The Basics for New Wheelchair Lift Owners
Posted by Justin on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008We all enjoy new things and purchasing a new accessible full size van with a wheelchair lift is no exception. We like to test, poke, prod, and otherwise run any new piece of equipment through its paces. Far from being negative, this is a very positive thing to do and should be encouraged, as long as it is done responsibly. The more you know about your lift, the better of an operator you will be. Here are some things to consider.
Know the very basics before you leave your dealer’s lot. Part of a dealer’s responsibility to you when they deliver your new van and lift is to explain basic electrical and back up operation. Make sure you spend as much time as you need to feel comfortable. All our new lift systems have many built-in safety features that you may not be used to if you’ve owned an older BraunAbility wheelchair lift in the past. The Federal Government has tightened their regulations over the past few years and required BraunAbility and your dealer to add those new safety features to your conversion. Because of this, your lift may respond differently than you are used to.
After you have mastered the basics by working with your BraunAbility Dealer, operate your lift on your own when you get home. Become familiar with the new safety features. Realize that there are certain devices on your lift that will prevent operation if they sense an unsafe situation, and know what they are. Familiarize yourself with all back-up systems in case you ever have a dead battery or other problem with the van.
As with anything, taking care when operating your lift is also a must. We stress the importance of testing out your lift, and this is true, but be realistic. Test, but don’t test the limits. Be methodical; don’t put yourself and your lift in situations it’s not designed to be in. Reliability branches out to many people and you are one of them. BraunAbility has a responsibility to build a safe and reliable product, our dealers have a responsibility to maintain that product with your help, and you have a responsibility to become educated on the proper operation and limits of your lift. When all these things meld together you will have a very trustworthy companion in your lift for years to come.
If you are a new wheelchair lift owner or are just beginning your research, please let us know what your concerns are by commenting below!
Tags: wheelchair lifts
January 24th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Today purchased a van with a 2004 Braun lift model CL9171B with lift weight of 750 lbs. My Quantum chair an me weigh 550. Is it OK for me to go on the lift forward or backward or must I back in for safety?
January 26th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Hi Richard,
we recomend that you always back on to the platform so that you are facing outward in relation to the vechicle. This will put the majority of your weight closer to the vehicle instead of furthar out.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I have an under van braun cassette lift in my Ford van. My van was shipped to the factory for installation 3 years ago and the lift works great. My problem is evey 10-12 months i have a dead battery, first we went with a new battery, next time alternater, now i am not sure.
Is the lift to be run with the van on? The dealer advised van off. The floor wheelchair release buttons remain lit when the van is off could that be enough to drain?
Thanks
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 am
Joe,
Your situation with the battery draining once every 10-12 months is a little unusual. Typically, if there is any significant drain from any of the mobility equipment the battery will die if the van sits for just a few days or less. A dealer can do an amp draw test on the charging system to see if there is a higher than normal draw from your vans electrical system. That would be the best place to start. The lift can be operated either with the van off or running, but if you have the ability to run the van, less stress will be put on the battery because the alternator is charging it as you use the lift. If the van sits for extended periods of time, I would suggest you look into installing a solar charger that can be easily installed. This device keeps charging the battery at a low rate even if you are not driving it. Lastly, I am not familiar with the light you are speaking about, but any light that stays on will draw power away from the battery, so that may be something you want to look in to.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Is the lift draining the battery even the ignition is off? because we have 5 ford E-250, all equipped with a lift we’re just using them at average 1 to 2 times a week, what happening is every time we using them the battery is dead. if so, is there any solution other than solar charger?
Thanks in advance.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Hello Rene; I really don’t have enough information to make a definitive statement. On some lifts there should not be any drain caused by the lift under any circumstances. On other application there may be a minor drain under certain circumstances. If you have the lift that I believe you have, there should be no drain caused by the lift under any circumstances. To be certain I need the VIN of each vehicle and the Model-Series-Serial number of each lift.