Questions & Answers
What are the advantages and disadvantages of both types of sealed valve regulated batteries?
- Totally maintenance free
- Air transportable
- No corrosion
- Spill proof/leak proof
- Installs upright or on its side
- Superior deep cycle life
- Very low to no gassing (unless overcharged)
- Compatible with sensitive electronic equipment
- Superior shelf life
- Rugged and vibration resistant
- Very safe at sea with no chlorine gas in bulge (due to sulfuric acid and salt water mixing)
- Will not freeze to -20°F
- Lowest cost per month (cost / months of life)
- Lowest cost per cycle (cost/ life cycles)
Gel Battery Disadvantages:
- Higher initial cost
- Heavier weight
- Water can not be replaced if continually overcharged
- Automatic temperature sensing, voltage- regulated chargers must be used
- Charge voltage must be limited to extend life
(14.4 to 14.6 volts maximum at 68°F)
Absorbed Electrolyte Advantage:
- Totally maintenance free
- Spill proof/ leak proof
- No corrosion
- Installs upright or on its side
- Lower initial cost than gel batteries
- Compatible with sensitive electronic equipment
- Very low to no gassing (unless overcharged)
- Excellent for starting and stationary applications
- Will accept a higher charging voltage than gel batteries
Absorbed Electrolyte Disadvantages:
- Shorter life cycle than gel in deep cycle applications
- Automatic temperature sensing, voltage regulated chargers must be used
- Water can not be replaced if continually overcharged
- Charge voltage must be limited to 14.4 to 14.6 volts maximum at 68°F
Why is charging voltage so critical to both gel and sealed lead acid batteries?
Charge voltage is critical on these types of batteries because they both are recombinant batteries. This means that the oxygen that is normally produced on the positive plate in all lead acid batteries recombines with the hydrogen given off by the negative plate. The “recombination” of hydrogen and oxygen produces water, which replaces the moisture in the battery. Therefore the battery is maintenance free and never needs watering.
The sealing vent is critical to the performance of a sealed battery. The cell must maintain a positive internal pressure, otherwise the recombination of the gasses will not take place and the cell will dry out and not perform.
In addition, the valve must safely release any excess pressure that may be produced during overcharging, otherwise the cell would be irreparably damaged. It is because of the safety mechanism of the valve that overcharging hurts a sealed battery.
The excessive pressure that the valve is releasing is both hydrogen and oxygen. The more you overcharge a battery, there is less oxygen and hydrogen left inside the battery to recombine and create water. In essence, the battery dries out.
It’s important to note that a sealed battery must never be opened once it leaves the factory. If opened, the cell loses its pressure, and the outside air will “poison” the plates and cause an imbalance that destroys the recombination chemistry.
Hence the name: Sealed, Valve Regulated (SVR) Battery.
The correct charging voltage for a Gel battery is 14.4 to 14.6 volts maximum at 68°F. The correct charging voltage for our Absorbed lead acid battery is 14.4 to 14.6 volts maximum at 68°F.
What is the difference between gel cell and starved electrolyte batteries?
Both are recombinant batteries; both are sealed valve regulated.
The major difference is that the “starved” or “absorbed electrolyte” battery contains an amount of liquid electrolyte added at the factory that soaks into the special separators. Therefore, it is non-spillable because all of the liquid electrolyte is trapped in the sponge like separator material. There is no “free” electrolyte to spill if tipped or punctured.
Can I store my sealed battery in my garage during the winter or will it freeze?
Both types of our sealed batteries can be stored in temperatures as low as -20°F without freezing provided the batteries are fully charged.
Are gel batteries approved for air transportation?
Yes. Most gel batteries are approved for air transport by the F.A.A., I.A.T.A. and the D.O.T. This information is stated on a label located on the battery.
Do Gel or Absorbed Electrolyte Batteries have a memory?
Most gel batteries do not have a memory. This is only true of ni-cad batteries.
Can I store my batteries on concrete?
