Most Common Mobility Scooter Charging Problems and Best Ways to Fix Them!

In this article, we will discuss the possible charging and battery problems to encounter with your mobility scooter, and how to troubleshoot it.
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Last updatedLast updated: February 01, 2022
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One of the best gifts you can give to elderly and disabled people is a mobility scooter. It eases their movement impediment and assists them in having a normal-like life as they would be able to go to places they would love to go. However, it should be noted that scooters are just like other mechanical and electronic devices; they are very delicate and can break down at any time. But with scooters, the most common problem is with the charger and the battery.

So, in this article, we will discuss mobility scooter charging problems and battery problems. We will look at how to troubleshoot these issues, the ideal way of charging scooter batteries, and tips to ensure that your scooter battery lasts long.

How to Troubleshoot the Non-charging Battery Issue?

Most Common Mobility Scooter Charging Problems and Best Ways to Fix Them!

The user manual for your mobile scooter includes a beep code chart, which you can refer to for help. Otherwise, you can Google your mobility scooter model and the number of beeps you’re hearing to know the section that’s malfunctioning.

Generally, to sort out your mobile scooter Trusted Source The impact of mobility scooters on their users. As older people start to have difficulty in walking many choose to use a mobility scooter to help them move around. Benefitting from improved design, mobility scooters are becoming an increasingly popular mobility device and are a common sight on many streets. However, very little is known about their usage or their impact in terms of either quality of life or functional health. Whilst mobility scooters may help to improve the quality of life of their users, it is also possible that the sedentary nature of their usage results in a decline of physical functionality and therefore reduced capabilities. Before any substantial research can be carried out it is crucial to understand the importance of a mobility scooter on the lives of the people that use them and to review the initial research published on the effect of scooter use on physical health. This paper is a state-of-the-art review. It describes the current research knowledge on mobility scooters, shows where gaps in knowledge exist and where future research needs to focus. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov problem, understanding how its beep codes work is important. The beep codes on mobility scooters are designed in a way that the scooter sounds a number of times to react to a specific fault. This way, you can figure out what’s wrong so you can fix it yourself or give precise information to a professional when you call for help.

In addition, to easily troubleshoot your non-charging battery issue, you must know how a mobile scooter battery appears when it’s charging.

To charge your scooter battery, you will plug the charger into the scooter and the power outlet. If the battery pack indicates a red light, it means it’s charging, and when the light turns green, it means it’s fully charged.

However, if things don’t go smoothly like this, for example, if the red light remains after the scooter battery charging time if the battery power does not increase while charging, if your outdoor mobile scooter stops while coming home, or any other abnormalities, it means that there’s either a charging or battery problem.

The last thing you will want is to be stranded because your mobile electric wheelchair is faulty, so to help, here is a troubleshooting procedure to ensure that you’re always covered.

Charging Issue

A charging issue can only be caused by a faulty charger. To troubleshoot it, do the following:

  • The first thing to do is to check for foul odors like that of burning rubber or plastic. This is to be sure that all the components of the charger are intact.
  • Gently open it to check for any loose or disconnected wire connectors, frayed wires, swelling batteries, and anything out of the ordinary.
  • If the steps above are followed and yet, it’s not working, check the temperature of the charger. The temperature has a big impact on lithium batteries, which means the charger might not work if the temperature is too low.
  • Another thing to do is to test the charger’s output voltage with a voltmeter. It is recommended that the voltage be a few volts greater than the rated voltage.

After all, this, if the charger fails to work, you’d have to replace it with another charger. You must ensure that the charger is of the same brand to make sure it fits.

Battery Issues

There are basically two types of scooter batteries – sealed lead-acid and gel cell. No matter the battery type you have attached to your scooter, damage or malfunctioning is inevitable at some stage. In most cases, it’s either because the battery is worn out or it has been damaged by water. If this occurs, do the following.

  • Worn Out Battery

The battery will start malfunctioning or stop working after it has been used for a long time. This is because, just like other mechanical and electronic equipment, it has a certain lifespan. Also, the battery cannot be charged normally if it has been subjected to a hard impact from an external force, resulting in a fault or loosening the connector. In cases like this, it’s advisable that you replace it or take your scooter to an expert in a repair store for help.

  • Water Damage

Water and all sorts of liquid are detrimental to the functionality of your scooter battery as it’s quite possible for the battery to short circuit if this happens. To stop this problem, you mustn’t ride your scooter in the rain or swampy areas.

However, if your scooter comes in contact with water by accident, take the following measures:

  • Switch the scooter off and keep it away from water.
  • Clean the scooter.
  • Carefully remove the battery.
  • Allow the battery to dry in a cool, well-ventilated area before putting it back in the scooter to test its functionality.
  • Avoid using a hairdryer to speed up the drying of the scooter, as it could result in more significant damage to the battery circuit.

