BATTERIES

PROCEDURE 11

WHEN TO CHARGE BATTERIES (FIGURE 7)

It is advantageous to recharge daily rather than only when necessary. In fact, a battery’s life is extended if the charge level is maintained well above a low condition.

MKIV RII Joystick

BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR (BDI) is located at the front of the joystick housing and provides information on the remaining charge in the batteries. At FULL charge theBDIwillbeGREEN.Asthebatterybecomesdischarged, the BDI indicator will turn AMBER (YELLOW), then RED and finally FLASHING RED. If the BDI is FLASHING RED, the user should charge the batteries as soon as possible.

NOTE: Accurate readings are displayed when in neutral.

MCC-MKIV X, A or A+ Joystick

CHARGING BATTERIES (FIGURE 8)

WARNING

Never attempt to recharge the batteries by at- taching cables directly to the battery terminals or clamps. Always use the recharging plug lo- cated on the controller OR the side/rear of the wheelchair frame.

DO NOT attempt to recharge the batteries and operate the power wheelchair at the same time.

During use and charging, unsealed batteries will vent hydrogen gas which is explosive in the right concentration with air.

CAUTION

Always charge new batteries fully BEFORE initial use or battery life will be reduced.

B A T T E R I E S

BATTERY GAUGE DISPLAY (BGD) is the bar graph dis-

NOTE: As a general rule, batteries should be recharged

daily to assure the longest possible life and minimize the

play located on the MKIV X, A or A+ joystick. It will keep you

required charging time. Plan to recharge the batteries

informed as to power availability. A visual warning is given

when it is anticipated the wheelchair will not be used for

beforethepowerbecomestoolowtooperate thewheelchair.

several days.

At full charge the two (2) LEFT segments and the farthest

 

RIGHT segment of the bar graph will be illuminated. As the

The range per battery charge using recommended bat-

battery becomes discharged, the farthest RIGHT segment

teries should be approximately 5 to 9 hours of typical op-

will progressively move to the LEFT until only the last two (2)

eration. Extensive use on inclines or age of batteries may

bars (LEFT) are illuminated. At this level the last two (2) bars

substantially reduce per charge mileage.

(LEFT) will start to Flash ON and OFF to indicate that the end

 

user should charge the batteries as soon as possible.

Description and Use of Battery Chargers

NOTE: Accurate readings are displayed when in neutral.

The charger automatically reduces the amount of charge

 

from an initially high rate to a zero reading at a fully charged

 

condition.

 

SHUTOFF PROCEDURE.

Battery Discharge

A. For PRONTOR2 Models - If left unattended, the

Indicator (BDI)

charger will automatically shut-off when full charge

 

is obtained.

 

B. For PRONTOR2-250 Series Models - The Charger out-

MKIV- RII JOYSTICK

putandgreenlightwillstayONuntilthepowerswitch

on the battery charger is moved to the OFF position.

 

 

There are some basic concepts which will help you

Battery Gauge

understand this automatic process:

The amount of electrical current drawn within a given time

Display (BGD)

 

to charge a battery is called “charge rate”. If, due to us-

 

age, the charge stored in the battery is low, the charge

 

rate is high. (For PRONTOR2 Models - this is indicated

 

by the green light on the charger. Initially, the green light

 

will stay illuminated for a short period of time followed by

 

a longer period of off time.)

 

As a charge builds up, the charge rate is reduced, and

MKIV X, A OR A+ JOYSTICK

the following will occur:

NOTE: MKIV X Shown.

A. For PRONTOR2-250 Series Models - the green light

FIGURE 7 - WHEN TO CHARGE BATTERIES

will stay illuminated for a longer period of time

followed by a shorter off time.

 

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Invacare R2-250, Pronto R2 manual When to Charge Batteries Figure, Charging Batteries Figure, Mkiv RII Joystick