Many people have the impression that when batteries sit on concrete, energy “leaks out” or they are ruined. The short answer is that letting modern batteries sit on concrete does not harm or discharge them in any way.
However, this legend is historically based in fact. The first lead-acid batteries consisted of glass cells that were enclosed in tar-lined wooden boxes. A damp concrete floor could cause the wood to swell, breaking the glass inside.
The Edison cell (i.e. the nickel-iron battery) that preceded the rubber-cased battery was encased in steel. Those that weren’t isolated in crates would discharge into concrete quite easily. Later battery cases used primitive hardened rubber, which was somewhat porous and could contain lots of carbon. A moist concrete floor combined with the carbon in the battery cases could create electrical current between the cells, discharging them.
None of this is a problem with modern batteries in their hard plastic shells. In fact, concrete is generally an excellent surface on which to place a battery. The electrolyte in a battery sitting on an extremely cold floor with very hot air around it could stratify, causing damage from sulfation; whereas concrete provides good thermal mass to buffer any temporarily extreme temperatures in the battery compartment.
How often should I charge batteries?
Daily Users:
Charge daily. This applies to anyone who actually uses his or her equipment outside of the home.
Occasional Users:
Always be sure to charge before an outing and always after active use. The ideal recharge point is about 50% on a scooter or wheelchair gauge.
How do I charge my Batteries correctly?
To properly charge your mobility battery, follow these simple procedures:
- Use the manufacturer’s automatic charger for all routine charging.
- Never use an automotive or wet-type charger on gel/sealed batteries. (They’ll quickly ruin your battery).
- Never run your battery completely flat.
- Don’t “top off” the battery with frequent charging.
How should a battery be stored?
- Always store your batteries FULLY CHARGED.
- Check all batteries once a month and recharge as needed.
- Wet batteries can hold their charge up to 3 months.
- Sealed batteries can hold a charge for up to 6 months.
- When storing a chair or scooter for more than 2 weeks, charge the batteries and then disconnect them.
- Avoid hot and cold extremes when storing.
What is the proper way to store batteries for the Winter?
Store batteries fully charged. Check them once a month and recharge as needed. Sealed batteries can hold their charge from 6 to 12 months. Remember, if storing your chair for longer than a couple of weeks, it’s best to charge the batteries and then disconnect them.
I want to store my Gel batteries outside for the winter. At what temperature do the batteries freeze at?
Gel batteries can be stored in sub-freezing temperatures as low as -25°F without freezing as long as they are fully charged prior to storage. The self-discharge rate of fully-charged batteries is so low in these conditions that they will not require charging for many months; however, if your gel batteries are frozen … they will not always recover.
To attempt recovery the following is the best plan of action:
- Bring them inside and let them sit at room temperature for two days. (They must reach 60°F).
- Charge the batteries normally. (Follow standard safety procedures).
- Run a capacity check either through a quality discharge tester or by operating your power wheelchair in a controlled environment.
- If you don’t get enough run time then repeat steps 2 and 3.
Do I have a battery problem or a charging problem?
The Digital Voltmeter is still the most valuable tool in the Mobility Technician’s arsenal for sealed batteries. The starting point for checking batteries is always the charge voltage. In 24-volt systems we know the chances for two bad batteries are less than 1 in 10,000. So what we need to determine is WHICH battery is bad or if either battery is bad. This is accomplished by checking the voltage of each battery separately.
As illustrated in photo 1, voltage for a pair of batteries can read in excess of 24-volts which can incorrectly be assumed to be a good set. However, as shown in photo 2 one battery has a voltage of 12.89 volts while the battery in photo 3 is reading 11.97 volts. Combined, the voltage of this set of batteries looks good, but clearly the battery in photo 3 is bad.
Two batteries in a 24-volt system charge and discharge together almost as one 24-volt battery. A wide voltage separation between two batteries indicates that you may need to replace both batteries. If both batteries read similar voltage, they should be fully charged before doing any further testing.
