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MY OWN
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Grand Caravan
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MY HOME
BUILT ULTIMATE POWERCHAIRS:
My
SLIGHTLY Modified
Improved Powerchair
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My VERY Modified Off Road & All terrain DO ALL
Powerchair!
Part 1
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3
MISCELLANEOUS
POWERCHAIR RELATED:
What
Goes Wrong Power Wheelchairs
Powerchair Tyres
Drive your Powerchair by Radio Control
Powerchairs & Range
Off Road DO ALL Indoor & Outdoor Powerchairs
Off Road ONLY Outdoor Powerchairs & 4x4
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Manual or Electric Wheelchair?
Why ALL Powerchairs
NEED to be Off Road Capable!
Choosing a Suitable Powerchair
Wheelchair Width
BATTERY
AND ELECTRICAL (POWERCHAIRS & SCOOTERS + MOTOR VEHICLES):
Batteries for Both Vans & Power Wheelchairs
Inverters & Chargers
Very flexible charger!
Charging Batteries
Fast Charge Your Power
Wheelchair
Which batteries to buy
"DRIVE
FROM A WHEELCHAIR" VEHICLES:
Dodge
Grand Caravan 1
Dodge
Grand Caravan 2
Dodge Grand Caravan 3
Dodge Grand Caravan 4
Latest 2008 2009 2010
Disabled Converted Dodge Chrysler And Voyager Minivans
Chrysler Voyager
Entervan Diesel
Suzuki Wagon R
More Here
Mercedes Vito
-
soon!
Kia Sedona - soon!
INSURANCE:
Modified Disabled
Vehicle Insurance
Breakdown Cover
USED VEHICLES & OTHER
EQUIPMENT:
Disabled Adapted Cars
WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORT
& DRIVE BY TRANSFERRING:
VW Caravelle
Dodge
Grand Caravan can be used to transport up to 4 Wheelchair Seated Occupants
Fiat Doblo
Renault Kangoo
-
soon!
Citroen Berlingo - soon!
Citroen Dispatch
- soon!
Kia Sedona
-
soon!
Volkswagen Sharan
Mercedes Vaneos
Toyota Hiace
Fiat Multiplas (Wheelchair
passenger travels in the front)
Kangoo ASSIST (wheelchair
passenger transfers & drives)
ESSENTIAL DISABLED
EQUIPMENT STUFF:
Understanding
Grabbers
Puncture proof tyres
Run Flat tyres
Tyre Weld Aerosol
Fuses!
Spare Key
Wheelchair Ramps
Small Generator
Tools!
VEHICLE ADAPTATIONS:
Control
Systems etc
Hand Controls Manual
Hand Controls Electronic
Van / Car Door openers
Van / Car Wheelchair Tie Downs
OTHER STUFF:
Used Disabled Equipment for sale
How to lose weight FAST!
Email about modifying powerchairs
Keep it looking new 1
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My Accident!
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Cars are a Joke!
Disclaimer
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Hyperion's incredible
EOS 0720i NET3 Charger - 250 watts.
(There is now a
bigger better version here
so this page is now out of date!)
This
charger is sold mainly to model aircraft and hobby enthusiasts.
I know, I am one!
However its capability for charging
and testing ALL battery types including the ones we use in powerchairs is simply
stunning!
It can happily charge
any type or size of battery
currently available at up to 20 amps.
It makes every other battery charger on the market obsolete/
So wheelchair and scooter batteries of up to 100Ah plus are no problem at all. The
fact that you can choose all the individual charge / discharge parameters to suit your particular batteries,
and to watch it charge on your PC screen, with every possible bit of information
available at your fingertips helps too and fascinates me! It means
you can see them deteriorate over time, see how charged they are, test them and
watch them charge in detail.
It can also charge your powerchair
from your cars 12v supply as you drive! <<< Read that again!
