Select the right Wheelchair Battery for lasting performance
- Electric wheelchairs make use of a rechargeable wheelchair battery as a power source. This battery is often a lead acid battery and has the capacity to make the wheelchair travel a distance of approximately 10 to 20 miles. The distance the wheelchair can travel on a single battery charge depends on a variety of factors including the wheelchair user’s weight, slope of the ground, smoothness of the terrain, and air temperature.
- Very often manufactures do not include a battery with a motorized wheel chair. In this case you have to buy it yourself but make sure to get the specifications of the battery from the wheelchair authorized dealer. The battery is usually charged once a day and must supply large amounts of electricity while it is running. For this reason, these batteries must be a special type called deep-cycle batteries. This means that the battery can be almost completely discharged without causing damage. If a car battery is used for a wheelchair, it will soon fail.
- While choosing a battery for your wheelchair, consider the following characteristics: Convenience, Long Service Life, Long Shelf Life, Durability, and Flexibility.
- Technically there are two types of wheelchair batteries available. Deep discharge wet cell lead acid batteries and deep discharge gel-cell lead acid battery. It is best to look for a gel battery. They are far safer than the acid batteries, which require greater looking after and have an increased risk of leaking acid in case of damage.
- A wheelchair battery used regularly will, after going numerous charging and discharging cycles, lose its capacity to retain charge and hence has to be periodically replaced. How quickly this deterioration occurs depends on how much you use your wheelchair. Generally a battery easily lasts for around one year. The cost of a new battery ranges anywhere from $160 to $300 depending on the capacity of the battery.
- Choosing a good charger is also very important to ensure the long life of your battery. Overcharging batteries using "dumb" chargers will not only shorten battery life but also can cause serious over-heating. Most modern battery chargers are designed to automatically switch off when your battery is fully charged, which will prolong the life span of your battery. A standard price for a decent battery charger is around $350, although you might need to pay as much as $500 depending on your battery.
- Batteries for wheelchairs don't last forever, but the proper research before making a purchase will ensure you have a battery with the capacity to meet your needs and reach and exceed it's expected life span, with strong performance along the way.