Wheelchair Batteries

More and more people today are discovering the great advantages of owning a power or electric wheelchair, as opposed to constantly straining your arm muscles using the mechanical ones. Now, a lot of handicapped individuals enjoy the sheer comfort and efficient of simply nudging a stick controller towards the desired direction at just a fraction of the time it would take for the mechanical wheelchair to get from point a to point B. Of course, this greatly improved efficiency features is largely dependent on the motor and the wheelchair batteries for one to enjoy a smooth ride. Which brings us to the fact that it is highly important for all power wheelchair users to develop more familiarity with the different wheelchair batteries to avoid being the possibility of getting stranded without a spare one.

Like all other regular batteries we use to operate electronic objects, wheelchair batteries too don’t offer unlimited use since sooner or later it is bound to die down on you. But having been forewarned, you definitely know better that getting caught unawares and possibly left helpless and stranded in the middle of nowhere. So let’s get to know there different types of wheelchair batteries and to make sure you will always carry around the right spare for avoid finding yourself in such grim scenario. Here are the basic types of batteries for wheelchairs along with a thorough assessment of each that you need to know about:

Wet Batteries

These types of power wheelchair batteries basically use a chemical reaction between the sulphuric acid and lead in order to effectively create an electrical energy. These types of batteries would require constant refilling of distilled water and along with the considerably higher rate of maintenance, but are significantly lighter than all other batteries in the market. However, the main drawback of choosing a wet battery is the fact that is it more prone to leakages, which can cause damage and corrosion to your wheelchair and its wiring. On the upside, it is cheaper than the other two batteries and offers great performance.

Gel Batteries

Gel batteries are generally composed of fumed silica, sulphuric acid, pure water and also phosphoric acid, which result to the formation of what is known as thixotropic gel. Since it doesn’t take a liquid form, when using this battery, you need not worry about possible leaks or require constant maintenance like wet batteries. Gel batteries have also been known to operate better in low temperatures and are actually approved for air travel. On top of that, gel batteries also have a longer life cycle and releases lesser gas during charging. However, given such appealing features, it also comes with a more expensive price tag and can be more susceptible to the possibility of overcharging.



AGM Batteries

AGM batteries features absorbent glass mats that are sandwiched in between the plates and are carefully saturated with some acid electrolyte. This sandwich design effectively allows even distribution of all the electrolytes over the plates and significantly reduces the chances of battery damage usually caused by constant jarring and vibration. AGM batteries does not also require any maintenance along with a slow discharge features of about only 3% a month and is also approved for air travel. However, like gel batteries, it is also quite expensive and prone to overcharging.


Given such facts, you have a better idea on what type of battery would be the most suitable one for you. When you do your shopping, make sure to make some price comparisons in order to get the best deals. One helpful tip to lead to lead you to the right direction is to buy your batteries directly from an electrical supplier rather than from a medical or wheelchair supplier to take advantage of a less expensive rate. While there have been some claims that you can only buy your wheelchair batteries from a wheelchair supplier, this can be written off as a marketing scheme. Try to check if you local electrical suppliers offer wheelchair batteries and you will be surprised at the price difference.