More About Wheelchair Batteries
Your electric wheelchair's batteries are one of its most important components, giving it the power needed to take you wherever you go. Pride Mobility Jazzy, Jet, and Quantum power wheel chairs use deep cycle batteries, which means that the batteries are designed to store energy, be drained almost completely, and then be recharged fully.
Battery Types
There are three types of deep cycle wheelchair batteries designed for use in motorized wheelchairs: wet-cell, gel-cell, and AGM.
- Wet: Wet-cell batteries are the least expensive powerchair battery option, but they also require routine maintenance. Wet-cell wheel chair batteries weigh less than their gel and AGM counterparts and are less likely to be overcharged. However, wet-cell power chair batteries are not allowed on airplanes because they can leak, which will corrode the wheelchair and its wiring. Due to risk of explosion, wet-cell batteries are unsuitable for indoor use. They are also incompatible with Pride Mobility electric wheelchair chargers. Never use wet-cell batteries with Pride Mobility wheelchairs.
- Gel: Gel wheelchair batteries contain a mixture of fluids that form a gel, making these types of power wheelchair batteries leak-proof (since there is no liquid to leak). Gel batteries require no maintenance, are approved for airline travel, perform better than wet-cell batteries in low temperatures, and have a longer life cycle than wet-cell batteries. However, they weigh more and are prone to overcharging. Always follow the charging guidelines set forth in your wheel chair owner's manual. Pride Mobility electric wheelchairs require gel-cell or AGM batteries. Used Wheelchairs USA replaces with gel or AGM batteries.
- AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat): AGM powerchair batteries are the newest battery technology, using an absorbent glass mat covered in acid electrolyte and placed between their two plates. They are maintenance-free, spill-proof, shock resistant, and approved for airline travel. However, they are heavier than wet-cell wheelchair batteries and are the most costly power chair battery option. Pride Mobility electric wheelchairs require gel-cell or AGM batteries. Used Wheelchairs USA replaces with gel or AGM batteries.
Wheelchair Battery Sizes
Pride Mobility wheelchairs use 12-volt U1 batteries (small - 24.5 pounds each), 12-volt Group-22 batteries (medium - 38 pounds each), and 12-volt Group-24 batteries (large - 53.5 pounds each). A few electric wheelchair models use 12-volt Group-27 batteries. Large batteries are more powerful and much more expensive than small batteries. Each wheel chair model requires a specific size of battery. Using the wrong size battery can damage or destroy your power chair's electronics. Please see your wheelchair owner's manual for your specific battery requirements.
Two batteries are required in each Pride Mobility wheelchair, and both should be replaced at the same time. Wheelchair batteries are expensive: as of 1/1/2006, Pride Mobility charges $478 to replace a pair of U1 batteries, $536 for a pair of Group-22 batteries, and $816 for a pair of Group-24 batteries. Wheelchair batteries are available from other sources, too: check your yellow pages under batteries, search for "wheelchair batteries" on your favorite search engine, and read our article on Wheelchair Battery Prices.
Charging Your Wheelchair Batteries
It is important to note that you cannot charge gel or AGM batteries with a charger designed for wet-cell batteries. Always read your power wheelchair owner's manual and follow its instructions with regard to the type of battery compatible with your wheelc hair's charger.
New electric wheelchair batteries have a finite life of 300 recharges (on average), meaning that they can only be recharged 300 times before you must replace them. Therefore, it's best to drain your power chair's batteries somewhat (but not all the way) before recharging. Pride Mobility recommends that you charge your wheelchair's batteries at least once per week.
Battery Range per Charge: 25 miles ... or is it 5?
Pride Mobility's officially published range for most power wheelchair batteries is 20-25 miles per charge under optimal factory conditions. In reality, battery range is never optimal. The "optimal" range is reduced by the weight of the rider, less-than-ideal new battery break-in, difficult terrain, hot and cold operating temperatures, frequent stops and starts, aging batteries, and more.
Hard flat surfaces, for example, yield more miles per charge than carpeted or uneven surfaces. A 100-pound rider will get more miles per charge than a 250-pound rider. For the typical wheeler who uses a chair on varying surfaces, the actual range of new batteries (following proper break-in) may be 5-15 miles. Still, a 5-15 mile battery range is substantial and should allow you to get through an average day.
Improving Wheelchair Battery Range and Life
Here are some pointers to help you get maximum range and life out of your wheelchair batteries:
- Never replace just one battery; replace both wheel chair batteries at the same time.
- Follow the directions in your wheelchair manual for the proper break-in of new batteries.
- Keep your power chair batteries cool and dry to extend battery life.
- Don't let your wheelchair batteries discharge completely; this shortens battery life.
- Accelerate slowly to improve battery range; fast acceleration quickly drains your powerchair battery.
- Avoid frequent stops and starts to improve battery range. Proceed at a consistent speed toward your destination.
- If your wheel chair is not used for an extended period of time, be sure to recharge your batteries at least once every 2-3 months. Otherwise your batteries may permanently lose their ability to recharge.
- For more suggestions, see: Powerchair Battery Rules to Live By (from the "Wheelchair Junkie").
If you have any questions regarding the batteries that we supply with our used power electric wheelchairs, please call us at 800-899-0322.