Greg, I think we are in the same boat! I just had my 4th set of batteries put in Monday since March. All of a sudden my chair was stopping saying “low battery”. I would turn it off then on and go a few feet and repeat. Joystick shows full battery charge. Woke up in March and my house smelled like rotten eggs. I paid out of pocket for what they said were gel batteries from a battery supplier because I had to have them that day. $352 worth. In June, same thing with my chair stopping saying low battery but joystick shows full charge (I use my chair very little). They swapped out batteries at no charge but said it had to be my chair. DME company came out right after 4th of July and ordered new batteries and new charger. Got them Sept 9, they said what I had was not true gel cell . Last week, same thing, low battery and chair stopping even though joystick shows full charge. We ordered new battery boxes, receptacles, joystick and they warrantied my batteries but by the time parts get here these batteries will be shot and I’ll have to pay out of pocket again. My chair is 8 yrs old and new chair process is on hold until medicare covers parts. Soooooooooo frustrated the DME company drug their feet on parts and really trying to troubleshoot the problem. I asked in July to order anything it could possibly be. I did call Invacare and they said DME company should have brought programmer to see fault codes so I called them and asked that he please bring it. Really didn’t tell much other than I’m having low batteries.
I feel your pain and good luck! Nicki -----Original Message----- From: Danny Hearn <[email protected]> To: wheelchair <[email protected]>; greg <[email protected]>; quad-list <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, Nov 1, 2016 07:57 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Barreries I think they are some type of sealed acid......but not gel as they come with, the medical equipment supplier said they will not replace gel batteries after the original ones the chairs come with go bad....i think they said it was to costly for insurance to cover...I hate this because the gel hold up great and are safe. Dan H** On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 7:51 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: Lead. Acid ARE DANDEROUS. They will void any manufacture warrant and can be dangerous to your health and well being. Best Wiishes Sent from AOL Mobile Mail -----Original Message----- From: Danny Hearn <[email protected]> To: greg <[email protected]>; quad-list <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, Nov 1, 2016 12:36 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Barreries Greg...my batteries ran dead and they were replaced with the lead acid type and had to buy another type charger because the old charger was made more for the gel type batteries, The Gel batteries are much better and last longer but when they replace them they go with the regular acid type because of cost I think. My chair is real old also 7 years plus and trying to get a new one because my back-up chair is shot and this one is beginning to develop problems also. Dan H** On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 11:36 AM, greg <[email protected]> wrote: I got new batteries in Aug, but already after a few miles, my chair feels sluggish. After about 4 miles, my chair has 2 out of 5 bars left of power. Then really gets bad even on a small ramp. Chair stops, charge bar meter flashes and I have to turn it off and on. The last 3 weeks or so, after a few miles, the charge meter on the joystick flahes the Pi sign, TT one wavy cross on top. The chair repair shop, nor Invacare, can figure out the flashing Pi sign. Neither have ever seen it before. My chair is old and I'm just starting the new chair prosses. But is there anything that an old chair can do to cause batteries to go out fast. Or draw to much power? Just called to try and get the battering replaced. Greg
