|
WheelchairDriver |
|
||
 |
| ||
|
WheelchairDriver |
|
||
|
|
| ||
|
|
AFTER LOOKING AT AND EXAMINING MOST OF THE WORLDS "HI END" POWERCHAIRS, I QUIT LOOKING AND BUILT MY OWN. Because I need a good compact power wheelchair with a really tight / small footprint for true Indoor capability and great manoeuvrability. But I also want true outdoor capability! Sand, snow, smooth ride, huge range, etc. All in ONE power wheelchair. To do this took serious thought, lots of metalwork and welding! About 50 percent of this chair is now neither sunrise or powerchair!Well trust me when I say that the "real" manufacturers don't make anything worth buying if you want to use one chair for everything. You have to choose, indoor, or out and accept that there is no chair that can do both properly. This new powerchair really suits Active Paraplegic users that love a "sport" manual chair. It wheelies, and goes exactly where you aim it. Due to C of G and real programming and big real world sized wheels and tyres. Want to drive your van to the beach and walk the dog along it? Call in the pub on the way back? No problem. Its INDOOR friendly too.
|
|
45V LITHIUM BATTERY, 45+ MILES RANGE, 15 MPH, FAST CHARGE, (WEEKLY!), KEVLAR REINFORCED PUNCTURE PROOF "K SHIELD" TUBELESS TYRES, SNOW, SAND, OFF ROAD CAPABLE, INDOOR SMALL FOOTPRINT AND MORE... I am currently building the 3rd and latest incarnation, known as the BM3 which has a huge 45 mile+ range, 15mph speed, massive lithium battery and works indoors and out... properly. And a mass of other tweaks, with much more power and torque than normal powerchairs that make it vastly superior to any other powerchair on the planet. A quantum leap in every single direction. Under construction, chair, and pages: |
|
This self built powerchair stuff, all started with the stock Sunrise Medical F55s powerchair, in 97. It was abysmal so I started to fix it. A bit at a time. And ended up with a much modified but better BM1 many years ago. All of these small but effective changes were subsequently used on the BM2, & BM3 chairs too, so even though old now, its worth a read.
|
|
|
|
These are
powerchairs (or conveyances) that are not indoor / outdoor
solutions. They are generally
too big or don't turn tight enough so are OUTDOOR only. |
|
And no, "suspension" isn't the answer because
that does not deform around objects, curbs or cobbles like
big fat low pressure balloon tyres do. In a slow powerchair suspension just isn't
as effective. |
|
Do you have a powerchair? Do you leave the house? Then you NEED one of these in your car or van! No excuses. Saved my bacon many times. |
|
A page discussing the types of powerchair tyres we
have, can get, and which are best and why. Advantages and
disadvantages of each type. So you know what to look for or to swap over to!
Tyres are not as simple as you think! |
|
POWERCHAIR TYRE (TIRE) PRESSURES
What should they be and why? Forget
the "recommended" pressures in the manual! |
|
Advantages and disadvantages of each type. Which should you fit and why? |
|
I mean real puncture proof, like the military use. NOT solid they give an unacceptable ride and eat our limited battery power, Not foam filled or, inserts or and of the other "mobility solutions" that jar your spine every few yards. There are better ways. These Kevlar re-enforced tyres that I use on my chairs are both tubeless as well as basically bullet proof... I don't like punctures! |
|
TYRE (TIRE) WELD IN A CAN Punctures. We just love those! At least get et a can of tyre repair foam today! This is pretty effective on tubeless tyres but works at least some of the time on tube type tyres that most powerchairs have. |
|
Things that fail. Or have failed me over the years.
And others. But only the things that can leave you stranded. A sudden stop.
Broken down. And how to avoid that happening to you. There a a lot of things
that go wrong repeatedly. Like batteries! But they seldom die suddenly. On the
other hand some things just do fail! If you know what DOES go wrong, and
how to fix it you will be able to avoid it happening at 2Am on a cold train
station... |
|
The things that effect the Range of a Powerchair. The differences speed or gearing make, user weight, terrain etc. What to realistically expect and why. How you can improve it. You wont make India! |
|
As much as this seems either plain silly, or a game for fun, its UNBELIEVABLY useful to do this. I work on many powerchairs, and am disabled so sat in one. How else can I move a 2nd chair from workshop to house or van? Or away from my bed to "swap chairs" as and when I need to do so. How I do it and why I do it. And why you would want to do it! It should be offered as an option on all powerchairs. Its safe, reliable and makes a number of jobs really easy. |
|
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED!!!
When you really examine ALL the pros and cons a manual wheelchair
just isn't as good at ANYTHING! For most full time wheelchair users. Its all
about brainwashing! So then, if you are using a manual wheelchair, and are a
full time wheelchair user this means you are brainwashed by the system! |
|
EVERYONE WANTS A FASTER POWERCHAIR Its much safer & allows you to escape the daily reversing car that hasn't seen you etc, or allows you to safely cross a busy junction without being badly killed by a bus. So why do they make slow powerchairs if they are a liability?