If both batteries are below 12.0 volts, the question becomes, “WHY?” Is the battery charger working correctly? Could there be a problem with the wiring or other components of the wheelchair?
You can determine the next step in the troubleshooting process once you know the voltage of each battery
My batteries were over-discharged and my battery charger will not start. What do I do?
Have you ever had a customer state that their batteries will not take a charge even though the charger was plugged in overnight? When you checked their batteries, you found that they both read 9 volts? This is usually due to a light or a brake being left on for an extended period of time, which drains the batteries.
The reason why the charger is not working is that most wheelchair battery chargers need to read at least 21-22 volts in order to begin charging. This is how the polarity protection system of many chargers works. If the user were to hook up the positive and negative backwards, nothing would happen to the charger or the batteries because the batteries never read any voltage so it never started.
The drawback to this polarity protection design is when a user over-discharges their batteries below the 21-22 volt cutoff. Although the charger is connected, it does not receive the signal to begin the charging process so the batteries never get charged.
The best way to solve this problem is to remove the batteries from the wheelchair and charge each battery separately with a 12-volt battery charger. When each battery is fully charged, they can then be reinstalled in the chair and returned to service. Note: It may take the batteries up to 15 cycles to return to their former capacity if they have been severely discharged.
Can I extend my rental or pass my rental end date?
Yes! Extending your rental is seamless. You can either call us to extend your rental or just keep it and we will bill you for the next period. If the item is not returned, we bill you based on previous rental. To get the best pricing, you need to call us before your rental period is over.
Is there a minimum rental time?
How do I know which knee walker is best for me?
Do your knee walkers turn / steer?
Do your knee walkers fold up?
Do your knee walkers work on carpet?
How long will it take for my knee walker to arrive?
How do I determine the size of the equipment I need?
Do you offer equipment for heavier than average person?
What if my equipment breaks down?
Will my insurance company cover the equipment rental?
Every insurance plan is different, so it’s important to get information from your carrier to find out if the equipment you’re needing will be covered. We are an out of network provider with insurance carriers and WE DO NOT FILE CLAIMS WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES.
If your insurance carrier provides out of network benefits you can request reimbursement by submitting the following 3 documents…
- A final statement complete with billing codes – we provide this at your rental end, or on the date of your purchase.
- Letter of medical necessity, signed by your doctor – we email and send you a blank letter. You should have someone at your doctor’s office sign this for you.
- Prescription for your equipment – Your doctor can provide this for you.
For more information please see our article on insurance reimbursement, or give us a call at 214-227-2222.
Is a prescription required to rent equipment?
Can I extend my rental or pass my rental end date?
Is there a minimum rental time?
How and when do I pay for my rentals?
Do you ship outside of the continental United States?
Can I order on the phone?
What if the equipment doesn’t work for me?
Is there a minimum rental time?
What are your rental rates?
Where do I pick up and drop off the equipment?
630 N. Central Expy
Suite 645
Plano, TX 75074
214-227-2222
Do I need to recharge the battery? If so, how often and how do I do that?
Can I purchase the equipment?
Do your knee walkers turn / steer?
Do your knee walkers fold up?
Do your knee walkers work on carpet?
Is there a security deposit?
Can I extend my rental or pass my rental end date?
Is a prescription required to rent equipment?
Will my insurance company cover the cost of rental?
We are an out of network provider with insurance carriers. Every insurance plan is different, so it’s important to get information from your carrier to find out if your equipment will be covered.
If your insurance carrier provides out of network benefits you can request reimbursement by submitting the following 3 documents…
- A final statement complete with billing codes – we provide this at your rental end, or on the date of your purchase.
- Letter of medical necessity, signed by your doctor – we email and send you a blank letter upon request. You should have someone at your doctor’s office sign this for you.
- Prescription for a knee walker – Your doctor can provide this for you.
For more information please see our in depth article on insurance reimbursement, or give us a call at 1(800) 893-1264.
How long will it take for my knee walker to arrive?
How long will it take for my Portable Oxygen Concentrator to arrive?
How do I send my equipment back?