If you OWN this charger already, please get the latest
Firmware 4.8 or above and the latest PC Software as soon as possible as MUCH
improvement and development has taken place recently that I have been helping to develop regarding the Lead
Acid based battery charging algorithms. Its now
superb. And flexible! And there is now a public beta software page
here and Hyperion's page
here.
If you are using earlier
firmware than version 4.8 then your lead acid batteries are not being charged
correctly!
More interesting
powerchair charging
methods
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I use it to charge everything from
my vehicles own batteries to my
powerchairs and all my hobby stuff
(aircraft, helicopters etc)
One of the clever
parts is that it runs from either a 12v or a 24v battery power supply or with
a suitable wall powered supply. (Available from any hobby store) Power
supplies to do that are bought separately. They are not expensive. And it makes
the charger itself very light and portable.
Useful because it runs from any 12v wheelchair or
automotive battery as well. So you can take it out with you as you use your
powerchair. Charge from any car. Or from a PAIR of
batteries, at 24v, just like out powerchairs and scooters or many RVs, trucks
and busses...
You will need a power/charge
Anderson connector
fitting to your powerchair or scooter. And another fitted to your vehicles
battery ideally to make this easy.
So that means I can use it to
charge either a wheelchair or scooter whilst I drive,
or while out and about from other vehicles - or - It also means that if your cars battery goes flat
(like you left the lights on at the cinema or whatever) you are not left stranded as you can
charge your cars battery directly from your powerchair as well!
As a
wheelchair user you don't need me to tell you how useful that might be.
Works both
ways. 12v to 12v, 12v to 24v, 24v to 12v etc... What's more its very
configurable, in that you can tell it how many (maximum) amps to take from your
source battery / supply and also set the charge rates and voltage separately too.
And you can charge everything else
you own - better than the cheap chargers all these items come with - from your camera to your laptop batteries, or anything else that's rechargeable!
And you can do it on the move from wheelchair or vehicle.
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And you can graph a
batteries performance to monitor its condition over time. And its a much better charger with peak detect
/ float / trickle settings (adjustable) and many other
advanced charge and discharge features tailored to every individual battery type.
You can control the power it draws
from wherever you plugged it in. So a maximum of say 8 amps if you are
connecting to a cigarette lighter socket in a car is sensible for e.g. More may
melt it! Or the charge socket on a
powerchair or scooter. (Once you fit the
Anderson connectors there is no limits
though). All of this
requires some knowledge of basic electrics and batteries of course, and a few leads and cables
making up. But its all incredibly useful for those that want and need the
flexibility.
In addition it can charge your Lithium
Polymer battery packs (of up to 7 cells at up to 20 amps) and balance the
individual cells accurately during charge. And lithium Ion, as well as Lithium Ion Phosphate (A123
cells). And large numbers of Nickel Cadmium, and Nickel Metal Hydride at
one time. Or one cell at once.
But the
most USEFUL thing it does is connect to a PC and allow you to Graph each and
every one of your batteries in your powerchair (or ANY battery) as the
charger "discharges" it!. So I know when to order a new mobile phone battery,
as well as monitoring my powerchairs batteries over time.
You choose the discharge rate to
coincide with the batteries rated (20 hour rate?) capacity. So a 70 ah battery
should be able to deliver 3.5 amps for 20 hours. You set this in the charger and
it automatically discharges the battery at a fixed current to a safe level (you
choose) down to a preset voltage limit and graphs the results.
This allows you to clearly SEE its
performance, its exact capacity in Ah or Amp Hours, (or m/Ah hours) as well as displaying its internal resistance in
m/Ohms.
This means that after a few months
you can run the test again and display a new graph to see EXACTLY how much your
batteries have deteriorated. In huge detail.
And you can save all these
records/graphs for later use on your PC.
If you have many batteries as I do
then it helps to label each one with a new date and a number so you don't get
confused! And give the file the same number.
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It will help you decide the best
time to replace you batteries.
You can see how much capacity they still have,
and more importantly you can see if the internal resistance has increased which
is another big issue with powerchair batteries. (or any batteries) An example
graph is below.
