Battery ADD on pack - First Attempt -

[shirley_hkg]

I'm quite surprised at the 0.101V voltage difference of Headway cells, at the empty end.

It doubles that of my A123 pouch and SONY 26650 .

I didn't do the capacity matching neither.

[expresso]

how many of those would you need to build the same 105ah pack ? it has 16mohm - double the headways - of less than 8 mohm

the sony ones arent cheap either -

[Burgerman]

SONY 26650 are lico cells. They are a bit too explodey and stuff for use in a powerchair!

The A123 are quality cells.

[expresso]

that i can do with out - safely first

the A123 cells - those are small ? you need alot of them - would those be cost effective in the end ? more work involved i would think -

the headways make it simpler to do - they seem to be more plug and play -

[shirley_hkg]

SONY did make LiFePO4 cells. They are 26650 cells, removed from UPS units.

Low C , and rated @3000 mah each.

[expresso]

done

[Burgerman]

https://www.akkuteile.de/lifepo-akkus/2 ... /a-100719/

These? They look ok as long as you build a very big pack.

[shirley_hkg]

Yes , it is.

72P 8S … we ordered 5 , 6 packs, before it is sold out .

[steves1977uk]

expresso, these are the castor wheels you want... http://www.sunrisemedicalspareparts.co. ... pneumatic/ 10 x 3 inch, not 9 x 3 inch. These are what I use.

Steve

[expresso]

hi thanks steve - but would those fit my chair ? they are made for the Groove model -

i have to look up the groove model chair here and see what it shows - but i would have to make sure they fit my model chair or else i be stuck with them -

do you have the solid kind or the with inner tube and air ? this maybe something i may try on the pilot chair - maybe- first need to make sure parts will fit - no custom work to be done -

with the pilot chair - i always had a problem with my left front fork setup - my tech told me it was the frame part which is not 100% when made - QA issues - i believe him - the right side is fine - left never fully right - its a bit loose and makes noise etc, - my tech made it a little better - try to build it up with washer etc, - but just so much he can do -
i dont know if changing the forks and tires to these would make the difference for that issue - it may just solve that problem also - its over 4 yeas i gave up with it and the squeaks - actually i managed to finally solve that issue almost - its very little now - i dont hear it when riding - its the front left fork that bothers me - hard as a rock and banging clacking sound - you may hear it in my videos - as i wheelie and come back down etc, - or over bumps -

the wheel caster fork combo for my chair from sunrise parts etc, are 10x3 forks with 9 x3 tire - which is a little less than 3 really its 2 3/4 inch wide tire and fits in the 10 x 3 forks

thats the correct parts for my chair - if the Groove parts fit it - thats great - but how can i know that for sure - have to look at ebay - maybe i can find some cheap -

but also the bigger front tires may hit my foot rests ? thats another thing i cant know for sure -

[snaker]

but also the bigger front tires may hit my foot rests ? thats another thing i cant know for sure -

My chair have 10inch casters. I can see some advantages when climbing up curbs or slopes. But they also cause troubles. The casters hit my heels when moving backward. And the chair is harder to control in narrow spaces. Maybe 9inch casters are more suitable for my chair. Unfortunately, the chair's front height is not adjustable, changing casters will require some modification.

[shirley_hkg]

I'd recommend 2.80/2.50 - 4

Most of us find this adequate for urban use.

[shirley_hkg]

[Burgerman]

Not enough sidewall for my liking!

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/gopro/10.wmv

[expresso]

but also the bigger front tires may hit my foot rests ? thats another thing i cant know for sure -

My chair have 10inch casters. I can see some advantages when climbing up curbs or slopes. But they also cause troubles. The casters hit my heels when moving backward. And the chair is harder to control in narrow spaces. Maybe 9inch casters are more suitable for my chair. Unfortunately, the chair's front height is not adjustable, changing casters will require some modification.

