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New wheelchair
By Jeff, Section Diaries Posted on Thu Sep 4th, 2008 at 06:55:36 PM MST
New wheelchair

I know this doesn't seem to have much to do with renewable energy, but in the long run, it does!
My wheelchair guy just left about an hour ago. I'm getting a new wheelchair! YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!!!! It's taken Medicaid & my doctors 5 years to realize I needed not only a GOOD quality wheelchair, but one more suitable to my needs and better engineered to last! It's a Permobile C500, for any who wish to know. The main thing is the seat part is powered and articulated so I can get the stress off of my spine. This is a major concern when I have to be in the chair for more than 20-30 minutes. It's hard to imagine, but one of my doctors explained it this way: It's like having to wear a pair of shoes 2 sizes too small. It can be done, but the more you do it, the more potential damage you do (in this case, to my spinal cord!). I'm really excited about being able to hopefully get more done and having to put up with a whole lot less pain if I have to be up & around. I even get to keep my old chair for whatever I want to use it for! Maybe I can use it to make a windmill, and a couple of 24v PM motors can always be used to generate a little free power!
On the subject of my first home-made genny, I've had to step down and modify a cieling fan motor due to cost and the amount of work I would need to do. I only need 3-5 amps extra charging power about 12 hours/day average to be totally free of the electric company. I haven't given up on my 20inch radial genny, but it'll have to wait until I'm more able to do it. OK, I'm lazy and want to see how Vawtman makes out with his 32 incher. Since I've joined this site, I've learned to set a small-reachable goal, and find the resources to make the mechanical & magnetic part of that a lot easier to find and make it happen.
Here's to Otherpower and all the folks in it. Here's to getting power from anywhere except an electric company, and not making those big conglomerates richer! Cheers all!
(in a happy mood, if you haven't already guessed)
jp

New wheelchair | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by spinningmagnets (velmis1450bc(at)aol(dot)com) on Thu Sep 4th, 2008 at 01:35:22 PM MST
(User Info)

I like your attitude! Everyone has challenges in their life, some more than others.

This website, and people like you are an inspiration to me. My mom only has one eye (actually two, its just that one is plastic), she is over 70, and she still has a job.

I recently saw a mini-truck with a swivelling 12v mini-crane next to the cab drivers door. When I stopped next to him at a red light, I saw that the crane deployed a wheelchair that was in the bed, and he had hand controls for the accelerator and brake.

I recall an Army vet who purchased an older Honda 750 with a rare 2-speed automatic transmission. He attached a custom sidecar with fold-down ramp that he could roll his wheel-chair into.

I got a welder from a garage sale a year ago, but it's taken till NOW for me to get off my LAZY butt and make the adapter cord so it will plug into the dryer socket. I guess I have no more excuses!

"Airplanes are interesting toys, but of no military value." - General Foch, France, 1911.

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by ghurd on Thu Sep 4th, 2008 at 02:25:32 PM MST
(User Info)

Hi jp,

Be happy. If you are happy, we are happy.

It is 100% RE related if the user wants to be off grid with RE,
Or has no grid at all.

Given a budget and other limits, sometimes it is better to think outside the "high efficiency box",
As you noticed when choosing a ceiling fan motor.
As I noticed when trying to make a solar chair charger on a fixed budget, here,
http://ghurd.info/wheelchair.html

It was a LONG time ago. Still running fine.
The only major part of making it work within the limitations was using a different battery charger, after realising the factory supplied charger was total crap.

The 600WH more a day seems a bit high. Wondering if that is due to inefficiencies somewhere.
G-

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Stonebrain on Thu Sep 4th, 2008 at 02:36:21 PM MST
(User Info)

I imagine your happiness.
Keep the struggle and the fun going.

cheers,
Jaap

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by jonas302 on Thu Sep 4th, 2008 at 05:02:17 PM MST
(User Info)

Congrats on the new chair hope it helps you a lot!!
My first thought is wonder what he will build out of the old one...

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by tecker on Thu Sep 4th, 2008 at 05:56:59 PM MST
(User Info)

Most ceiling fans give good performance for the time it takes to make a conversion .I've done quiet a few for folks and none have returned to me .
The trick is to size down the wire coming down the pole to awg 22 .