It will also tell you exact amp
hours provided to a few decimal places from fully charged down to your chosen
cut off voltage as it DISCHARGES your battery. And again as it charges your
battery (or string of batteries)
And an average internal resistance
figure over a charge/discharge cycle. That increases as the battery becomes more
discharged. The figures given here are for fully charged batteries.
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Discharge
graph. for a 55Ah Optima AGM Lead based
wheelchair battery beginning! I chose 5.5 Amps discharge rate so it should
take 10 hours to discharge a fully charged 55Ah battery - that will tell me its
capacity at the 10 hour rate. To 2 decimal places! And will also tell me its
internal resistance. So I can see if its still worth keeping! Its not
looking good.
This charger is worth at least twice its purchase price
if not much more!
What can it do? Its easier to say what it can't do.
If you own a battery powered device of ANY kind, from model and hobby stuff, to
golf carts and powered wheelchairs, lawnmowers, and you understand batteries you
really do want this charger!
because its the most flexible and capable device available.
Quick and simplified summary:
It can charge every battery you own. Or are likely to own in the future! And it
can graph and evaluate them as they age and give a true picture of condition.
If you own a powered wheelchair as I do the fact that it can test and evaluate
and graph your batteries better than many multi thousand pound "battery testers"
as used by the industry is reason alone to buy one.
Plus it can charge your 24v powerchair (or ANY other device) either at home or
in your car from its 12v supply, efficiently and in controlled fashion at least
as well as any dedicated simple wheelchair charger can. For less money.
But it can charge ALL battery types and sizes. From your phone, to your boat. It
can charge anything at up to 250 watts or a
maximum of 20 amps.
It can run from either 12v or from 24v input power. (up to 30v) Or any
figure in between. So your car, or a bench power supply at home.
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1. Lead Acid /
gel, AGM deep cycle, car starter etc 2v, up to 24v:
It can charge Lead Acid / Gel / AGM batteries from tiny right up to to
fork lift truck sized... And can do so with a multi adjustable 3 stage
CC/CV/Float algo.
Whets more it can graph, and measure the output capacity and internal
resistance. This alone makes it worth its weight in gold as it allows you to
accurately evaluate your batteries on a computer screen and save the info as
they age...
If you use deep cycle batteries in say a scooter, golf cart or wheelchair this
is important! And it lets you charge a 24v mobility or other device from your
12v car. Or in fact the other way around! It can charge a 24v wheelchair at at
10 amps. Or a single 12v battery at 20 amps! Or less, you choose battery charge
Voltage, float Voltage and Amps.
so while it is extremely flexible, it requires you to know what you are doing to
take full advantage! For mobility batteries I bought two of these. One is at
home connected to the PC so I can monitor battery condition and watch it charge
in detail every night. The other is in my van for charging my powerchair while I
am out and about! Small light efficient. It can charge any 2v, 6v, 8v, 12v, 24v
battery systems of all lead based battery types. From very small Up to around
250Ah.
2. Lithium Ion
It can charge up to 7 Lithium Ion cells in series, Discharge them, and balance
them and shows you the results on the computer screen for each individual cell.
Its actually pretty essential. I can test, graph and charge everything from
mobile phone batteries to my Nikon camera battery and get a real picture of its
condition. And I can test cheap copy Chinese batteries and compare them. As it
happens they seem just as good. Again there are terminal voltage adjustments,
storage settings, and charge amps amount settings. Again up to 20 amps or 250
watts - whichever comes first. In the future lithium batteries will be used in
mobility devices so the balance and evaluation capability will be future proof
and essential as it allows 24v lithium based batteries to be used.
3.
Lithium ion Phosphate (A123 Cells etc) LiFe Cells
It can charge up to 7 Lithium ion Phosphate cells in series, Discharge them, and
balance them and shows you the results on the computer screen for each
individual cell. I can test, graph and charge, and balance the cells and graph
the results for cells individually. Again there are terminal voltage
adjustments, storage settings, and charge amps amount settings. Again up to 20
amps or 250 watts - whichever comes first. Again In the future lithium ion
Phosphate batteries will be used in mobility devices so the balance and
evaluation capability of 7 cells will be future proof and essential as it
allows 24v lithium based batteries to be used.