Yes your right snaker - they will be too large on my chair and will hit my footplates - etc, - as it is now - its close - not much room left to use larger casters - even the original 9 x 3 from sunrise may be a issue - but those would be the ones i would try if anything at all -

invacare chairs may be different and BM dosnt use swing away footrests etc, - to its not a problem for that type of setup - also BM will make it work one way or another with modifications - which its not going to be the case for me -

i dont even think if i find the groove model casters would work for that reason - too large will hit footplate - i am just exploring the options - not sure if its worth investing in that chair - curious to see how it would feel - - i will try to start the process for a new chair - which i can the get the 10 x 3 caster with 9 x 3 tire - and try that with out the suspension forks - -

i kinda of feel that if i change this pilot chair to the fixed fork - larger tire - it may get rid of that banging noise coming from that side fork - maybe - at the same time i can try the larger tires - with Air ?

what big a difference is there between the foam filled tire - which is flat free - Vs the Air filled and then you have to add the Flat fix spray to make it flat free - wouldnt that be about the same feel as a foam filled tire anyway ?

i cant have a Air fill tire alone with inner tube - i will get flats for sure - and will be Long way from home - during my trips - i see the bikes riding - carrying extra inner tube around there neck body in case they get a flat -

[Burgerman]

what big a difference is there between the foam filled tire - which is flat free - Vs the Air filled and then you have to add the Flat fix spray to make it flat free - wouldnt that be about the same feel as a foam filled tire anyway ?

Huge difference.

[expresso]

Ok so there is a benefit if i get the Air tire and then add in the flat free spray in there ? do you use any kind of flat free spray for a Car etc, - is there one better than another ?

once you use the spray - do you still need to add Air or can you still add and remove Air as normal - ? just so i understand - the tire will have a inner tube - and then you add air and the spray to make it flat free -

[Burgerman]

Its not a spray. Its a mix of stuff and looks like a thick goup with fibres in it. You only add a little, then reinflate. There are loads of different ones. Use an off road one.

[expresso]

Its not a spray. Its a mix of stuff and looks like a thick goup with fibres in it. You only add a little, then reinflate. There are loads of different ones. Use an off road one.

its a spray can - you connect to the tire and it fills it up ? if you have a link to the one thats needed to use -

last time i used one when i drove - thats a long time ago and it didnt work for me because i didnt know it had to be a certain temp. to use it - it was a cold day- i had it in my car - i went to use it - didnt work and rode on my rim till i found a place to fix it -

when i read the instructions - it said it has to be kept in warm temp. etc, - -

[LROBBINS]

As John said, the kind of sealant he's talking about is NOT a spray. It is a rather gunky liquid that flows by gravity into a fully deflated tire or tube. The one he uses is called OKO Off Road sealant. I don't know if that brand is available in the U.S., but there are other similar ones with other names. BUT, you must check that it specifically says "For Off-Road use Only" - these thick sealants cannot be used in higher-speed vehicles because they will unbalance the tire if it's rotating fast. In a wheelchair, a riding mower, a golf cart, a farm tractor or construction equipment it gets nicely distributed as the wheels are turning only slowly.

In Italy, there are all kinds of sealants available for bicycles, but hardly anyone stocks the kind we need for our chairs. I bought one bottle of OKO from the U.K. (and the shipping doubled the cost), and now have to buy another as there's not enough left in the bottle to properly do the new tires I'll soon be mounting.

[expresso]

thanks - something like this


https://www.amazon.com/Flat-Free-Extend ... entries*=0

[shirley_hkg]

The most popular sealant in the US is SLIME .
Google it.

[LROBBINS]

thanks - something like this

Yes

[expresso]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AOMQ80/re ... 3PCX&psc=1


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYRBYQS/re ... Q5TOP7M1O8

[shirley_hkg]

i cant have a Air fill tire alone with inner tube - i will get flats for sure - and will be Long way from home - during my trips - i see the bikes riding - carrying extra inner tube around there neck body in case they get a flat -

Looks like you didn't explore your chair much, though you have been on wheels for over a decade.

Do yourself an experiment. Drive your chair on sidewalk to attend the curbside at an angle, so that you stick one caster out in the air.

Rock your chair and see if it holds in position on its 3 other wheels.

Mine's does, and BM's does, because it is designed to carry load on the drive wheels, not the casters.

That demonstrates you can round the world with ONE caster. Why worries can't go home with a flat front caster ?