How to Charge Your Battery Properly?

Most Common Mobility Scooter Charging Problems and Best Ways to Fix Them!

Charging your battery properly is essential as that’s one way to maximize the lifetime of your battery.

After the charger has been plugged into the power output and the scooter battery, the indicator light will turn red, and when it’s fully charged, it will become green. To properly charge your battery, you must plug it in for the required number of hours as instructed by the manufacturer (check your manual to find out). If it’s not charged up to the required hours, it won’t function optimally.

Below is a step-by-step process to charge your battery properly:

  • Firstly, make sure you’re using the right charger – it must have a voltage that is appropriate for your scooter. Check the charger to see that it can channel the required voltage needed, and if it cannot, get another that can.
  • Make sure the charger is properly plugged into the electric scooter’s charging port.
  • Then, connect the charger to a power outlet. The scooter should indicate a red light.
  • Keep it plugged until the indicator light turns green. For it to turn green, it must have charged for the number of hours specified in the manual.
  • Once the battery is fully charged, i.e., when it has turned green, unplug the charger from the socket as well as the charging port. Then, your mobility scooter is all set to go. If the scooter is properly charged, it will be able to travel over several miles. For example, when foldable mobile scooters are properly charged, they will travel over 10 to 25 miles without stopping.
Note: Do not overcharge the battery. Once it’s fully charged, unplug it. Overcharging it can damage the battery, thus reducing its lifespan.

Tips to Maximize Electric Scooter Battery Life

To enjoy your scooter to the maximum for a long time, there are Dos and Don’ts. Below are some of the tips for fulfilling these.

What to Do

  • Use the appropriate charger. Always use the right charger to get the required voltage to charge your battery. With a wrong charger, your battery won’t charge, and if it does, it will only cause damage in the long run.
  • Change your scooter frequently. One of the reasons why your battery malfunctions or stops working is because it has been left for too long without use. A lithium battery’s power decreases with time. Once the battery is depleted, it will result in defects. Therefore, charge it frequently.
  • Keep the scooter, and the charger in a cool and ventilated area as the performance of lithium-ion batteries is affected by temperature Trusted Source Lithium-Ion Battery - Clean Energy Institute A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize. www.cei.washington.edu . If the scooter and charger are not used for an extended period of time, they should be stored in a well-ventilated place with the right temperature.

What Not to Do

  • Don’t charge your scooter immediately after use, as the temperature will still be high. Wait till it has cooled down.
  • Don’t charge your scooter in a warm place as it can generate more heat, which can cause its malfunction.
  • Don’t exhaust the scooter battery completely before you charge it. While you make sure it’s fully charged before you ride it, don’t overcharge it.
  • Don’t let water enter the battery pack.
  • Don’t change the scooter battery without the manual or a professional guide.

To be on the safer side of things, it is best that you get a reliable mobile electric scooter that won’t give you a charging or battery problem. According to professionals, the Compact Mid-Wheel Drive Power Chair and the Porto Mobility Ranger D09 Wheelchair are the best on the market as they are lightweight, strong, and sturdy. Also, they have reliable chargers and batteries that provide extra ability to cover more distance.

Final Thoughts

Non-charging issues are a common problem with electric scooters. In fact, in most cases, it’s a first problem you’ll encounter with your scooter. It needs to be fixed appropriately. If not, it may result in other defects.

To fix your mobility scooter charging problems, you can either troubleshoot it yourself or call a professional to help. In this post, the procedures to follow in troubleshooting it has been explained. In addition, how to properly charge your battery and tips to maximize your scooter battery life have also been discussed. However, if you want to DIY, ensure you’re with a professional guide to prevent adding to the fault it already has.

References

1.
The impact of mobility scooters on their users.
As older people start to have difficulty in walking many choose to use a mobility scooter to help them move around. Benefitting from improved design, mobility scooters are becoming an increasingly popular mobility device and are a common sight on many streets. However, very little is known about their usage or their impact in terms of either quality of life or functional health. Whilst mobility scooters may help to improve the quality of life of their users, it is also possible that the sedentary nature of their usage results in a decline of physical functionality and therefore reduced capabilities. Before any substantial research can be carried out it is crucial to understand the importance of a mobility scooter on the lives of the people that use them and to review the initial research published on the effect of scooter use on physical health. This paper is a state-of-the-art review. It describes the current research knowledge on mobility scooters, shows where gaps in knowledge exist and where future research needs to focus.
2.
Lithium-Ion Battery - Clean Energy Institute
A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize.
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