119832 Rev. B
31
E N G L I S H
X. BATTERIES
•
Never charge a frozen battery. A fully charged battery will
rarely freeze, but the fluid in a discharged battery can freeze
at 16 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 9 degrees Centigrade). If
you suspect a battery is frozen, thaw it before charging.
WARNING
Lead acid batteries generate explosive gas while charging.
Completely read and follow all warnings about the batteries in
this user instruction manual and any labels applied to the
product. Failure to do so could result in fire, explosion, injury
and/or death.
C. ACID BURNS
(unsealed wet cell batteries)
Acid in batteries is corrosive. If you choose to use wet cell batter-
ies, they can cause serious burns to the eyes and skin and can dam-
age floors, furniture, clothing and your wheelchair.
WARNING
1. Use extreme care not to spill acid when you handle wet cell
batteries. Keep batteries upright.
2. Avoid contact of acid with bare skin or clothing.
3. Always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when you han-
dle batteries.
4. If acid contacts your skin or clothing, wash immediately with
soap and water.
5. If acid contacts your eyes, immediately flood eyes with cold
running water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention
immediately.
Sunrise Medical does not recommend the use of wet cell bat-
teries on this chair.
D. CONNECTING BATTERIES IN
BATTERY WELL
WARNING
1. Each battery weighs up to 39 lbs. Take care to avoid injury
when lifting.
2. Keep batteries upright. Take care not to spill acid
(wet cell batteries).
3. Always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when
you handle batteries.
4. Before working around batteries, remove all metal personal
effects, such as necklaces, rings, watches, pins, and other
metal jewelry that might contact battery terminal and cause
a short.
1. Attach battery harness to battery post. Connect red to posi-
tive terminal and black to negative terminal.
2. Tighten all terminal fasteners using two wrenches.
3. Cover battery posts with insulating caps on harness.
4. Lift batteries into battery well.
X. BATTERIES
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Notes:
•
Batteries supply the power for your chair. They contain a
finite amount of energy and have limits on how long they can
store and supply energy.
•
You can charge batteries only a certain number of times
before they will fail and no longer hold a charge.
•
For answers to questions about batteries, consult your
supplier.
2. Use Proper Batteries:
Your chair operates on two 12 volt batteries.
•
They should be Group 22 batteries.
•
When you buy a replacement, insist on a deep cycle sealed
case. Do not use a car starter battery.
3. Breaking In:
•
A battery requires “breaking-in” for the first 6 to 12 charges.
It will not accept a full charge for this period.
•
It is best to limit the length of your trips until you break the
batteries in and you know the range of your chair.
4. Discharged Batteries:
•
Never allow a battery to completely discharge. If you oper-
ate your wheelchair until it has almost stopped, you will
greatly reduce the life of your batteries.
•
Never let a battery sit in a discharged condition. Give
unused or stored batteries a full charge once per month.
•
Always fully charge the batteries. Avoid “topping off” with
frequent charges.
WARNING
Never connect a life support or auxiliary device to a wheel-
chair battery. The electrical system may fail and result in
severe injury to or death of rider.
B. BATTERY CHARGER
A battery charger produces a direct current (DC). When applied
to a discharged battery, this reverses the chemical reaction that led
to its discharge.
1. Charge Rate. How fast a battery will charge depends on:
•
Its electrical capacity, state of charge, electrolyte temperature,
and internal condition.
•
The DC output of the charger. (The charge rate will vary if
the alternating current (AC) supply is higher or lower than
110 volts).
2. CAUTION– To Avoid Damage to the Charger
•
Never expose charger to rain or snow.
•
Never unplug charger by pulling on the electrical cord. This
will damage the cord.
•
Never open a charger or attempt to repair it yourself.
Return charger to Sunrise or have repairs made only by a
qualified person.
•
Keep cord out of the way, where it will not be stepped on,
tripped over, or damaged.
3. CAUTION– To Avoid Damage to the Battery
•
Make sure you use the correct setting for sealed (gel) batter-
ies (located on off-board chargers).
Refer to wiring diagram for battery connections
