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home built powerchairpageFLEXIBLE POWERCHAIR CHARGING & BATTERY SYSTEMS

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT ACTIVE POWERCHAIR USERS FACE IS ONE OF RANGE OR BATTERY LONGEVITY OR/CHARGING ISSUES.

A big day out, a weekend away with no charging access, hilly terrain in a strange town, off road use on grass at an airshow, heavy individuals, forgetting to charge overnight, or just plain heavy use during the day means batteries can a problem. For E.G. a couple of hours playing sport, a single big hill and your batteries are mostly depleted. And whilst they MAY get you home, they suffer an early demise. Batteries plain don't like being heavily discharged.


Want better range? Much faster charging at home & when out in your car/van? At up to 10x faster? 

Do you want to help your expensive batteries Live Longer and Perform Better?

Do you need a VERY fast top up charge during the day, so you can go out later on in the evening, "fully charged" and ready for anything?  I have a life and need all of these things. And I have them.

I SELL NOTHING, HAVE NO PRODUCTS TO PUSH

I am very knowledgeable about batteries, chargers and powerchairs though! And its a good job I am because if I were not then the limits imposed by the current powerchair battery technology would stop me doing all the things I enjoy every day.

 Batteries are the weakest part of the chain in any electric vehicle and a powerchair is no different here.
 

FREE ADVICE! If you are using a charger with a heavy transformer then throw it away NOW!  Modern switch mode digital chargers with multi stage charging algorithm built in are HUGELY better and safer for your batteries.  Even if the charger has a LARGER power output.  A larger Amp (power), 3 stage modern charger will make your batteries charge much faster and last much longer than that old antique heavy transformer charger you are using now.

But never put more Amps through the tiny joystick charging port than the manufacturers advise, fit some proper Anderson Connectors! Or you will likely damage something!  Doing this ensures a faster, fuller charge in any case, even with your old charger...


 

 
 

 

OPTIONS AND CHOICES

Do you ever wake up and realise you forgot to plug your tiny "all night" 5 Amp or 7 Amp manufacturer supplied battery charger?  Or want to go out for a 10 mile "walk" with the dog in the evening (or to the pub/night club etc - or both) and then realise you dare not try it. Because you have been shopping all day and your batteries are at less than their best? :(

You are not alone! It used to happen to me too!  It just requires a little planning!

I have various systems in place that cure all of the above battery issues, and make my batteries last around twice as long in real terms before replacement

This is what I now do:

  • 1. I can charge them up FAST at up to 100 amps from my van as I drive. Or while Parked with the motor idling. The vehicles alternator does this for me via a few simple connections. See link above. This means that whenever I get in and drive, I can charge the chair in about 30 to 60 mins to around 90 percent charged from pretty well flat... Or just put a huge amount back in a few minutes. SAFELY.

In fact every time I drive I always plug-in and get a free/fast top up, even if only going a couple of miles. I like charged batteries! You never know what may happen.  Ever get asked to a party, or miss the ride home? Or break down... A full charge make your batteries and you feel better!

  • 2. I can do the same as above and charge FAST at 100 Amps but from the OUTSIDE of the van.  Via a strategically placed external socket. Ideal if camping, in the sunshine, at an airshow etc.  Here  exactly the same system as 1
     

  • 3. I can Fast Charge at 30 Amps while at home sat next to my computer or eating after a busy day in typically 1 hour to 90 percent+ charged, Ready for a busy night out.  Here  This is extremely useful as it means you are always topped up and ready to go, and prolonging your batteries service life at the same time. Do it while you watch TV or eat!
     

  • 4. I can use my normal Powerchairs slow 5 or 7 amp charger overnight for a normal charge. This is of course completely useless for a top up during the day as its far too slow to really help. Unless you have 7 or 8 hours to waste.
     

  • 5. I do also always use an overnight 20 Amp 12v (OR 24v 18Amp) charger as well though.

I charge at 12v in PARALLEL via my Anderson connection setup every night. It ensures that one battery isn't at a different state of charge than the other every time you charge them up. A normal single 24v charger (as you are currently using), only sees the total voltage of both batteries. So cuts off when it sees the correct finished voltage. But that's often with one battery a little overcharged and the other one undercharged. Both are bad for your batteries! Overcharging uses up electrolyte. Undercharging reduces range and causes sulphation of the plates.

Advanced Chargers like this Hyperion that I use offers a multitude of options for the knowledgeable user. I can charge a powerchair from a car, a car from my powerchair and in fact any battery size and type so far invented. And graph battery charge and capacity and other details on the PC... For GEEKS! I have one! Actually three...  Here

 

ALL of these charging methods will work fine on Gel or AGM wheelchair batteries. But the higher amp / faster charging systems work hugely better and faster/safer with the AGM Starter/Deep cycle combination batteries like Optima Yellow Top and Hawker Odyssey batteries.    I can charge powerchairs quickly, from the wall, from the car, from each other, and I can even use them to start my van. Or connect an inverter for cutting the lawn... CHOICE!  It gives you OPTIONS!

 

FAST!  Click for  BIGGER! BM2 POWERCHAIR

LINKS TO MY HOMEBUILT POWERCHAIRS BM1, BM2, BM3

 

Related Pages

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!

Powerchair Battery State of Charge

 

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