19
BATTERIES AND CHARGING
To charge the batteries using the off-board charger:
1. Position your power chair next to a standard electrical
outlet.
2. Be certain the controller power is turned off and the
power chair is in drive mode.
3. Plug the off-board charger into the off-board charger/
programming socket on the controller.
See figure 18.
4. Plug the off-board charger into the electrical outlet.
5. When the batteries are fully charged, unplug the off-
board charger from the electrical outlet and then from
the controller.
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 complete 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.
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 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.
3. Give the batteries another full charge of at least 8 to 14
hours and operate your power chair 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 electrical outlet
voltage (alternating current) and converts it to 24V DC (direct
current). The power chair 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).
Figure 18. Battery Charger
NOTE: Your power chair’s charger will not operate
after the batteries have been discharged to nearly zero
voltage. If this happens, call your 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.
Daily Use
If you use your power chair on a daily basis, charge the
batteries as soon as you are finished using your power
chair. Your power chair will be ready each morning to
give you a full day’s service. It is recommended that you
charge the batteries at least 8 to 14 hours after daily
use. We recommend that you charge the batteries for an
additional 4 hours after the battery charger indicates that
charging is complete.
Infrequent Use
If you use your power chair infrequently (once a week or
less), you should charge the batteries at least once per
week for at least 24 hours.
NOTE: Keep your batteries fully charged and avoid
deeply discharging your batteries. Refer to the
manual supplied with the battery charger for charging
instructions. We recommend charging your batteries for
at least 48 continuous hours once per month to improve
battery performance and battery life.
How can I get maximum range or distance per charge?
Rarely do you have an ideal driving situation such as smooth,
flat, hard terrain with no wind, hills, or curves. More often you
are presented with hills, sidewalk cracks, uneven and loosely
packed surfaces, curves, and wind. All of these factors will
affect the distance or running time per battery charge. Below
are a few suggestions for obtaining the maximum range per
charge:
Always charge the batteries fully prior to your trip.
Plan your trip in advance to avoid inclines if possible.
WARNING!