There are very good REASONS why a 4 mph chair isn't capable of 6
mph. There's no simple fix. There is also a reason that outdoor chairs are
pretty much limited to 6 or 8 mph maximum. All explained here in detail...
|
|
CHOOSING A SUITABLE POWERCHAIR
Powerchair dynamics, size, types and what to look for
in a powered wheelchair when looking for one for yourself. By understanding WHY
powerchairs have
different
controllers,
battery sizes,
wheel and
motors, or speed
"packages" you
can better
understand the
differences
between so many
different
models. Its
impossible to
choose a chair
if you are
clueless about
how/why all
these things
affect you or
the chair.
|
|
WHEELCHAIRS AND WIDTH! What not to do.
What to avoid and why. |
|
WANT TO "TOP UP
THE POWER" FAST,
SO YOU CAN GO
OUT OR CONTINUE
YOUR TRIP?
If you are the type of person that actually uses your powerchair a LOT and has a struggle with batteries not lasting the whole day, then boost charge your powerchair to around 95 percent fully charged in an hour while you check your email! So you are ready to go out fully charged and confident in the evening. Contrary to what many manufacturers who really don't understand batteries well and other self appointed "experts" will tell you, it is perfectly safe to charge deep cycle batteries at a much faster rate than your cheap and cheerful mobility charger can do.
As long as you use a separate direct battery connection lead/cable and a
powerful modern switch mode voltage controlled multi stage charger. Even the
enlightened battery manufacturers
say so! I have been doing this daily for 25 months now without an issue and my
batteries never lasted as long as this before. And it feels great to know that
you are fully
charged and
ready to go! |
|
Do you drive or own a power
wheelchair or scooter? Or a Disabled converted vehicle? You really should
read and understand this piece on batteries! |
|
What to
buy and
why. I have tested many to destruction because that's the kind of guy I am... Really
I am not
normal.
I do it
because
I WANT
TO KNOW
- brain
like a
sponge!
And measured their destruction too. I even cut them open to see why they die...
A sort of post mortem. |
|
ORGANIZE YOURSELF!
How to organise yourself for every eventuality! |
|
FUSES! TRIPS, FUSIBLE LINKS, CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Unknown to most people FUSES (or sometimes
breakers) can even stop your
powerchair dead in the street. They really do not pop off often but
it is not completely unknown. You do have a spare one ready stored in your
battery box don't you? Well get one then! Today preferably or that
will be when it leaves you out in the cold and rain at 2am. Much better
to be safe than sorry. |
|
STORE OR MAINTAIN UNUSED CHAIRS/BATTERIES
How and why
its
important.
Store
your
wheelchair
batteries
incorrectly
and they
may be
ruined
in as
little
as a
month. |
|
Want to run your computer from your powerchair? Want to use power tools from your powerchair? Want to charge your powerchair
while driving inside your car? Want to have mains electricity available wherever
you go in your powerchair or scooter? |
|
CHARGING BATTERIES - BASIC INFO
What you should
know. |
|
A BETTER POWERCHAIR
CHARGER It balances your batteries
to make sure both are
charged to the same exact
state and is a little faster than a stock Powerchair
charger. |
|
CHARGE YOUR POWERCHAIR FROM YOUR CAR
Its easy and safe if you
understand what you are
doing. If not skip this! No
charger needed --
(SIMPLE METHOD, ONE BATTERY
AT A TIME). |
|
CHARGE YOUR POWERCHAIR FROM YOUR CAR MUCH FASTER
This allows
you to charge your scooter
or powerchair directly and
safely from your cars
alternator with some simple
rewiring. Typically 30 to 45
mins for a pair of good
powerchair batteries to
around 95 percent charge. |
|
to allow fast charging or the connection
of many varied devices, including inverters and the power to run many mains powered
items or to charge your chairs batteries (individually) from your cars battery/engine. |
|
WHEELCHAIR BATTERY SIZES
What they are,
why it matters and the actual physical sizes |
|
LEFT YOUR BATTERIES TO GO FLAT? SCOOTER/POWERCHAIR WILL NOT CHARGE?
Why your Powerchair
wont charge and how to fix it! |
|
Measuring it and what it
means and a chart showing different battery types voltages. |
|
This thing can charge your powerchair or scooter from your car. Your car from your powerchair. And charge every single type of battery currently available! It can also graph and test your chairs batteries via a PC in detail over time. For the guy who wants to know what's happening with his batteries, that wants to be able to test them, and have maximum flexibility in choosing charge rates, voltages, etc. Too much to explain.
As above but now even more powerful!
