At Access Rehabilitation Equipment, we commit to providing you and your loved ones solutions for life! Fitting your lifestyle, each aid and equipment is tailored to the unique challenges you are facing, so work with us to find the independence and mobility you want!
There seems to be a lot of differing opinions when it comes to the best method for charging your mobility Scooter or Powerchair. We’ve decided to make it as simple as we can for you and answer some of your questions at the same time.
With the following guide we trust you will experience reliable battery capacity to do everything you need to do with your mobility Scooter or Powerchair each day.
- Turn the scooter's power switch or key to the OFF position.
- Connect the charger plug to the charging port on the Scooter or Powerchair.
- Plug the charger's power cable into a power outlet and switch the charger to on (Note: not all chargers have a separate on/off switch).
- In some cases if you plug the charger into the Scooter or Powerchair with the charger turned on it may not charge correctly.
- When the charger's red or orange LED light is on, the battery is charging. Optimal charging time is 6 to 8 hours, or up to 10 hours to achieve a complete charge. The user manual should have the exact charging times recommended for your unit.
- Depending on the type of charger, typically charging is complete when the LED light is a solid green – not flashing.
- Disconnect charger from the scooter, then from the power outlet.
- Run your scooter before riding it any distance to verify the battery charge.
How far can a mobility scooter go on a full charge?
It's important to note that mobility scooters can differ quite a bit in range. Variation exists not only between different models, but also based on how and where you drive. Typically, you can expect a range of 15-25 miles from a full charge. However, on rough terrain, this range might drop to just 5 miles, while under optimal conditions, you could achieve up to 40 miles on a single charge.
Can you leave a mobility scooter on charge?
It's generally safe to leave your mobility scooter plugged in after it has completed charging. Overcharging is not a problem with modern smart chargers, as they are designed to limit voltage and automatically turn off once the battery is fully charged. However, it's still a good idea to unplug the charger once fully charged to conserve energy and extend the life of your batteries.
How many hours does it take to fully charge a mobility scooter battery?
The time required to fully charge the batteries on your mobility scooter or power chair depends on the battery type, size, and how depleted the charge was beforehand. On average, it takes between 6-10 hours to fully recharge the batteries from a nearly depleted state using the standard charger that came with your scooter. Larger batteries may take up to 12 hours for a full charge.
Recharge your Scooter and Powerchair Batteries Regularly
The batteries of a mobility Scooter or Powerchair need to be charged to full capacity every night.
They should be charged:
- before taking your first ride on a new Scooter or Powerchair
- after each and every time you use it, even if you have only travelled a very short distance
- at least once a week if the scooter is being kept in storage or if it is not being used each day
Basically a mobility device such as a Scooter or Powerchair that receives regular, routine charging will reward you with dependable performance, consistent power and long-lasting batteries for a long time to come.
Please note the battery gauge on your Scooter or Powerchair is a guide only and your best assurance of good battery capacity is from regular charging. If you are unsure of the capacity of your batteries, please bring your scooter or powerchair into our store for our technician to test the batteries.
If the battery gauge drops down rapidly or is showing very low capacity when in use, return home or to a charging point as quickly as possible.
If you encounter any difficulty managing these procedures, please seek assistance. These easy steps are for charging the batteries while they are housed within the Scooter or Powerchair body. Additional battery charging tips may be found in the owner’s manual.
A failure to adhere to correct battery charging procedures can void warranty on the unit and battery.
What about servicing?
It is recommended that at least every 12months your mobility scooter has a service. The service will include checking tyre pressure, batteries, wiring, motor, brushes etc. Just like a car, looking after your mobility scooter will ensure its longevity.
For more scooter guides check out:
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