7
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7.3. Characteristics and Handling of the Nickel Metal
Hydride Battery (JWB2)
(1)
Ambient temperatures
Depending on the ambient temperature, the distance that can be traveled becomes shortened.
In order to maximize the battery’s performance, it is recommended that you use the battery under
the following conditions.
When in use on the wheelchair:
Temperature range between 0 to 35°C (32 – 95 °F)
When removed from wheelchair and stored:
Temperature range between 10 to 25°C (50 – 77 °F)
When charging:
Temperature range between 10 to 25°C (50 – 77 °F)
• Storing the battery in excessively high or low
temperatures will speed up its degradation, and its
capacity will rapidly decrease.
• Using the wheelchair in excessively low tempera-
tures will cause the battery capacity to rapidly
decrease. For information on degradation, see
“Battery’s deterioration characteristics” on the next
page.
(2)
Memory effect and refresh charging
When shallow discharging and charging cycle is
performed repeatedly on a nickel metal hydride
battery, a phenomenon called the memory effect
o c c u r s , i n w h i c h t h e a c t u a l u s a b l e c a p a c i t y
decreases.
The memory effect can be prevented and eliminated
by fully discharging the battery and then recharging
(refresh charging).
When recharging, if the refresh lamp on the charger
flashes, press the refresh button to perform a refresh
charge cycle.
Refresh charging takes longer than normal charging.
For details on refresh charging, refer to “7.5. Refresh
Charging the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery (JWB2)”
(Page 51).
