USB 12v phone charger or power bank

[faico_26]

Hi,
For the last years I have been using a car 12v usb adapter to charge my phone, connected to 1 battery of the chair. It works great, with an on/off button and voltage indicator included.
However I read in this forum that using that could disbalance one battery compared with the other. It is true that the battery feels it when I’m charging the phone.
Now with my new chair Q300R I have to decide whether using it or just a power battery bank. A 30000mah is 500gr, very heavy I will have to charge it almost everyday.
Another option would be using a 24v truck usb charger?

[Flagmax]

I have permanently installed this on my chair to get 12v. It draws few milliamps when not used. Even though its says 36v-48v input, it works fine down to 18v and puts out stable 12v.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR4VSPYY

I also plan to make a backup system and power it from the charger socket.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V6X6L89

But for charging a phone use something like this
https://www.quickie-wheelchairs.com/Whe ... ger/44593p

[Burgerman]

Hi,
For the last years I have been using a car 12v usb adapter to charge my phone, connected to 1 battery of the chair. It works great, with an on/off button and voltage indicator included.
However I read in this forum that using that could disbalance one battery compared with the other. It is true that the battery feels it when I’m charging the phone.
Now with my new chair Q300R I have to decide whether using it or just a power battery bank. A 30000mah is 500gr, very heavy I will have to charge it almost everyday.

Fastest way to ruin a set of batteries ever!

Made one 20 years back from a car one when "smart" phones first became a thing... For the cost of a .
https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/usb-po ... e-port.htm

[faico_26]

I have permanently installed this on my chair to get 12v. It draws few milliamps when not used. Even though its says 36v-48v input, it works fine down to 18v and puts out stable 12v.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR4VSPYY

I also plan to make a backup system and power it from the charger socket.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V6X6L89

But for charging a phone use something like this
https://www.quickie-wheelchairs.com/Whe ... ger/44593p

That kind of chargers were my first option but I read they can be dangerous. I found this comment on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/j0vde8x

[faico_26]

Can I connect a 24v usb socket to the 2 batteries and do they would not disbalance?

[Burgerman]

Each battery has 6x 2V cells inside of it. These cells are all in series. A string of cells. 2 batteries in a chair are also connected in series. So now we have 12 of these 2 Volt cells as a long string, to get 24V

When you take 24V from this string, every cell has to contribute. So you remove the same amount from every one. So battery is discharged and charged as a long string of series cells.

When you take power from ONE battery then only 6 cells are discharged. So now the batteries are no longer balanced. When you charge them IN SERIES you overcharge the one that is more full. And undercharge the one that is less full. Damaging both batteries. They will eventually rebalance. But by then the damage is probably done. Especially so if you KEEP doing it!

For NEW batteries. This is why its important that both batteries are at the same state of charge when installing into a chair. So in this case connect in PARALLEL for 24 hours before fitting.

[faico_26]

Each battery has 6x 2V cells inside of it. These cells are all in series. A string of cells. 2 batteries in a chair are also connected in series. So now we have 12 of these 2 Volt cells as a long string, to get 24V

When you take 24V from this string, every cell has to contribute. So you remove the same amount from every one. So battery is discharged and charged as a long string of series cells.

When you take power from ONE battery then only 6 cells are discharged. So now the batteries are no longer balanced. When you charge them IN SERIES you overcharge the one that is more full. And undercharge the one that is less full. Damaging both batteries. They will eventually rebalance. But by then the damage is probably done. Especially so if you KEEP doing it!

For NEW batteries. This is why it’s important that both batteries are at the same state of charge when installing into a chair. So in this case connect in PARALLEL for 24 hours before fitting.

Exactly, that was my point: to avoid taking the energy from only 1 battery I was thinking to take 24v connecting the USB truck 24V to the 2 batteries. I don’t if what I’m saying is possible.

[Burgerman]

Of course its possible. Its the only way it can be done.
Taking it from the XLR charge port is exactly the same thing. It is connected to the 24V battery.

