15
BATTERIES AND CHARGING
NOTE: The power chair batteries can be charged with
the battery box either installed on or removed from the
power base.
To charge the batteries using the off-board charger:
1. Position the front of your power chair next to a standard
electrical outlet.
2. Be certain the controller power is turned off and the
freewheel levers are in the engaged position. See “Your
Power Chair.”
3. Plug the off-board charger into the off-board charger/
programming socket of the controller.
4. Plug the off-board charger into the electrical outlet.
The LED lights on the charger indicate different charger
conditions at various times: charger power on, charging
in progress, and charging complete. If the LED does
not indicate that charging is completed within 24 hours,
unplug the charger from the outlet and contact your
Quantum Rehab Provider. Refer to the manual supplied
with the charger for a complete explanation of these
indicators.
5. When the batteries are fully charged, unplug the off-
board charger from the electrical outlet and then from
the controller.
To charge the batteries with the battery box removed
from the power base:
1. Remove the battery box from the power base.
2. Position the battery box next to a standard electrical
outlet.
3. Plug the off-board charger into the battery box charger
port.
See figure 13.
4. Plug the off-board charger into the electrical outlet.
NOTE: If this 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 supplied by
the manufacturer.
5. When the batteries are fully charged, unplug the off-
board charger from the wall outlet and then from the
battery box.
6. Reinstall the battery box to the power base.
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 90% of its peak performance
level.
2. Operate your power chair throughout the house and
yard. Move slowly at first, and do not travel too far until
you become accustomed to the controls and break in
the batteries.
Figure 13. Battery Charging
3. Give the batteries another full charge of at least 8-14
hours and operate your power chair again. The batteries
will 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 electrical outlet voltage
(alternating current) and converts it to 24VDC (direct current).
The batteries use direct current to run your power chair. When
the battery voltage is low, the charger works harder to charge
the battery. As the battery voltage approaches full charge, the
charger does not work as hard to complete the charging cycle.
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 power chair. 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).
NOTE: Your power chair’s charger will not operate
after the batteries have been discharged to nearly zero
capacity. If this happens, call a Quantum Rehab 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 power chair all day
on a daily basis or you may not use it for weeks at a time.
WARNING!
