Table of Contents
Advertisement
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERIES
The batteries are sealed and maintenance free, so there is no need to check the electrolyte fluid level. Deep-cycle batteries
are designed to handle a longer and deeper discharge. Though they are similar in appearance to automotive batteries, they
are not interchangeable.
CAUTION! Automotive batteries are not designed to handle a long, deep discharge, and are also unsafe for use
in power chairs.
CHARGING THE BATTERIES
The battery charger is essential in providing long life for your power chairís batteries. Pride's onboard battery charger is
designed to optimise your power chair's performance by charging the batteries safely, quickly, and easily. The charging
system consists of the battery charger, the charger fuse, and the ammeter. The ammeter and charger fuse are located on the
front of the power base. See figure 4. The ammeter indicates the rate of charge being administered to fully recharge the
batteries. It is also a good indication of whether or not the charger is working. The ammeter and the charger are only functional
when the charger power lead is plugged into a wall outlet. Your power chair incorporates an inhibit function that disables the
power chair when the charger is plugged into a wall outlet.
WARNING! Never use an extension cord to plug in your battery charger. Plug the charger directly into a
properly wired standard wall outlet.
CAUTION! To ensure prolonged life, recharge your power chair's batteries with the supplied onboard or the
supplied off-board charging system. Do not use an automotive-type battery charger.
To charge the batteries using the onboard charger:
1. Position the front of the power chair close to a standard wall outlet.
2. Power off the controller.
3. Make sure that the power chair is in drive mode. See figures 7 and 8.
NOTE: Your Blast will not charge if it is in freewheel mode.
4. Plug the power lead into the chargerís AC power receptacle.
5. Plug the power lead into the wall outlet.
6. Check the ammeter. It indicates how much charge is needed to fully charge the batteries. Wait about a minute for the
charger to warm up. The ammeter needle may move as high as 5.5 amps, then gradually move back down to 0 amps as
the batteries charge. When charging the batteries for the first time, or after a long period of use, we recommend you
charge the batteries for 8 to 14 hours. As the batteries charge, the ammeter needle slowly drops to zero. When the
batteries are fully charged, the needle vibrates on or near the zero mark on the ammeter scale.
7. When your Blast's batteries are fully charged, you can unplug the power lead from the wall outlet, unplug it from the
charger AC power receptacle, and store it in a safe place.
Your power chair may be equipped with an off-board charger, one that is not built into the power chair. If you use an off-board
charger, then refer to instructions that came with the charger.
BATTERY BREAK-IN
To break in new batteries for maximum efficiency:
1. Fully recharge any new battery prior to its initial use. This brings the battery up to about 90% of its peak performance level.
2. Operate your Blast about the house and/or grounds. Move slowly at first, and don't drive too far until you become
accustomed to the controls and you break-in the batteries.
3. Give the batteries another full charge of 8 to 14 hours before operating your Blast again. The batteries should now
perform at over 90% of their potential.
4. After four or five charging cycles, the batteries top off at 100% charge and should last for an extended period.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
WARNING! Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands
after handling.
NOTE: It is easier to connect the harnesses to the batteries when you have the batteries away from your Blast.
This gives you more room to work.
Quantum Blast
10
BLAST/REV D/OCTOBER 2002
Advertisement
Table of Contents
