Storm 4 Xplore retrofit

[Burgerman]

Look at the extreme left on that image. There one of them!
Its needing a 3.5 wide rim. Double the 1.75 we now have. Under construction!

[Burgerman]

Here!

[Puma]

are both tyres tubeless?

[Burgerman]

Yes the rear are, but will be used with a tube (for now) but not the wimpy bicycle type one but a heavy 4 inch trailer one. But I want the tougher wider tyres on the rear because this chair weighs about 200kg without me in it! It sinks and leaves grooves on my lawn for eg in the dry! And wider = lower ground pressure. And because grey go yellow, look institutional, and wear/crumble and dry out. They put the carbon (black stuff) in tyres for a reason!
Also the rear track is narrower than the front. So wider = no actual loss of width.

Lights moved inboard so they don't wipe out on my bed, or door-frames, tables etc. They were mounted on the seat frame and stuck out 4 inches. They are now partly hidden by my legs. But better than non!

[Burgerman]

Few small adjustments and changes turns a non steering nose heavy beast into a much nicer chair. Sorting out the swing away, spot of finish! Moving the controller to the right position, fitting a rapid charge Anderson connector under the seat, and eventually fitting lithium. That should up the 38 miles to over 100 for silly worry free range. Even configuring the battery meter to work correctly with lithium is nice. The unlocked software allows this. Its just a bit of basic configuration and careful setup that all chairs need but non ever get. About 5 or 6 hours of fiddling about.

[ex-Gooserider]

I think they are getting wise to people turning up and using the the NHS. Talk in parliament of aggressively billing and chasing up the money. Unless you mean to buy cheaper!

I wasn't thinking NHS, not even sure how one could pull that off if just coming on a short trip... I was thinking more in terms of lower cost and getting stuff not for sale in US...

Plan would be something on the order of
1. Find dealer that is willing...
2. Place order (presumably w/ large deposit) for delivery by specified date (leave plenty of slack)
3. Renew Passport, get plane reservations (probably via Air Iceland) for after delivery date.
4. Get or use cheap, hunk-o-junk chair to make flight and travel to dealer.
5. Get in new chair, drive hunk-o-junk to dealer's crap bin...
6. Play tourist (why not....)
7. Fly home in new chair....

No need for NHS, not sure how one would deal with VAT exemption - I know that supposedly one can save receipts and get a refund at the airport on small stuff, but how it would work with a chair??? Do they just take your word about disability, or do you have to have documentation from a Dr, and if so would they accept stuff from a US MD?

ex-Gooserider

[Burgerman]

I wasn't thinking NHS, not even sure how one could pull that off if just coming on a short trip... I was thinking more in terms of lower cost and getting stuff not for sale in US...

Just walk in! Its unlikely anyone would ask if you were uk resident. If they did you would still get the same treatment. But they may try to bill you.

As for buying, you just fill in a self assessment form, downloadable from the web. But for a wheelchair its also very unlikely they will charge you vat anyway. Then never even asked me, just presumed. The bill showed no VAT at all. No need to even mention you are from the US. Not that it would make a difference.

[LROBBINS]

Even if you are asked to fill out a reduced-VAT form (actually reduced to zero, but not exempt - words are strange things) it is a self certification. The British have a nice habit of basically accepting your word. In Italy (reduction from 22% to 4%) we need to attach certificate of disability or handicap plus a specialist's prescription. It's just CYA though - no one actually looks at the papers.

[ex-Gooserider]

Right now it's just an option to consider, but I'll be watching BM's descriptions of his experiences with the chair, (and anyone else that hacks on one) to see how it works for him, and if he stays as happy with it...

If he starts posting the BM3 on E-bay, then I'd definitely be getting plane tickets - otherwise it is on the maybe list...

If nothing else, it is an interesting message to send US chair vendors, that you feel the need to leave the country to get a decent chair....

ex-Gooserider

[Burgerman]

With:
-seat moved back about 65 to 70mm
-rear rims widened from 1.77 to 3.50 and 110/80 - 8 much tougher tyres now fitted.
-centre power footplate
-about 50 things disassembled and greased before they corrode...
-lots of minor adjustments, like inboard lights mounting, free play removed from msany linkages, reprogramming, etc.
-arms reassembled more inboard
-front suspension pre load increased, to raise ride height at front to match new rear about 20mm taller) so it misses my tie-down
-seat narrowed (simple adjustment)
-tighten all links to make swing away solid. Temp fix. Or I cant drive it.
-set all inhibits to allow me to drive in the event of a failure or missing device/limit switch etc.
-adjust speed limiter "limits" and increase max speed a little (in programming)
-spray footplates black wrinkle as alloy looks bad and corrodes.

lithium and external charge point still to go, plus tie down bolt.

How to turn an unusable unsteerable chair into a usable one.

