How to choose an electric wheelchair? What should you pay attention to when buying an electric wheelchair? What kind of people are suitable for using electric wheelchairs? Is it safe for elderly people to ride in electric wheelchairs? Can an electric wheelchair be driven on the road? Can I take airplanes, high-speed trains, or high-speed trains? How good is the ability of an electric wheelchair to climb mountains and climb mountains? What are the requirements for road conditions? Today Tuomaidi will take you to analyze how to choose a suitable electric wheelchair.
The main factors we consider when choosing the right electric wheelchair are the frame, controller, battery, motor, brakes, and tires.
1. Framework
The frame is the skeleton of the entire electric wheelchair. Its size can directly determine the user's comfort, while the frame material greatly affects the load-bearing capacity and durability of the entire electric wheelchair.
Common frame materials for electric wheelchairs include iron and aluminum alloy, and some high-end models also use magnesium alloy and carbon fiber. Iron is cheap, has good load-bearing properties, and can also be used by obese people who are heavier. The disadvantages are that they are heavy, easy to rust, corrode, and have a short lifespan. Aluminum alloy is lighter, not easy to rust, and can withstand a load of 100 kg, but the price is higher.
2. Controller
If the frame is the skeleton, then the controller is the heart of the electric wheelchair, which can directly adjust the speed of the motor to change the speed and direction of the electric wheelchair. The controller usually consists of a universal handle, power switch, acceleration button, deceleration button, and horn button. The universal handle can control the wheelchair to rotate 360°. The quality of the controller is mainly reflected in the steering sensitivity and start-stop sensitivity. Choose products with high sensitivity, fast response, flexible movement and easy operation. As for the start and stop speed, it is best to go slower, otherwise it will cause excessive or frustrating feelings.
3. Battery
Electric wheelchairs are generally equipped with two types of batteries, one is lead-acid battery and the other is lithium battery.
Lead-acid batteries are usually installed on trams; lithium batteries have a wide range of adaptability, and different types of electric wheelchairs can be equipped with lithium batteries.
Compared with lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries are lighter, have higher capacity and have longer standby time. In addition, lithium batteries have better resistance to overcharge and longer life.
4. Engine
There are two types of motors for electric wheelchairs, brush motors and brushless motors. The biggest difference is that the former has carbon brushes and the latter does not. The advantage of brushed motors is that they are low-priced and can basically meet the needs of electric wheelchair users, but they have loud operating noise, high power consumption, require regular maintenance, and have a relatively short service life. Brushless motors run very smoothly, are almost noiseless, save energy, require no maintenance and have a long service life. The disadvantage is that they are relatively expensive.
5. Brake
Electric wheelchairs are composed of manual brakes, electronic brakes and electromagnetic brakes. This is a manual brake that uses friction between the brake pads and tires to stop the wheelchair. This type is usually found on electric wheelchairs equipped with electronic brakes. Because electronic brakes cannot activate when power is removed from the wheelchair, manufacturers install a handbrake as a second level of protection. Compared with electronic brakes, the safest thing about electromagnetic brakes is that even if the wheelchair has no power, it can brake the car through magnetic force. Therefore, electronic brakes are economical and affordable and basically meet the needs of use, but there are safety risks when the wheelchair loses power. Electromagnetic brakes can meet the braking needs under any circumstances, but they are more expensive.
6. Tires
There are two types of electric wheelchair tires: solid tires and pneumatic tires.
Pneumatic tires have good shock absorption effect and are cheap, but they have problems such as punctures and deflation and require maintenance.
Solid tires don’t have to worry about punctures and other problems, and are easy to maintain, but have poor shock absorption and are more expensive. For more information about wheelchairs, please contact us.