4. Lithium
polymer (LiPo)
It can charge up to 7 Lithium polymer (LiPo) cells in series, Discharge them,
and balance them and shows you the results on the computer screen for each
individual cell. I can test, graph and charge, and balance the cells and graph
the results for cells individually. Again there are terminal voltage
adjustments, storage settings, and charge amps amount settings. Again up to 20
amps or 250 watts - whichever comes first. I use 6 cell LiPo batteries in my
helicopter and it charges these at 10 amps+ (5C) easily and quickly!
CC/CV/Balance method with fine user adjustable terminal voltage. And again these
may get used as 7 cell strings to replace 24 volt lead based batteries in
scooters, electric bikes etc. The 7 cell capability for balance and charge is
for the future for sure.
Nickel Cadmium
and Nickel Metal Hydride
It charges anything from a tiny single cell (like an AAA or smaller) up to
rather a lot of them in series! It uses the peak detect, and temperature method.
You choose. And you choose the charge rate, the trickle charge rate and the peak
detect settings should you wish. And of course you can do everything from your
PC including driving the charger, graphing the discharge and charge results etc.
I cannot think of any battery of any size that this thing cannot test or
charge!
If anything comes out that cannot be charged then Hyperion are very on the ball
with firmware and software updates regularly released! Every battery shop, car
dealer, wheelchair user, hobbyist that UNDERSTANDS batteries NEEDS one of these!
No I don't actually sell them And am not affiliated in any way other than
receiving a free charger for helping with the lead acid development. And I
bought this one and the one in my van...
More screenshots
12v wheelchair Battery about 60 percent discharged under test Will stop
automatically at 1.8v per cell and give me actual measured capacity and internal
resistance figures to 2 decimal places.
Discharging a 3 cell LiPo battery...
Recharging the same battery - and balancing all cells at the same time.
Note the cell readings - all are within 1000th of a volt! They should be
4.200 volts per cell. This is actually adjustable with this charger too. But
these cells can be dangerous, so adjust this at your peril!
I have a lead or connector to fit everything here! Currently charging a tiny
PP3 9v rechargeable battery for my multi meter!
I charge everything from single AAA batteries (All types) to huge packs of them
at once. And mobile phone batteries right
up to big wheelchair Lead Acid batteries with this one charger! IT DOES
EVERYTHING. Including the fancy Lithium Polymer ones in my
helicopter.
And I charge
from battery to battery, or from a power supply. And I graph and measure the
various batteries performance in all cases on my PC so can see the extent of any
deterioration.
For use at home you will need a suitable power supply.
I use a Fusion 600 watt adjustable one. It can supply 40 amps, and up to 15v.
Its adjustable. It cost me 99 UK pounds. As below. I leave it near my bed. I
then plug in the Hyperion charger to charge my chair overnight. A long USB lead
allows me to graph the charge on my PC while I sleep. I then take the
lightweight charger with me when I go out for use in my van.
BEST SETTINGS FOR CHARGING YOUR POWERCHAIR
--- 12.00v system (24.00v) system ---
MK GEL batteries and
Sonnenschein Gel as used in MOST wheelchairs:
Probably ok for other true GEL batteries too.
* Adjust amps up or flown to suit your usage. If you are waiting in a
morning for charge to complete then increase Amps for the next night! If not
then decrease them! The ideal is that it is ready an hour before you are.
Slower charging allows a more complete charge. Faster has only time as a
benefit which is no help if you are asleep! Hint... If you went miles today
choose 8 amps rather than 5. And Vice-versa.
