So when you say extend a life cycle make it measurable...using a charger that came with the chair or a newer one will cut the use of the batteries down by months?
Its impossible to measure it, too many variables.
But ignore other variables, and MK tell you this:
download/file.php?id=15645&mode=viewIf you do 1 simple thing, such as quick boost charge at 40A for half an hour in the middle of the day, as I do. You will potentially increase service like four or five times. So 5 years instead of one. Or 4 years instead of nine months in my case. Why? Because with any deep cycle lead battery they are destroyed much much faster when they are cycled DEEPER.
You might get 2500 cycles at 50% discharge. But you will get less, much much less at 100% discharge. Maybe 50 to 200 depending on other factors like charging and battery quality. So doing ONE thing, such as a fast charge for half hour in the middle of your day will mean battery life is increased out of all proportion.
If you ignore these things, how much better a PROPER charger, set correctly in months of use depends entirely on how bad your mobility charger is.
Most over VOLT the battery by maybe half a volt. That reduces battery life by HALF. And most undercharge in time, so battery sulfates. So maybe removes another 3 to 4 months or so. So you must MEASURE it.
For gel batteries how long do you think they should work and be dependable?
VERY approx guide
Heavy use? 6 months especially if batts are too small and faster motors.
9 months to 14 months if used hard, grp24 and 6mph average user.
7 years plus is easy if used by an old lady or severely disabled that barely ever leaves the TV or her house. Depends on: Your usage patterns. The size of the battery compared to the chairs speed and user weight. Hills... average distance covered daily. Your charger. And a bunch of other things. And the differences are absolutely huge.
Again when I notice that my range has decreased, or that theres no decent "sharp" control response I replace them because they no longer work for ME. Thats 9 to 12 months in MY case with lead. Going back many years... But if I give that 1 year old discarded battery to a little old lady (as I have in the past), she would think they are just fine, and use them for another 5 years. Why? She doesent go far enough to find out. And they dont deteriorate much as they are not discharged deeply. So who is correct? How do you determine end of life? Batts dont fail. They just get worse. Day after day from month 1 onwards until YOU notice. So the time to replace is when they impact your daily routine.
Or you can use a PL8 charger to MEASURE actual Ah capacity and compare that to new. But again, at what point do you decide they are no longer any use? Officially its whan they lose 20% of original capacity. But I can tell when they lose 5%. Old lady can't tell when they have lost 50%, and 7 years later.