Things you must know about electric wheelchair batteries By Sally Thompson
If you use an electric wheelchair, it is important that you know all about the electric wheelchair batteries as this will help you to make the right choice when you need to replace the battery of your wheelchair. Since the batteries are perhaps the most important component of your electric wheelchair, you must arm yourself with the knowledge about the various kinds of batteries used and how they differ from each other in terms of performance.
The various types of batteries used in the wheelchair are gel batteries and lead acid batteries. Both these kinds of batteries are “deep cycle”. This means that unlike car batteries, they are designed to deplete completely with each discharge cycle.
The wet-cell lead-acid battery has a better capacity and thus, it can help you to travel longer distances. It is also more suitable for moving your wheelchair over obstacles and rough terrain. These batteries are not very expensive. Even though these electric wheelchair batteries are somewhat inexpensive and lasts you longer, the major drawback of the battery is that they need a lot of maintenance.
Many of these wet-cell batteries require distilled water every few months. This might become irksome for you as the batteries are placed somewhat out of reach and are very heavy. Apart from this, the batteries might prove to be extremely dangerous for the user as he might suffer from acid burns if the battery spills over, or if by some accident, the battery cell is damaged.
Yet another problem with wet-cell batteries is that they are not allowed on airlines, so you cannot board a plane on your electric wheelchair if it is fitted with a wet-cell battery.
On the other hand, the gel-cell lead-acid electric wheelchair batteries are the only kind of lead-acid battery approved for airline travel. This is because there is no danger of chemical spills from these kinds of batteries. This means that the batteries are maintenance free. However, on the downside, these batteries are having 10-20% less capacity than wet batteries. Thus, if you need to travel long distances in your wheelchair, the gel-cell batteries are not the right choice.
Things to consider
When you purchase a replacement for your old electric wheelchair battery, make sure that the dimensions, the voltage and the location of the contacts of the old battery matches the new one. Electric wheelchair batteries will last you longer if it has not been completely run down or overcharged.
Typically, electric wheelchair batteries will last you for about a year or two, after which, you should look for replacements. The kind of charger that you use will also affect the performance of the battery. So make sure you use original and good quality chargers.