Place your equipment in the box you received it in.Please make sure to return everything that came with your package including manuals. You’ll be responsible for lost and missing items.
Request a return shipping label by sending an email to care@hieline.com
Attach the shipping label on the outside of the box.
Drop it off at your closest FedEx location, or call us to request a pickup at your home or office. We pass along the $17 fee that FedEx charges us for their pickup service. Please note that you are responsible for the cost of return shipping. You can send the equipment back with our FedEx label or with any shipping carrier you desire. If you ship without the label we include, you must notify us and provide tracking number by sending an email to care@hieline.com.When you use our FedEx label, the significant savings we receive from FedEx will be passed on to you. Once the unit is received, we will charge the cost of return shipping to the credit card we have on file.
B- If you picked up the equipment from our store, unless other arrangement has been made, you need to return it to the same location. The address is listed on Contact Us page.
C- If your equipment was delivered to a local hotel or venue, we will pick it up.
Does my rental period include shipping time?
Do you cover return shipping?
Do I have to pay up front for the repair visits?
How do I schedule a repair visit?
What information do need in order to determine if you can repair my product?
What if I only need a part?
What type products do you repair and service?
What brands do you repair and service?
On average how long will it take before a technician will be able to come to my home for the repair?
What areas do you service?
Do you accept insurance for repair services?
How long does a repair take?
Can I pay for a repair or parts with cash or credit card?
How long are power wheelchair/scooter batteries supposed to last?
How do I maintain the life of my power wheelchair or scooter?
If you use the equipment daily, charge the batteries in accordance with your user’s manual.
The chair’s power cord (or off-board charger) must be plugged directly into the wall. (Do not plug the cord into another extension cord or into a surge protector, as this can reduce the batteries’ ability to keep a charge).
The power cord must be completely removed from the wall before use. If using an off-board charger, make sure the power cord is also disconnected from the power chair or scooter.
Be careful not to tug on, pull on, or drive over the power cord. Doing so can cause damage to the internal wiring.
Batteries must be consistently used and charged. Batteries that sit for an extended amount of time (three weeks or more) without being used will lose their charge.
Do not keep the power chair or off-board charger plugged into the wall for more than 24 hours. Doing so will reduce the batteries ability to retain the charge.
If you are planning on using your power chair or scooter throughout the day, it is recommended the batteries be charged for 4-6 hours the day before.
Maintenance Tips
Do not leave your power chair or scooter outside in the sun, rain, or heat for an extended amount of time. This can cause rust, moisture build up, and wear, which can damage the power chair or scooter over time.
Do not drive your power chair or scooter over gravel, rough terrain, uneven pavement, water, grass, or mud. Doing so can cause damage to the electrical system.
Please refer to your owner’s manual for additional maintenance tips.
How is my power wheelchair/scooter repair paid for?
Do I need to recharge the battery? If so, how often and how do I do that?
Do you ship outside of the continental United States?
Can I upgrade shipping to receive my equipment faster?
How long will it take for my Portable Oxygen Concentrator to arrive?
How do I send my equipment back?
Place your equipment in the box you received it in.Please make sure to return everything that came with your package including manuals. You’ll be responsible for lost and missing items.
Request a return shipping label by sending an email to care@hieline.com
Attach the shipping label on the outside of the box.
Drop it off at your closest FedEx location, or call us to request a pickup at your home or office. We pass along the $17 fee that FedEx charges us for their pickup service. Please note that you are responsible for the cost of return shipping. You can send the equipment back with our FedEx label or with any shipping carrier you desire. If you ship without the label we include, you must notify us and provide tracking number by sending an email to care@hieline.com.When you use our FedEx label, the significant savings we receive from FedEx will be passed on to you. Once the unit is received, we will charge the cost of return shipping to the credit card we have on file.
B- If you picked up the equipment from our store, unless other arrangement has been made, you need to return it to the same location. The address is listed on Contact Us page.
C- If your equipment was delivered to a local hotel or venue, we will pick it up.