Avoiding Disaster: How To Care For A Wheelchair Battery
The wheelchair battery is the heart of the motorized wheelchair. Without this battery, the wheelchair cannot move; in fact, it cannot do anything at all. It is even difficult to push a motorized wheelchair without a working batter. Choosing the right battery, and caring for that battery, is important for maintaining battery life, and the life of the wheelchair. Only through the careful purchase and maintenance of the wheelchair battery can a handicapped individual prevent running out of power in a bad location.
Purchasing a good battery is a very important investment for handicapped individuals. When purchasing a battery, individuals must make sure it is a wheelchair battery, and not just any battery with the same amp and voltage. This can help the battery maintain a longer charge since this particular battery is designed for heavy-power draws for long periods. Also, they must be sure to pick a battery with a name brand and a warranty. A wheelchair battery is not an item worth a bargain hunt. With the proper name brand and warranty, any problems with the battery can be solved through the company, usually for no additional cost.
There are different types of batteries that can be purchased. There are rechargeable batteries and single-use batteries. Both of these wheelchair battery types have their own benefits and drawbacks. For the rechargeable battery, the purchase needs to be only once, since it can be recharged. This can cut down on the costs of battery purchase. The downside is that the battery needs to be charged on a regular basis, and the charge does not hold as long as a single-use battery. The single-use battery holds a longer charge than the rechargeable battery, but needs to be replaced when dead. This can lead to a higher cost in battery purchases.
No matter what type of wheelchair battery is purchased, the proper maintenance of that battery and its connectors is vital to the wheelchair’s operation. This means keeping the rechargeable batteries charged and replacing spent batteries immediately. If the rechargeable batteries are not charged, there is a potential for the battery to fail. If a spent battery is left on the connectors, rust and acid can eat at the connectors and battery. The connectors should be cleaned regularly. By cleaning the connectors, the connection from the battery to the molder can travel uninterrupted. If there is rust on the connectors, than that rust can interfere with the electrical connection between the two. With proper care and attention, a wheelchair battery can be a very reliable piece of mobility equipment. Proper care and maintenance should be paid to the battery and connectors so that a truly worrisome event is prevented. There is nothing worse than being stuck, alone, on a street with no way to move and no way to get help. For handicapped individuals, the wheelchair battery is no laughing matter; it is, in a sense, a matter of life and death. By choosing to take care of his or her battery, he or she chooses the former.
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