Is there any essential difference in charger specification for gel batteries fitted to motorised wheelchairs as opposed to conventional lead acid?
Charger from original suppliers is around £70.00 del. whereas there appear to be chargers available on line for around £25.00.
regards
Yes, gel electrolyte battery chargers have better output voltage and current control than normal chargers.
For cheapness, Maplin do a couple of chargers suitable for gel electrolyte lead acid batteries.
Check the voltage used on the chair, too, as I think some of them are 24 volt, not 12.
Ah! This particular battery is 12V 20Ah so perhaps I am being too parsimonious:-)
regards
Gel batteries require a theoretical constant voltage charge. They are not tolerant of overcharging unlike a wet type. However many modern chargers can do both - you just need to check the spec. And make sure it does mention gel rather than sealed.
I'm not surprised an original dedicated charger costs much much more than a generic suitable one. Exactly the same applies to laptops, etc.
A charger to do an overnight charge for a 20 Ah battery should be available for 20 quid or less. Assuming you can get a suitable connector.
Gel cells must be charged at lower voltage, IIRC 13.6v max (per 6 cells). They dont survive faster chargeing the way wet cells do.
NT
Yes! Voltage is different. This matters, otherwise you'll reduce the lifetime of your gel batteries.
Unfortunately the cheap wall-wart gel chargers are too low output current to charge a wheelchair in a useful time. Best approach is to either build (DIY or kit, chipsets are easy and widespread) or find a hefty car charger and then play with the output regulation.
Ideally all lead acid batteries require constant voltage charging. Gel batteries are just more sensitive to gassing and subsequent loss of electrolyte through "over" or prolonged charging.
Most wheelchairs use two batteries in series to give 24V. 24V sealed lead acid chargers are less common and hence more expensive. The wheelchair ones tend to be quite complex as well.
In message , Peter Parry writes
OK chaps. I think I have got the picture.
This is actually a *clip on* 12V motorised wheel fitted to a standard chair.
The Battery is horizontal in use so it is certainly sealed. I am not
100% sure about the gel bit.I have found an outlet supplying batteries and chargers for golf trollies which comes at £35.00 and claims to be suitable for GEL and AGM whatever that is. The connector is *Torberry* which should fit.
The purpose is to lend the kit to a friend. I know I should be creating one from dead microwave ovens etc. but life is currently too short:-)
regards
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Developed in '85, yet still hardly common. The advantages are obviously not killer ones.
In message , David WE Roberts writes
Ah!
I hadn't come across those.
Major c*ck up on ordering the charger... Sage Pay took me through the procedure for Barclaycard secure online purchase but, after entering my password, appeared to lock me out with a *page unobtainable* message.
I assumed the order had not gone through and re-ordered using a different card. You guessed it, two confirmation mails!
regards
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Brand name Optima. Over hyped and over priced. They boast in their advertising that they last longer than a standard battery, but only offer a warranty poorer than many of those.
Ctek 3600 or MXS3.6 (replacement 2011 model). Ctek 4300 or MXS4.3 (at a guess, similar 2011 model).
Amazon & Ebay list them, about 35-49 if I recall. Well regarded.
Given that it's only a 20 Ah battery and likely just needs an overnight charge, that's a lot of money.
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes
Wheelchair = health budget, golf trolley = leisure/hobby. Both money no object activities:-)
Battery charger on way at 35 plus del.
regards
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Oh indeed. Cars too, come to that. The lovely little Lidl/Aldi charger at about 13 quid will cost you 3 times that from a car place. And a 'maintenance' only one - just a low current wall wart in essence - about the same.
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Dave Plowman (News)" saying something like:
I must add another recommendation for the Lidl charger - one of mine developed a worrying bulge and stopped working (I'd been sorely abusing it). The kompernasse agent sent a mailing sticker and a week later I had a brand-new replacement under warranty. I kept the croc-clips from the old one as I quite like them.
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