Scooter and Wheelchair Battery Maintenance

Getting around with an electric scooter or wheelchair is a lot easier than working with a manual wheelchair—but if you don’t take care of your batteries, you could find yourself unexpectedly stuck. Properly maintaining your batteries (and having an extra on hand) is the key to ensuring that you won’t be stranded at the least convenient time possible.

Here’s how to maintain your wheelchair and scooter batteries in Binghamton, NY.

Properly maintaining and storing your batteries

  • Store your batteries fully charged: Always charge your batteries before you put them away—this helps extend their lifespan.
  • Check your batteries once per month: Keep your batteries stored where you can easily reach them. You’ll need to test their charge once per month. If they’re getting low, recharge and store.
  • Charge again before use: Your battery will lose power during storage, so be sure to fully charge it before you reconnect to your wheelchair or scooter.
  • Disconnect batteries before storing a chair for two or more weeks: Never store batteries while they’re still connected to the wheelchair or scooter. If you’re not going to be using the device for two or more weeks, take the battery out, charge it fully and store it.
  • Store at a cool, stable temperature: Battery lifespan is shortened when the battery is exposed to extreme temperatures in either direction. To keep your batteries running as long as possible, keep them in a cool, dry place like a storage closet.
  • Keep metals and flammable items away: If you drop tools, jewelry or other metal items on your battery terminals, they could spark and set a fire. Keep them away from your batteries at all costs. Similarly, do not smoke or set fires around batteries.
  • Use caution: Batteries contain lead and hazardous chemicals. Always use goggles and gloves when working with batteries.
  • Have a certified tech perform installation: Since batteries can be dangerous, always have a certified scooter and wheelchair technician perform the battery installation. They’ll be able to give you any brand- or type-specific maintenance tips, too.
  • Don’t mix and match batteries: Certain batteries are only meant for certain devices. Never mix and match your equipment and batteries, lest you ruin the battery, the wheelchair or both.

Charging your batteries

Charge your batteries overnight: You’ll need to charge your battery once per day. It’s best to do this overnight—modern chargers prevent the battery from overcharging.

  • Use the right charger: Use the automatic charger that came with your equipment and/or battery.
  • Never run your battery until it dies: Running your battery until it dies will affect its lifespan. Charge your battery before it gets dangerously low.
  • Do not leave batteries uncharged for long periods: Finally, you should never let uncharged or low batteries remain uncharged for more than a day or two, or you’ll risk shortening their lifespan.

For more information on how to maintain your scooter or wheelchair battery in Binghamton, NY, get in touch with the team at Penn York Medical. We specialize in home medical equipment and have been serving area residents for over 60 years.