Hello from Atlanta, Georgia, USA

[ryanphinney]

Hello everyone! I am Ryan Phinney. I am a retired Police Officer, injured in the Line of Duty, a T-8 Paraplegic and Double Above Knee Amputee. Been using wheelchairs for 27 years, and power chairs for 15, after tearing up my shoulder joints being a bit too active in manual chairs.

I am starting my own project to customize a wheelchair, since I want a chair I can use on and off concrete, indoors and outdoors.

This Forum has been extremely helpful, and I am now dividing my project into three phases, construction of a chair, conversion to Lithium Ion power, and then finally an increase in voltage above 24v if I can work out how to manage it. Burgerman was kind enough to point out some very informative threads, and I am beginning to realize just how much I need to learn to tackle the entire project, so I think I am going to set some reasonable goals and build up to overall success in phases.

It's great to know I am not the only one that has been dissatisfied with what is available commercially, and it is really nice that there is a place we can come to share information so we don't have to all make our own mistakes.

Ryan Phinney

[Burgerman]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5702

This is a thread by lithium battery and wiring and charging virgin, Expresso in new York. He first built an addon pack. Then decided to do this full pack and replace his lead bricks. Range improved from 15 to 40 miles, and he starts from scratch knowing very little to a years success and a lot of learning. So well worth a read too! He had never soldered a wire before this!

Now new yorks lithium battery and charging expert!

[ryanphinney]

Thanks, I have been immersing myself in Battery Info, and I think I am starting to get the basic fundamentals. The variety of info is great, and someone else's practical experience will be invaluable.