The resistance of the stator taps ( with no other stator taps cut in ) and small drop wire is somewhat limiting to the impedance of a battery bank .Make your own bridges from small amperage diodes that total resistance Will keep you running cool . If you want more control use a pwm to limit the current to average 800 mil per tap the taps with a large resistance will average out with the smaller ones .
The speed taps are usually on the inner stator . The other stator is easy enough to cut in taps 16 or 14 coils. Make note of where the windings finish there is a over top wire that you can cut in leave enough to bring it out. . Every four coils has you bringing 4 more wires out running 4 to 6 amps there a bouts

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by GeeMac (foxunc@telus.net) on Fri Sep 5th, 2008 at 07:35:39 AM MST
(User Info)

Hot diggity! That's a great model and I am trying to get one for my wife who has RA and had to be moved into a nursing home recently. The RA is even in her back now. Anyway, congratulations on the new chair. I know you're going to enjoy it.

GeeMac

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by Jeff (ruralmcguyver at yahoo dot com) on Fri Sep 5th, 2008 at 12:33:25 PM MST
(User Info)

Wow! Thanks all! I wasn't expecting all the comments (and thanks again!). I was just tickled ***less to actually be getting something like that suited to my needs.

Ghurd: Thanks for the link on your wheelchair charger! Actually, I got my plans started for the cieling fan conversion from your posts. Yes, I still have a couple inefficiencies here. The main one os the fridge. I'm keeping up with a 2-amp charger, and I added some to be able to keep ahead & any future additions. Don't worry, I'm not expecting THAT out of the cieling fan conversion.

tecker: thanks for the info on the wire-outs! That's what I have is a 16-coil, with 8 inner coils.

I found some 7/16 dia. x 7/16 long N52's I can get 16 of 'em for $32. Since these can easily be mounted on the outer ring, think these would put out anything? I have the material to wrap around that outer ring once the mags are in, to provide a good path for the outer flux. I know I may still be having to re-wind the coils with a heavier guage wire too, but not that far along yet.
Rural McG

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by tecker on Fri Sep 5th, 2008 at 05:57:40 PM MST
(User Info)

Put up some pics of motor with some measurments to the mags placed to limit the cog and get a lowspeed start.

[ Parent ]

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by tecker on Fri Sep 5th, 2008 at 05:59:45 PM MST
(User Info)

One handed typing there sorry. You get the idea .

[ Parent ]

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by ghurd on Sat Sep 6th, 2008 at 08:28:29 PM MST
(User Info)

Glad to hear something helped.

Sometimes the cheapest method to get the job done is Not the most efficient.
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by vawtman (vawtman(at)charter(dot)net) on Fri Sep 5th, 2008 at 06:37:19 PM MST
(User Info)

Hi Jeff

Congrats on the new wheelchair and glad it's helping you alot.I wish you the best with your projects.I like your attitude not letting a wheelchair stop you but using it to empower you.

Best wishes,

Mark

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by Jeff (ruralmcguyver at yahoo dot com) on Sat Sep 6th, 2008 at 03:49:36 PM MST
(User Info)

I posted a quick drawing of the cieling fan motor in my diary here: http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/8/2/173414/1924

As for the old chair, I always thought it would make a good remote-control lawnmower!
Rural McG

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by Jeff (ruralmcguyver at yahoo dot com) on Sun Sep 28th, 2008 at 08:01:18 PM MST
(User Info)