[CPguy]

Looks good so far! (as always, lol)

[Burgerman]

Still feels like a bus though. Its heavier, longer, wider, not as 'sharp' to control because of all that, and still nose heavy in comparison to my BM2 or 3 chairs.

Those are what I like. Short, responsive, light, and unstable. Much like a T4 paraplegic manual chair with power added. The storm explore is like riding around in an electric armchair. But too big/unweildy indoors. So its all a compromise as usual!

[shirley_hkg]

It still said Max @190 rpm

but manual is 2007.

[optical10]

I have a chance of the 2010 model but my question is did all of the storm 4 xplore always have brushless motors with true trac, even though I know this will be Mark one version?
Also can I get the seller to send me a picture confirming which motor is fitted Or is that information in an inaccessible place?
I currently have a Days explore power SE With DC 200 W motors is a folding indoor chair which needs new batteries so I was hoping whether it could take a lithium battery conversion but that's for another thread.

[Burgerman]

Storm 4 has brushed motors and no front suspension and a few other things different.
Storm 4 explore has brushless, and I sent mine back because they do not work right... By design.

[optical10]

Storm 4 has brushed motors and no front suspension and a few other things different.
Storm 4 explore has brushless, and I sent mine back because they do not work right... By design.

Thanks. I guess if you found Storm 4 X uncontrollable even after re-programme then theres no hope for the rest of us, LOL. I wish there was more choice for brush-less, riser seat indoor/ medium outdoor use with small wheel base already like mid-wheelers.

Are these brush-less better than my current Days power explorer SE indoor mainly?

[Burgerman]

The programming wasnt the issue. The fact that they are very limited in torque, and draw 192A from the battery ever time you try to zero turn causing the chair to cut out and stop, was. Its only any use if you are a balerina.

[rover220]

the early xplore was available with conventional motors

[Burgerman]

I didnt know that. I stand corrected. If thats so, then the easy way to find out if its brushless is a photograph.

The brushless ones have the wheel bolts on the outer diameter. The rest all have the wheel bolts near the centre in the conventional way like a car.

Look at the rear wheel bolts. This is brushless.

[shirley_hkg]

BM,
do you recall the seat-to-floor height of your Xplore ?

[Burgerman]

Cant say I do unfortunately. But the same approx as my own chairs since getting from bed to chair and back was similar. So depending on base tilt angle being at zero that would be about 17 plus cushion.

[Dan]

BM,
do you recall the seat-to-floor height of your Xplore ?

I have just measured mine, it has the electric lift. I think if you buy one without the lift the seat can be fixed higher. Its 43CM from floor to the seat pan.

http://www.invacare.co.uk/sites/uk/file ... y_2018.pdf

From the prescription form.
SEAT HEIGHT & SEAT RISERATF
Fixed Seat Height 450mm
Fixed Seat Height 480mm
Electrical Seat Riser (440mm - 690mm) including adapter (mandatory for X-plore)

[Burgerman]

43 cm is 430mm. 430 div by 25.4 to give inches is 16.9 inches.

So my 17 guess was 1/10th of an inch out.

[Dan]

I notice they now have a 10A charger for an extra £120

[Dan]

43 cm is 430mm. 430 div by 25.4 to give inches is 16.9 inches.

So my 17 guess was 1/10th of an inch out.

Not bad 1CM lower than what the prescription form now says.

[Burgerman]

120 more, for a negligible 2A extra?

Worse, it will probably over volt and undercharge the battery. Like most mobilitychargers.

I fitted 2 anderson connectors.
This allows you to buy a charger like the power supply/charger on shirleys thread for eg, which is cheaper than your EXTRA amount. So instead of that, you can keep the 8A stock charger, or ebay it. Instead you can charge at the CORRECT voltage for MK, to a low termination current and accurate float charge. And it tells you Ah returned. And it can charge at 8, 12A safely via XLR cable, as here http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/gopro/3stage.mp4

And any figure you chose right up to 50A via anderson if you are in a hurry. Or as a rapid top up during the day to keep battery healthy.

Whats more with the 2 andersons fitted as below, you can charge in parallel which ensures both batteries get charged equally and fully, at 12V parallel or at 24V series. Or you can use as a power supply. Once you choose your options, its just turn on, plug in. This thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7670&start=60

[shirley_hkg]

Thanks .

Surprise to know it can be this low .

[shirley_hkg]

BM, what number is this this caster , do you have some to offer ?

[Burgerman]

Do you mean what is the tyre size?

Its 3.00 x 6 from memory.

http://www.mobilityforyou.co.uk/news/mo ... r-tubes-65

They can be found as runflat or in black. My black ones came from rover.

I was going to swap mine for different 4 or 5 inch rims. And slightly smaller diameter. To allow the centre footplate to move back further.

Or keep the rims and use low profile tyres.
These will fit.
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32948534225.html And tubeless and road bike build/strength.

[shirley_hkg]

That's not a 12" wheel , but a 9" one.