Charging the wheelchair battery...

[SammyJayneC]

Hi everyone!

We're bringing DStepD's electric wheelchair over to Florida from the UK in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if I need a voltage converter for our battery charger or will a normal travel adapter do???

I've had differing views from the people who provide the wheelchair and the people who manufacture the charger...!

If anyone could help at all, that would be fantastic!

Thanks

 

[pugdog]

to play it save i would make sure the the adatopr you use was a good one that could handle a big load. in theary just one that brought it down to 110v should work but just to be on the safe side. just a thought does your charger have a 110/220 switch on it? if so then maybe just the plug adator would work then. I know my DW's charger has that on it.

 

[SammyJayneC]

Thanks very much for that, unfortunately it doesn't have a switch on it...

I've just been in touch with Randys mobility and he says we could hire a charger from him if necessary as he thinks a converter wouldn't work, so that's a bit reassuring!

I might get one anyway- just in case...!

Thanks again

 

[SueM in MN]

There are several power wheelchair users from the OK who come on this board frequently. Hopefully one of them can answer your question. It might be helpful to know what brand/model power wheelchair you are talking about.
I don't know if you have tried this, but I would probably look at the website of the company that makes the wheelchairand see if they have an email adress for inquiries.
I don't quite understand this:

I've had differing views from the people who provide the wheelchair and the people who manufacture the charger...!

The charger with my DD's power wheelchair was provided by the company that makes the wheelchair, so I would contact the wheelchair manufacturer with questions.
Good luck.

 

[dj2]

Originally posted by SammyJayneC
Does anyone know if I need a voltage converter for our battery charger or will a normal travel adapter do???

not quite sure what's the difference--isn't a travel adapter a voltage converter??

i'm assuming you'll charge the battery with the appropriate charger that you own, but just want the appropriate adapter to plug the charger into before connecting to the wall. i think sue's right--try to contact the wheelchair company to verify the details--but since the voltage converter converts the voltage before it enters your charger, it doesn't seem like it would be a problem. after the electric voltage is converted, it should operate your charger normally and therefore charge your battery just fine. this seems safer than using a rented charger to directly charge your batteries, since sometimes using the wrong charger on a rechargeable battery can ruin it (happened to my brother when two chargers looked simiilar and he accidentally used the wrong one....)

you might want to check with your hotel--they sometimes have voltage converters available for use for their guests.

dj

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Originally posted by SammyJayneC
Hi everyone!

We're bringing DStepD's electric wheelchair over to Florida from the UK in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if I need a voltage converter for our battery charger or will a normal travel adapter do???

You will need a voltage converter as well as a travel adaptor. A better option though, would be new charger.

The dealer who sold the wheelchair should be able to sell you a suitable dual-voltage charger. Because I travel to the USA frequently, I have bought myself a second charger for travelling. It is about one quarter of the size & weight of the charger my chair was supplied with and is switcheable between 240 and 110 volts. The mains cable connects to the charger with the same plug & socket that is used by computers, so I just bought an extra lead at a store in the USA, though a british plug with an appropriate adaptor would work as well.

It isn't quite as powerful as the big one I keep at home, but it is still powerful enough to recharge my chair overnight after a day in a Disney park. It is 7.5" x 3.5" x 1.5" and weighs just 760 grammes. Because it is so easy to throw into a suitcase, I use it all the time when traveling, even in the UK.

Also, beware of baggage handlers. Remove anything from the chair that isn't essential for getting to the aircraft and pack it in a suitcase. (disability equipment is exempt from the usual baggage weight limits) Baggage handlers won't treat that chair as carefuly as you would. Check it thoroughly for damage immediately on arrival at MCO.

Andrew

 

[SammyJayneC]

Thanks very much guys, my partner has been on the phone to the suppliers and they have said that they will get their company in the US to send a charger to our villa for free!!

Thanks again for your help

Sammy