eric roberts

Looking After Your Electric Wheelchair

An electric wheelchair is a valuable asset for people with mobility impairments. It provides them with the freedom and independence to move around and carry out their daily tasks without any assistance. However, like any other machine, an electric wheelchair requires proper maintenance and care to function smoothly.

In this article, we will discuss some tips and tricks to help you look after your electric wheelchair and keep it in top condition. From cleaning to battery maintenance, we will cover everything you need to know to ensure your wheelchair stays in good shape.

Cleaning your electric wheelchair

Daily Cleaning: Looking After Your Electric Wheelchair

Cleaning your wheelchair can be a difficult task for many people. However, it is critical that you have a friend or relative wipe down your wheelchair with a disinfected cloth or wet wipe on a daily basis.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning should be done if perhaps you have been lucky enough to venture out on a wet and windy day, deep cleaning should be done. Mud and wet splashes should be cleaned up. Especially in the vicinity of your battery box and wheels. Be proud of your wheelchair by keeping it nice and clean.

Tips for Keeping Your Electric Wheelchair Clean

Cleaning jobs can easily be done with a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water. Wet wipes and other similar products are also handy to have around, especially when using your wheelchair outdoors. When it comes to cleaning your wheelchair, I suspect that women will be cleaner than men. I’m sorry to say that includes me.

Maintaining Your Electric Wheelchair’s Batteries

Charging Your Batteries: Looking After Your Electric Wheelchair

Now we can get down to the “nitty gritty.” Without batteries, your electric wheelchair is defunct. Men and women alike should make the care of their batteries their number one priority. Without these, we are going nowhere! Importantly, your wheelchair batteries should be regularly charged. Preferably using the charger that came with the wheelchair.

Brand new wheelchairs will come with the correct charging instructions for your particular wheelchair. However, if the user purchases a second-hand chair, the issue might arise. It is imperative that you ask the seller for charging instructions. Be brave and ask for a demonstration. Also check around the battery box to see if you can spot any loose or straggly wiring around the battery box where the batteries fit.

Storing Your Batteries

So storing your batteries could happen at any time. However, it is usually in the winter months here in the northern hemisphere. In my opinion, this also means the purchase of a smart charger. My wife has recently been diagnosed with MND and has consequently bought her first electric wheelchair. I will be very honest now. I was struggling to remove one of the batteries to charge them alternately.

The batteries are 24 volt, 10 ah lithium-ion batteries. I had to phone the wheelchair company, which was very helpful. Once I got the knack for it, the job was easy. I say this because I recommend removing the batteries to charge them over the winter. With smart chargers, the battery just remains topped up once it is fully charged. This applies to lead-acid and lithium batteries alike. Lead-acid batteries are much heavier, so I recommend asking a neighbour or relative to help you rather than struggling.

The charging and storing should be done in a cold, dry place. A garage with a power supply would be perfect. Even when best looked after, your batteries will eventually require replacing.

Replacing Your Batteries

Hey folks! Today, let’s talk about something that can make all the difference in the lives of people with disabilities: batteries used on disability wheelchairs.

For those who rely on these wheelchairs to get around. So, having a dependable battery is crucial. Nobody wants to be left stranded in the middle of nowhere due to a dead battery, am I right? That’s why choosing the right battery can be a real head-scratcher.

One factor to consider when selecting a battery is its construction. You want a battery that can withstand the bumps and jolts of everyday use. Of course, without losing its charge or malfunctioning. Nobody wants to deal with a battery that can’t handle the wear and tear of daily life.

Another factor to keep in mind is the battery’s complexity. You don’t want to be stuck with a battery that’s overly complicated or difficult to use. Ideally, you want a battery that’s simple and intuitive, so you can focus on what really matters—living your life to the fullest.

Thankfully, there are a variety of batteries available on the market that fit the bill.

From AGM batteries to gel batteries, there’s a battery out there to suit every need and budget. Plus, with advances in technology, batteries are becoming more efficient and longer-lasting than ever before.

Of course, selecting the right battery is just the first step. Proper maintenance is also key to ensuring your battery lasts as long as possible. Regular charging and upkeep can help extend the life of your battery, so you can avoid the hassle of having to replace it prematurely.

In conclusion, selecting the right battery for a disability wheelchair can be a real puzzle. But by keeping factors like bustiness and perplexity in mind and staying on top of maintenance, you can ensure your wheelchair remains reliable. After all, nobody wants to deal with a dead battery when they’re on the go!

When replacing your old batteries, just remember a couple of important things.

Firstly, all you need to do is make a note of the number of your old batteries. So, one will be the voltage, usually 12 volts, but this could also be 24 volts. Secondly, the ampage This could be anything from 12 Ah to 42 Ah. However, 22 AH and 34Ah are the most common battery sizes. You must buy the exact replacement batteries.

Also, it is important to keep the batteries in pairs. Do not try to save money by buying a single battery, because only one is dead. The old battery will bring the new battery down to its level and shorten the new battery’s life considerably. It has everything to do with science but is true.

Checking and Tightening Screws and Bolts

Always check the tightness of your wheelchair’s nuts and bolts. These small machines vibrate and can easily loosen screws and bolts.

Why It’s Important to Check Screws and Bolts

How to check and tighten screws and bolts is up to the owner of the chair and their ability to do things. I would recommend asking friends and relatives for help. In our case, we have a couple of grandsons who like to help. I have bad knees and find it difficult to get to low screws, nuts, and bolts.

Tools You Need for the Job

You will find that a basic tool kit is supplied with a new wheelchair. However, most males have a tool set of some kind or another. A couple of small spanners, a wrench, and a screwdriver are probably the only tools required. Just check this out. If you require a special tool, one will have to be bought at the local DIY store.

Lubricating Moving Parts

Why Lubrication is Important!

Well, anything with a moving part must be lubricated to stop friction from seizing up the part or making it squeak.

Types of Lubricants

These are typically made up of a general light oil or a specialised lubricant in the form of a spray can. WD-40 is a great brand name that most people have heard of and can be used to free dried-out parts that have not been lubricated correctly in the past.

How to Lubricate Moving Parts

Moderation is the answer here. A well-looked-after wheelchair only requires a light spray of oil to act as a lubricant. Anything above will probably make a mess

Storing Your Electric Wheelchair

So, I would recommend that you store the electric wheelchair with the batteries removed and covered in bubble wrap. This shielded the chair from the winter cold and any moisture that might have accumulated following one of the first sunny days in, say, February. This creates damp conditions and could cause rust to form on older wheelchairs not made from lighter alloys.

Tips for Storing Your Electric Wheelchair

Of course, the perfect storage place for your wheelchair would be as close as possible for easy accessibility. In my wife’s case, the wheelchair is, in fact, her legs. So the chair stays as close as possible. There could be a scenario where the owner has two wheelchairs. Perhaps indoor and outdoor ones. The outdoors may need to be stored in, say, a garage for the over-winter period.

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eric roberts

Managing Director at Pellon Tyre and Auto Centre trading as batteriesontheweb.co.uk

Eric has been the owner of his automotive business for over 40 years now. Running his fast fit and MOT centre in Halifax along with his wife Michelle. Later adding the online battery businesses. Batteriesontheweb,mobilitybatterystore and their Ebay store.

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eric roberts

Looking After Your Electric Wheelchair

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