Experience told me that you wouldn't notice a flat caster for days. However, you will be alerted of that when you attend turns at speed. The opposite drive wheel will lift a bit, and you feel loosing traction.

I didn't recall I had 2 flat casters in one single trip . Do you have one to share , BM.?

[expresso]

i am not worried now - cant say how it will be on a flat tire - never had one with my new chair - its soft as a cloud - so not worried with that one -

its the pilot chair which is stiff hard as rock chair - - that could benefit - how much - cant say - since the rear are solid also - but if the front can be made softer

that could help some - yes a decade and never fully explored my options - your guys are ahead of game - i am getting there - doing better than most - but this is not a contest for me - its a learning experience -

do you use a BMS on your full pack chair also ? not just the ADD on ?

[shirley_hkg]

Yes, all with BMS and a dumb charger.

Won't leave home without it.

Please do not mix up with those BMS you found on most online shops , with balancing at 3.6V and over voltage cut off at 3.85V , I FEEL more comfortable with mine, because it is 3.49V balance and 3.65V cut off.

Don't waste yours . Benefit someone, if you don't need it anymore.

[expresso]

yes for sure - i am keeping the BMS - in case anyone of my friends wants to try it - i have 2 15ah left over cells also

they can buy 14 more cells - i can build it for them with your BMS - for free - and they have a 30ah pack - for very little money - after i explain all the pros and cons - they can decide - but i cant force anyone into this - they have to want to do it - the same way i decided to do it - if it doesnt work out - they have to accept that and not blame me for it -

i would recommend it the same way i have - but use the 15ah cells - two rows - giving 30ah pack - and use the PL 8 to charge - which they have to buy etc, - thats where they wont do it - they will want to use dumb charger - which is fine with me -

but down the line - if any issues- cant say i didnt warn them - i wouldnt pick any BMS for them - i will use yours and if i ever needed more BMS - will come to you - your the BMS expert shirley

i think its a good thing if someone wants to keep it simple with costs and not learn anything else - then do BMS and hope it works and lasts -

[Burgerman]

Except that when we removed that BMS that had been balancing the cells for expresso, and connected the PL8 instead we found that the were miles out of balance... Much as expected.

[expresso]

Except that when we removed that BMS that had been balancing the cells for expresso, and connected the PL8 instead we found that the were miles out of balance... Much as expected.

yes thats true - after seeing the graphs all out of wack - spikes up and down - i am glad i stopped using it - with the BMS i had to keep it connected all the time - the dumb charger - once i used the PL 8 once - i see how much better it does - the graphs show it - - faster - and really just as easy as any plug and play dumb charger -

once charge is done - which is always done way before i go to sleep - so i can charge it full - unplug everything and not think about it - i like that - after seeing those bike packs catch fire from just sitting there - which is strange - how does it just catch fire if its not even charging ?

either way - it took BM a while to hammer it in my head - but once i gave in and went with the PL 8 - i am glad i did - just like lithium - i am glad i crossed over -

@ shirley - why dont you give it a try with the PL 8 ? is it because you want to carry a dumb charger to charge at other places ? if you take the cost of the BMS - and use that to buy the PSU - your half done - then just need the PL 8 -

i think if you did that and used it - you wont go back to the BMS - what does the BMS offer you in that the PL 8 cant ? you can solder - you can build all these packs - you know alot about this stuff - you do a good job at building these large packs

i did like the idea of the BMS at first - i was trying hard to make a case for it - and its good for those who really dont know nothing - which was me and still is - but it took me two weeks with the BMS before i realized - its not a big deal at all to do the PL 8 way - once i did that - i cleaned up my pack - redid it with no BMS - its cleaner - and easier - dont have to worry about looking at the lights on the BMS - which is on - which are off - leaving it there over night etc,

there has to be a good reason why you use a BMS because your not a Novice at this like me -

by the way - i read in the news here yesterday - SAD NEWS - that bridge i cross GWB - someone jumped off it this past Tuesday - - 28 year old girl - shame - i never heard anything about - as soon as i cross it - something happens -
i wish i was there to try to help her change her mind - they have signs up there about that with number to call etc, - what can you do - its a 200 foot drop - no one makes it -