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930482 Rev. A
XI. Batteries
37
2. Caution — To Avoid Damage to the Charger:
• Never place the charger on top of a battery during charging. (Gases from
the battery can damage the charger and may lead to an explosion or fire).
• Never place a battery on top of the charger.
• Never expose charger to rain or snow.
• Never unplug charger by pulling on the electrical cord. This will damage
the cord.
• Never open a charger or attempt to repair it yourself. Return charger to
Sunrise or have repairs made only by a qualified person.
• Keep cord out of the way, where it will not be stepped on, tripped over,
or damaged.
3. Caution — To Avoid Damage to the Battery:
• Make sure you use the correct setting for sealed (gel) batteries (located on
the off-board charger).
• Never charge a frozen battery. A fully charged battery will rarely freeze,
but the fluid in a discharged battery can freeze at 16 degrees Fahrenheit
(minus 9 degrees Centigrade). If you suspect a battery is frozen, thaw it
before charging.
Lead acid batteries generate explosive gas while charging. Completely read
and follow all warnings about the batteries in this user instruction manual
and any labels applied to the product. Failure to do so could result in fire,
explosion, injury and/or death.
C. ACID BURNS (UNSEALED WET CELL BATTERIES)
Acid in batteries is corrosive. It can cause serious burns to the eyes and skin and can
damage floors, furniture, clothing and your wheelchair.
1. Use extreme care not to spill acid when you handle batteries.
Keep batteries upright.
2. Avoid contact of acid with bare skin or clothing.
3. Always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when you handle batteries
(wet cell batteries).
4. If acid contacts your skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water.
5. If acid contacts your eyes, immediately flood eyes with cold running water for at
least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention immediately.
XI. Batteries
930482 Rev. A
36
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Notes:
• Batteries supply the power for your chair. They contain a finite amount of
energy and have limits on how long they can store and supply energy.
• You can charge batteries only a certain number of times before they will fail and
no longer hold a charge.
• For answers to questions about batteries, consult your supplier.
2. Use Proper Batteries:
Your chair operates on two 12 volt batteries.
• They should be 22 NF or U1 size with a minimum of 30 ampere hour
rating. Only deep cycle sealed case construction batteries should be used in
this device.
• When you buy a replacement, insist on a deep cycle sealed case type. Do not
use a car starter battery.
3. Breaking In:
• A battery requires “breaking-in” for the first 6 to 12 charges. It will not
accept a full charge for this period.
• It is best to limit the length of your trips until you break the batteries in
and you know the range of your chair.
4. Discharged Batteries:
• Never allow a battery to completely discharge. If you operate your wheelchair
until it has almost stopped, you will greatly reduce the life of your batteries.
• Never let a battery sit in a discharged condition. Give unused or stored
batteries a full charge once per month.
• Always fully charge the batteries. Avoid “topping off” with frequent charges.
Never connect a life support or auxiliary device to a wheelchair battery. The
electrical system may fail and may result in severe injury to or death of rider.
B. BATTERY CHARGER
A battery charger produces a direct current (DC). When applied to a discharged battery,
this reverses the chemical reaction that led to its discharge.
1. Charge Rate. How fast a battery will charge depends on:
• Its electrical capacity; state of charge; electrolyte temperature; and
internal condition.
• The DC output of the charger. (The charge rate will vary if the alternating
current (AC) supply is higher or lower than 110 volts).