a) fit a "Anderson" connector to each battery
individually on your powerchair or scooter.
b) fit an "Anderson" connector to your vehicle.
Mine has one fitted to the inside below the dash. And another one fitted as
shown below to the wheel arch. This way I can charge the batteries on my
powerchair from both inside and outside the Van (car) as I feel fit! Both
have their uses... Both were simple to fit.
Here is an Anderson connector (50 amp) connector, already soldered to some
cables. The cables are 6mm square (area) and covered in heat shrink tube for
extra protection. I make two of these for every powerchair. One for
each battery. The other ends of the cables have soldered bolt terminal rings
(8mm holes) ready for the battery connections. If you worry about safety, fit
the positive leads with a 100 amp fuse in line. An alternator on a car can
charge at 100 amps... The cables bolt to each battery, the black connector
bolts to the powerchairs seat frame. One each side, or one behind the other. You
choose! Each one is a 12v heavy duty connector. I also made one for
my van... See photos.
Front wheel arch - with a connector visible. This connects directly to the
vans battery. It must be well insulated and not rub or chafe on anything! If
this cable shorts out it could start a\ fire! Again if this worries you fit a
100 amp fuse in line as I have. It normally has a plastic cover over it to keep
road muck out.
These are available on eBay. Or just use an unused extra connector.
Closer! I plug my wheelchair batteries in here with the motor running for ten
minutes each, up to around half an hour each battery (one at a time}. Should I need a fast
boost charge while out and about. I have a second connector inside the van so I
can do the same thing when driving or if its cold outside! See later pictures. Contrary to the
opinion of many so called experts this does no damage to your powerchairs
batteries provided that you CORRECTLY charge them at the end of the day as
mentioned above! Or use a better dual 12v
charger like this every night as I do.
There's one inside too! In the centre console. I connect while I drive.
Pretty unobtrusive... Light circle shows the Anderson connector. But 100 amps
on demand! Not just for charging but I can even jump start my van by plugging my
wheelchair in here...
Here I am driving my van from a wheelchair, and charging as I go! (red
cable, with a clamp Ammeter to show charge current. After 5 to 15 mins it drops
from 80+ (or so) Amps, down to low 20s Amps as the battery charges... Depending
how discharged it is. Once it drops to say 10 amps its about 80 percent full and
I swap the plug to the other battery. When that battery is down to the same 10
amps charge level I disconnect. Since both are about equally charged. Or
just keep charging both up (one at a time) until its 3 amps or less.
Eventually it would be almost zero. But a 80 or 95+ percent charged is good
enough. And its seriously fast! They get a full individual balance charge every
night anyway.
Down to 15 amps...
Now 12... When I am about half way to my destination I mentally note
the charge rate. It falls as they become charged. So here I am about halfway to
the beach with the dog. So now I swap the charge lead to the other battery, and
as I see 12.7 amps appear on that battery (as I arrive) I unplug that too. So
while they are not fully charged, they have a great big dollop of electrons put
back... They are also at about the same charge state each. See
State Of Charge to see how to gauge
the ACTUAL charge level.
The other end The wires just go directly to the battery. They MUST be heavy
cable. 6 square mm is the very bare minimum. 8 sq mm would be better still. As
shown 2 photos down... Mine has a 100 amp fuse in line in the cable
just in case.
A pair of connectors, ready wired up with 8 gauge cable and fitted to a metal
plate for easy mounting...
Bolting that plate to the seat frame. Then just connect to each
SEPARATE battery... Ask an adult! And don't blame me if you get it wrong!
Works great for me but I understand what I am doing. Any questions? See
Message Board
|
|
Same style connector on my powerchair. Except its a white one. This connects
to ONE battery. There is another identical one on the other side. Or as shown in
the picture above on a common metal plate. (I have many chairs!) Each connector connects ONLY to ONE
battery. A 2 meter long "connecting" extension cable allows me to connect my chairs
battery (one at a time) to my van.
This allows the vans alternator to
charge each battery in turn. As the battery becomes charged the current
falls away to almost zero. I have a clamp "Ammeter" that I use to see this
happening. Battery voltage never exceeds 14.4v which makes it completely safe for all lead
acid/gel/AGM/deep cycle battery types.
Charging from your cars alternator is fast. Typically half an hour for a 90
percent charge per battery. AGM batteries charge much faster than Gel batteries due
to superior lower internal resistance. But both types work fine though if you
are stuck with Gel batteries...
If this is too complex for you then there are easier but slower ways to
charge your powerchair from your car! But
all are slower and more expensive. Especially where small 2.5 or 5 amp chargers
are concerned. These take overnight or even twice that long in the case of the
weedy 2.5
amp ones! Pride mobility offer a 2.5 amp one. It can just connect to a
cigar lighter. But it will take around 24 hours solid to charge a powerchair so
is pretty useless
Doing it "directly" from your cars alternator means an almost full charge in
well under an hour with decent batteries. Far more useful to those of us with a
life to lead!
Questions or want to share?
Message Board
Burgerman.
|
49 Amps, --- SIX TIMES FASTER than your mobility charger!
Related Pages
This method has now been drastically improved
see here! Part 2...
And:
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!
MORE: Detailed PowerChair Only Menu
