DisabilityMobility.com

There you are, 2 miles from home, in the pouring rain and your scooter crawls to a complete standstill. This is a story that many of us are familiar with and, no matter how much you may not like it, the chances are it is our fault. By not looking after our mobility scooter batteries correctly, we are just asking for trouble. It isn't hard to reduce the likelihood of a repeat episode however.

It may seem obvious; but a high number of people neglect to charge their batteries correctly. After every trip, your battery should be placed on charge, whilst each unit should be charged for a period of at least 8 hours in any twenty four hour period. The easiest way to ensure your battery is always sufficiently, and appropriately charged, is to leave it on charge all the time.

If you are heading off on holiday, or not needing you scooter for an extended amount of time, (anything over 3 or 4 days really), it is best to remove your battery from charge and disconnect fully from your scooter. This ensures the battery does not overwork and limits the possibility of wear.

It is also important to store your scooter and battery well. Now I haven't got a garage to park it in, so it lives in my hallway. I did have an interesting episode some time ago though; leaving the battery charging next to the storage heater. Not my best move ever, ... Won't be doing that again!

Just as damaging as heat is damp. Now, fortunately this is something I have not been affected by, (fingers crossed!), but friends have assured me that simply wiping everything down at the first sign should halt any nasties in their tracks!

Finally, no matter how well you care for you mobility scooter batteries or the scooter itself; ensure both are fully serviced by a qualified engineer according to the manufacturer's instructions. By simply following these tips, you should get an awful lot of life and sustained performance from your scooter.

To ensure a longer life and the best possible performance for your mobility scooter batteries, you should keep on top of their maintenance and cleaning. This is not hard to achieve however, and relies very much on simply applying common sense, and ensuring you stick to a routine.

No matter how short trip, your battery should be placed on charge on your return. Indeed, mobility scooter batteries should be kept on charge unless being used; to ensure maximum capacity at all times. Not only does this improve both performance and lifespan, but also ensures you have sufficient power to complete your trip, should there be any surprises whilst you're out.

Of course, as with most things, there is an exception that proves this rule! If there will be a period of time that you are not going to be using your scooter, (say for a holiday or some sort), you should remove your battery from the scooter, and completely disconnect it from the charger. Whilst it is recommendable to leave a battery on charge almost constantly, this is not the case should the unit not be used for some time.

It is also important to store your scooter and battery well. Now I haven't got a garage to park it in, so it lives in my hallway. I did have an interesting episode some time ago though; leaving the battery charging next to the storage heater. Not my best move ever, ... Won't be doing that again!

Just as damaging as heat is damp. Now, fortunately this is something I have not been affected by, (fingers crossed!), but friends have assured me that simply wiping everything down at the first sign should halt any nasties in their tracks!

So, that is how to care for your mobility scooter batteries. Pretty simple actually. Though charging your battery may be the last thing on your mind when you get in from work and the kids are screaming for their dinner, it is worth it. However, do ensure to have your machine regularly serviced too. Just in case!