I have three! Charges at up to 20 Amps, any battery type. If you are a control freak and use a powerchair
this is ESSENTIAL kit! |
|
WHEN ARE MY BATTERIES READY FOR REPLACEMENT? As it says. How do you know when its time to replace your powerchair or scooters batteries? |
|
|
|
ADD ON POWER UNITS,
ADD ON POWERED
WHEELS FOR MANUAL
WHEELCHAIRS
A discussion about these devices and why they are mostly a bad idea! See also: |
|
EXTEND THE RANGE OF
YOUR EXISTING
POWERCHAIR Get 90km or 40 miles from an average
top end power wheelchair. Seriously! Some have been doing this for
years. |
|
POWER WHEELCHAIR "RANGE"
What
affects
it, how
to
maximize
it,
compromises
with
speed or
battery
sizes
etc. |
|
POWER WHEELCHAIRS AND SNOW
(or Soft Surfaces like Sand / Mud) What works, what doesn't and why!
And why I did it my way... |
|
POWER WHEELCHAIRS AND RAIN
|
|
HI END POWERCHAIR CONTROL SYSTEMS
Looking for ramp climbing, wheelies, off road power,
etc? Which is best. Dynamic or Penny and Giles? And why? There are differences... |
|
ROBOTEQ HI POWER ROBOTICS CONTROLLER AS USED ON MY LATEST POWERCHAIR
WAY more
powerful than any other controller!!! 36v, (up to 50v) 300 amps (2x 150A) controller. As used on my latest project powerchair for 15mph and enough power to plough a field... |
|
What you need to know and why you need a
programmer today! Unless you do this your powerchair will always be
sluggish, delayed
and hard to steer.
And no, your dealer
cannot do it. |
|
JOYSTICK FLASHING ERROR CODES
Power wheelchair flashing error codes and
programmer error codes lookup! |
|
MOTOR BRUSHES
All you need to know and how
to swap and check them - BEFORE you break down! Knowledge is power! |
|
BACKUP POWERCHAIRS
Why you need one and how to get one and what to look for! |
|
COST OF OWNING AND RUNNING A HI END POWER WHEELCHAIR. ITS NOT PRETTY!
Detailed breakdown of typical
running, maintenance, charging costs as well as depreciation. |
|
POWER WHEELCHAIR DESIGN - THE COMPROMISES
Why they are designed how they
are, and what to look for when choosing a chair. |
|
POWERCHAIRS AND HEAT |
|
ADD A USB PORT TO YOUR POWERCHAIR |
|
CHARGE UP YOUR POWERCHAIR FOR FREE FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS! |
|
HOW TO CRIMP AND SOLDER CABLES! |
|
AGM or GEL BATTERY? DIFFERENCES |
|
POWERCHAIR PARTS
Links to
useful Powerchair Parts and components and services supplies.
Quiz for Powerchair "Professionals"
If you cant answer these basic questions then you should give up and go
home! Quad copter camera platform TBS discovery. Un-crashable great for a wheelchair hobby!
|
|
Content, Images, Software & Design (c) Burgerman 1996 & aggressively protected by whatever means needed -- Message Board |
MY
LATEST HOME DESIGNED & BUILT, BM3 POWERCHAIR (2011)
OLD
ORIGINAL BM1 (1998)
INDOOR/OUTDOOR
ALL TERRAIN POWER WHEELCHAIRS 
OFF
ROAD ONLY "POWERCHAIRS"
ALL
POWER WHEELCHAIRS NEED TO BE "OFF ROAD" CAPABLE.
THAT
ESSENTIAL SMALL PORTABLE FOLDING RAMP!
POWERCHAIR
TYRES (TIRES)
POWER
WHEELCHAIR TYRES, TUBELESS, TUBED, SOLID?
PUNCTURE
PROOF TYRES
WHAT
TYPICALLY GOES WRONG WITH POWERED WHEELCHAIRS?
ALL
ABOUT POWERCHAIR "RANGE" AND WHAT AFFECTS OR CHANGES IT
DRIVE
YOUR POWER WHEELCHAIR BY REMOTE CONTROL, OR RADIO CONTROL
MANUAL
OR POWER WHEELCHAIR? 
POWER
WHEELCHAIRS & SPEED!
SICK
OF WAITING FOR
YOUR POWERCHAIR
OR SCOOTER TO BE
CHARGED?
DO
YOU USE
LEAD
BASED
BATTERIES
(GEL /
AGM) IN
YOUR CAR
OR IN
YOUR
POWERCHAIR?
WHAT
BATTERIES
TO BUY
FOR YOUR
POWERCHAIR
OR
SCOOTER
WANT "MAINS" POWER ON BOARD YOUR POWERCHAIR? OR 12V OUT? OR CHARGE "ON THE MOVE" IN A CAR?
FIT
ANDERSON CONNECTORS TO YOUR
POWERCHAIR!
HOW
TO MEASURE YOUR BATTERIES TO
DETERMINE THE STATE OF
CHARGE
HYPERION'S
EXTRAORDINARY BATTERY
CHARGERS
LITHIUM
POWERCHAIR & SCOOTER
BATTERIES