[faico_26]

Of course its possible. Its the only way it can be done.
Taking it from the XLR charge port is exactly the same thing. It is connected to the 24V battery.

Perfect, thanks. I will do so: I will connect a 24v usb charger to the batteries feeding the charger with 24V so it will not disbalance the batteries.

[Flagmax]

Of course its possible. Its the only way it can be done.
Taking it from the XLR charge port is exactly the same thing. It is connected to the 24V battery.

Perfect, thanks. I will do so: I will connect a 24v usb charger to the batteries feeding the charger with 24V so it will not disbalance the batteries.

If you haven't come across this yet, its a great read and professional job on 24v to 5v adapter done by BM
https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/usb-po ... e-port.htm

[Burgerman]

You could do that too. There are 24v ones with dual USB etc today. That was many years back when options for charging on a chair were not really available. Very easy.

[faico_26]

Of course its possible. Its the only way it can be done.
Taking it from the XLR charge port is exactly the same thing. It is connected to the 24V battery.

Perfect, thanks. I will do so: I will connect a 24v usb charger to the batteries feeding the charger with 24V so it will not disbalance the batteries.

If you haven't come across this yet, its a great read and professional job on 24v to 5v adapter done by BM
https://www.wheelchairdriver.com/usb-po ... e-port.htm

Yes I had read it, very useful but my soldering skills are not good.

[Burgerman]

I end up soldering, even if only to add a connector or to repair something, maybe every week.

I cannot begin to understand how difficult things would be if I was restricted and couldnt do that!

Soldering is easy. It just takes a small bit of essential knowledge and a bit of practice. Then your fear will vanish. Its no harder than taking a pill, stirring a coffee, connecting a plug. It takes secnds.

I suggest you learn a new skill.
If you cannot physically do it, pick a "volunteer" to learn. Preferably a small fit young blond one. Grab the next one that goes by!

[faico_26]

I end up soldering, even if only to add a connector or to repair something, maybe every week.

I cannot begin to understand how difficult things would be if I was restricted and couldnt do that!

Soldering is easy. It just takes a small bit of essential knowledge and a bit of practice. Then your fear will vanish. Its no harder than taking a pill, stirring a coffee, connecting a plug. It takes secnds.

I suggest you learn a new skill.
If you cannot physically do it, pick a "volunteer" to learn. Preferably a small fit young blond one. Grab the next one that goes by!

I have some experience at soldering for my Rc planes and Rc cars but despite many years of trying my soldering is not good at all. So I do not trust myself in soldering something which is connected to wheelchair joystick.

[Burgerman]

Soldering is easy IF:

1. Materials (the terminals or wire) is clean and OXIDE FREE.
2. That you use lead based solder.
3. >>>That you use FLUX!!!<<< And no, the cored solder is not adequate.
4. That you do not overheat a joint.
5. That you tin the connectors and wire IN ADVANCE of soldering the joint.
6. That your iron is THERMOSTATIC and set to 350 to 400 C.
7. That the tip of the iron is shiny, silver and tinned!!!

Then its super easy.

If you are good at soldering and lots of experiene the list above or some parts of it might be less impotant. I set my friends son up with the correct equipment and showed him how once. Now his soldering is perfect after a couple if days practice. Expresso had never soldered a thing in his life. And now routinely builds full lithium packs and cables etc. Its just some simple thing you are doing wrong.

[fishinjunky]

I've used a XLR to usb charger from https://www.crippleconcepts.com/ for 4 years but today when I plugged my phone into the USB port I heard a crackle and saw a little puff of smoke. Now only one of the two usb ports work. I've decided to no longer charge my phone from my chair.

Can anyone recommend a good power bank for a phone and a small clip on fan?

[Burgerman]

I just bought a cheap phone with a power bank built in. Hate phones, and hate dead batteries.
10.6Ah...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D3TMXVC7? ... in_title_2

35 days.

[fishinjunky]

What about this power bank for a phone an small fan?

https://www.amazon.com/ROMOSS-30000mAh- ... B07R8YP8JR