
Lightly sand the exposed area to remove any loose
paint edges or chips. Ensure any surface corrosion
has been removed in this process
•
Apply cleaning solvent to the area to remove dust,
impurities and oils
•
Apply primer over the area that requires touching-up
•
Once dry, apply touch-up paint and ensure it covers
all exposed areas. Once dry the area should now be
protected from further corrosion.
If it’s impractical to perform these steps, apply a
commercial rust converter/neutraliser product to help
prevent the rust from spreading further.
Beaches, saltwater and coastal areas
•
Saltwater and the surrounding environment are
highly corrosive
•
Exposure to coastal areas will also increase the
likelihood of corrosion to your powerchair even if the
chair is not used on the beach. Coastal air generally
has a far higher salt content than inland areas. The
highest coastal corrosion rates are generally within
approximately 500 metres from the shoreline.
Snow and ice, salted roads and footpaths
Avoid using your powerchair on salted surfaces
where possible as salt can detrimentally affect
many powerchair components. If you drive your
powerchair on wet, icy or salted surfaces, please see
the preventative maintenance section below for further
advice.
Cleaning after use
When your powerchair has been used in coastal, wet or
salty environments extra cleaning is critical to reduce the
risk of rust. After returning from your drive all powerchair
parts should be wiped down with a warm water cloth.
The powerchair should then be left in a warm and dry
environment to dry thoroughly. It may also help to blow
as much sand and/or salt off as possible.
Never, ever
hose down your powerchair.
Preventative maintenance
Prior to using your powerchair in wet or corrosive
environments we suggested thoroughly coating
the metal surfaces of the battery box with a water
dispersant. This will provide further protections.
Common products include oiled-based spray applicants
(e.g. WD40) or lanolin-based dispersants. Coatings
should provide a barrier between the water and painted
steel surfaces of your powerchair.
Use a ramp or other standards-approved lifting device
to spray the underside of the powerchair, battery box
and chassis.