Fast charge:
Float Off, Charge 14.40V (28.80v) @ Maximum Amps (Choose 20 Amps). Typically
used during the day as time allows for a top up. Charge completion is not essential
(or desirable as the last few percent takes hours!) but
overnight charging as above is still essential if you do this! Opportunistic
charging will LENGTHEN the service life of your batteries due to lower
average discharge levels contrary to what some less knowledgeable people may
tell you.
Long term storage or occasional use
Float: 13.38v
(26.76v)
- leave connected and on permanently after charge ends!
Charge: 14.10v
(28.20v)
@ 3 or 4 Amps
This will ensure batteries last as long as possible. This setting uses a
lower float voltage than cyclic charging requires. If you ever use or move
the chair restart the charger from the beginning of the charge cycle.
MKs Own Gel
Battery charging specification PDF file here! Which says the
same thing. but in a more complex way...
AGM --
Typical GOOD
AGM batteries
like Odyssey and Optima as used in some wheelchairs by those that understand the
REAL benefits of such good batteries and for vehicles etc:
*Adjust amps up or down to suit your usage. If you are waiting in a morning
for charge to complete then increase Amps for the next night! If not then
decrease them! The ideal is that it is ready an hour before you are. Slower
charging allows a more complete charge. Faster has only time as a benefit
which is no help if you are asleep! Hint... If you went many miles
today choose 7 amps rather than 5. So it will still be ready in the
morning. And Vice-versa.
Fast charge:
Charge completion is not essential here but overnight charging as above is
if you choose to do this!
Float: Off
Charge 14.70v (29.40v) @ Maximum Amps (Choose 20 Amps charger will charge at
its max watts rating). Typically only
used during the day or in a vehicle as time allows or as is required.
Opportunistic charging will LENGTHEN the service life of your batteries due
to lower average discharge levels if you do this as often as possible.
Long term storage or occasional use
Float: 13.26v (26.52) - leave connected and on permanently after
charge ends for long term battery protection!
Charge: 14.52v (29.04v) @ 3 or 4 Amps
This will ensure batteries last as long as possible. If you ever use or move
the chair restart the charger from the beginning of the charge cycle.
To find out WHY these are the best settings
for THESE batteries and our usage join the forum below and ask!
Message Board
For other batteries, please see specific
manufacturers data. Although these figures for GEL and AGM will probably be much closer than any
charger you are currently using as supplied with your powerchair. These mostly
are underpowered and charge at 14.4v to try and get a complete charge in a short
time with issues regarding gel batteries.
Make sure you have the very
LATEST firmware for your
charger!
In any case version 4.6 or better as your charger will not
charge lead based batteries correctly otherwise. Ideally version 4.9 out very
soon - as of 11 - 7 - 10 Watch carefully!
This version has many refinements we need for
powerchair batteries
First of all, the manual can be found here;
http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/pc/ecds-man
Visit the EOS CHARGER Firmware Update site for the newest version:
http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/pc/eosfw.htm
Finally, the LATEST Control & Data Suite program updated very often, can be
found here;
http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/pc/ecds-man/Installer.zip
This program has a requirement of .NET Framework 3.5
If your computer is not updated this component need to be updated from
Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Note: If you have trouble with SiLabs driver for the chargers, the latest
version can be found here;
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/p...cpdrivers.aspx
Related Pages
Lithium Ion Batteries for
Powerchairs and Scooters |
AA Battery testing! Which
Rechargeable AA is best?
Charge a
Powerchair directly from a vehicle. via the same Anderson connectors
Anderson Style connectors
and why you need them
Fast Charge YOUR Powerchair
in Around 1 Hour
Inverters & Chargers
Batteries for Both Vans & Power Wheelchairs
Which
Batteries to Buy
Very Flexible Charger!
Fuses!
Lithium Ion Batteries for
Powerchairs and Scooters
My Power Wheelchair or Scooter Will Not Charge
BCI Battery Sizes, Group 22, 24, 34, 27 etc
Drive Your
Powerchair by Radio Control
A
Superior Powerchair
overnight charger
Battery Planning
How to organise yourself for every eventuality!
MORE: Detailed PowerChair Only Menu
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