My new chair was delivered Thursday the 25th. The rep. spent about an hour trying to adjust the leg rests and calf supports. He ended up drilling new holes in the calf supports to come even close to "supporting". After reading the manual (always a last resort, right???), it turns out he was adjusting the wrong thing for the overall length, and where the calf supports would generally end up as a result. After I made that adjustment, it turned out the extra hole drilled by the rep. didn't need to be done at all. I did get the C500 model with the extra 7.5mph top speed, and the seat elevator the will raise me almost another 8inches (nice for getting those top-shelf groceries!). I spent most of Friday (and about 2 extra days pain meds) getting the back part of the seat more comfortable. I found three missing bolts, and 2 others stripped out the allen wrench set supplied. Luckily, I had and older junk model of my previous chair that a friendly scrap yard worker brought me just for spare parts, and had some better bolts to replace the missing and stripped ones!
All-in-all, it is a much better chair. For almost $9000, you think it would be! A virgin run out back to my nearest neighbors (about 1600 feet) was tough going, but I made it! Once there though, it got stuck on his lawn! It was nice grass, not dirt or sand), and he had to help me get un-stuck. I made another trip on mostly paved road to another friends house today. He'll be supplying me with a sh$#-load of "junk" that can be used for making gennies & windmills. Unfortunately, I got stuck again on his lawn (also nice grass, and well drained-so no mud). It took me almost an hour trying to flag someone down to help me get unstuck, with no one even stoppoing by to see if I needed help! Eventually, my friend that lives there woke up & realized someone eas there. It took a while, but we finally got it un-stuck. Touring his "yard" turned up a lot of stuff that could be used for gennies or windmills. He has a small 4ft. x 6ft. trailer he said he'd load up and bring it by. We figured there's so much, it'll take about two trips.
Of course, as I was getting ready to leave, the wheelchair got stuck again! So much for the "salesman" saying this thing would go through damn near anything! He said it had the power to handle even 20+ degree grades, and it's easy to see that it could.
I lust have to go through the tech manual thoroughly, and see what can be done with the suspension, and raising the clearance. Worst case, I have an old Pride Hurricane scooter with tires that are about 1inch wider. The axles match up, overall diameter is the same, but I may need to raise the suspension a little. According to the manual, all this can be done with "very little problem".
I know, it's a new chair, and will take some getting used to. But, at least the seat is reclinable, and more suited to someone with moderate-to serious back problems.
With what I can get done until the factory rep's. next visit Thursday or Friday, I think I can have a "killer" new chair that will get me around just about anywhere I need to go! Then....it's on to more serious alternative energy projects!
Rural McG

Re: New wheelchair (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by Jeff (ruralmcguyver at yahoo dot com) on Sun Oct 19th, 2008 at 12:27:08 PM MST
(User Info)

I've had my new chair almost a month now. This coming week, the tech guy will be making his 3rd trip out here.
A week ago Thursday, the entire joystick and seat controller fell off while I was trying to get in the chair. I know it's not made to handle much weight, but geez! There's nothing else toward the front of the seat to hang onto to help you get in or out! There's two nice ½ inch square brackets (on each side) with set screws right there for just such a thing. It turns out they didn't include them!
After the tech rep re-programmed the controller, it seemed much better. Sadly, I didn't have the place or space to test it fully. Come to find out, on higher speeds, it needs a HUGE "front-end" alignment. This may be able to be done with programming, but it was funny when I had a large, flat, and smooth surface! When trying to go "straight ahead" at full speed, the thing would go in nice, 10ft. diameter circles! Continued testing like this showed the problem got worse to the point I would "spin out" in tight circles. Burning rubber! Dangerous to the point of tipping over, testing stopped there. Big BUT...20 years ago, an "un-hurt" Jeffrey would have continued testing! HAHA

All-in-all though, having the much more ergonomic seat, being able to recline when needed or most of the time, I have been able to get a little more done. I over-did it the first two weeks, and ended up on more pain meds for an additional week. So I do have to learn to behave (damn!). Once they get the "bugs" worked out, get some front handles to make transfer easier, and add some extra support to the joystick, I believe it will be a great chair for me. The added support on the joystick may have to be, ummm "aftermarket". As will the extra suspension travel I will be adding to make the ride smoother! I know, NOBODY say the "void warranty" words! The tech guy is pretty cool, very understanding, and even offered some "suggestions" I promise I NEVER heard from him!
I haven't gotten any further on the ceiling fan conversion due to getting used to the new chair, and not getting some things done to barter with someone for the magnets. It is still "in-process" though!
My friend in nearby Wagram (1-mile away, very small town) even helped me alter the mounts for attaching my push mower to the back of my new chair. It turns out the chair has some excellent places already designed to tie down the chair, to attach the mower, or a small "wagon". Since these are designed to withstand ALMOST the weight of the chair, a 50-75lb. mower on wheels or a wagon should be no problem!

That's all for now. Gotta "roll"!!!

Rural McG

New wheelchair | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

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