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14.6 Batteries and Battery Charging
The batteries and battery charger require no maintenance but a check for function should
be carried out.
14.6.1 Battery Inspection
Remove the batteries from the powerchair. Examine the batteries for any damage.
Beware
: acid-gel may leak from a damaged battery which is highly corrosive. Any contamination
should be washed off immediately with copious amounts of clean water. Seek medical advice if
any irritation persists. The battery condition should be checked. Ideally this should be done using
specialised equipment such as a discharge tester. However this may take several hours as the
battery will be left in a discharged state and will require re-charging. At the least a 'drop-test'
should be performed using a simple car battery load tester. This measures internal resistance and
it is known that the internal resistance of a battery increases as the battery ages and performance
decreases. This type of test does not provide an assurance that the battery is fully capable of
delivering its rated active energy and is dependent on the experience of the test engineer. All
testing should be performed on fully charged batteries and the test engineer should satisfy himself
that this is so.
14.6.2 Battery Replacement
If the batteries are deemed fit for further use they may be re-fitted to the powerchair.
Replace and smear the terminals with petroleum grease. Ensure the connections are tight and
the battery wiring looms are undamaged. Refit to the powerchair.
14.6.3 Battery Charger Inspection
The charger is maintenance free but a check for function should be made.
Check for damage to the charger and to the mains and charging cables. Ensure the
ventilation slots are clear.
Connect the charger to the powerchair and then to the mains. Switch on the mains and the
yellow light should light up immediately, followed shortly afterwards by the orange 'charging'
indicator. The yellow 'bulk charge complete' light will illuminate between 4 and 11 hours after
commencement of charging, depending on the state of discharge of the batteries. The green
'charging complete' will illuminate between 8 and 14 hours after commencement of charging,
depending on the state of discharge of the batteries.
Full operating and use instructions are given in the battery charger's User Manual sup-
plied with the powerchair.
