Electric Wheelchair Operation Guide

Using an electric wheelchair when on uneven ground can take some getting used to. This guide is designed to ensure that you fully understand the different functions of your wheelchair and how to effectively use the controls in these circumstances. 

 

The Power Settings

 

The power setting of the wheelchair can be adjusted on the control panel just above the analog stick. This allows users to adjust how much power the motors have access to. This is of significant importance when traversing other than smooth and flat terrain such as gravel or when going up a slope. The wheelchair will need extra power to handle these situations. Increasing the power setting also allows the wheelchair to travel at a higher maximum speed, but don't be afraid as the speed is controlled by how far you push the joystick as is explained below.

 

The Joystick

 

The joystick is used not only to control the direction of the wheelchair but also plays a huge factor on the speed. For example, If I were to push the analog stick all the way forward, the wheelchair would accelerate very quickly. However, if I only tilt the joystick halfway forward the wheelchair will only move at half of the maximum speed available in the power setting I am in.
 

Likewise, if while traveling forward I bring the analog stick all the way back to the centre, the wheelchair will begin to quickly slow down until it stops completely, and the brakes engage. However, if while traveling forward at full speed I tilted the analog stick only halfway back to the centre, the wheelchair would slow down and then continue to travel at half the maximum speed of the power setting I'm in.

Once users know that the joystick dictates the speed of the wheelchair according to how far they tilt it in any given direction (both when speeding up and slowing down), they can use this to carefully adjust the speed of the wheelchair in accordance with the terrain. 

 

Dolly Wheels & Turning on the Spot

 

The front wheels of the wheelchair are known as dolly wheels and swivel 360 degrees - similar to a shopping trolley. Understanding how they work is crucial to having full control of your electric wheelchair. For example, knowing that when you reverse the chair, the front wheels swivel in the opposite direction, and so when moving forward again the front wheels will take a small time to swivel back to correct themselves which may cause slight jerk movement to either the left or right hand side.  

 

If you find that you're struggling to turn on the spot, it is important to consider the following: the position of the dolly wheels, the power setting, and the terrain.

1. The first step to take is to ensure that the position of the dolly wheels are facing forwards or backwards (i.e. parallel to the rear wheels) by moving the chair either directly forwards or backwards. This is an important step as it creates less resistance for the chair to turn.
2. The second step to take if the chair is struggling to turn on the spot is to increase the power setting incrementally to overcome the necessary resistance.
3. Finally, it is important to note that for some terrain, there is too much friction or gravity to be able to turn on the spot, for example, on medium-deep gravel or an incline respectively. In these situations, you will need to move forward or reverse to build some momentum before turning in your required direction. If this fails, the terrain may be too deep or sloped for the chair to handle and an alternative route is suggested. 

Important note: for users that have pneumatic (air-filled) tyres, it is extremely vital that the tyre pressure is set at their optimum 35 PSI. If the tyre pressure is low, it will be extremely difficult to turn on the spot. 

 

As with all equipment, it is important to understand how they function to be able to get the best out of them. In the case of an electric wheelchair, understanding how they work will allow you to better understand their capabilities to help prepare you for your journeys ahead. 

 

Handling Kerbs

 

When climbing a dropped kerb, it is very important that you approach it head on and stop just before the kerb - you want to avoid riding at speed into the kerb. Once in this position, push the joystick forward only slightly (about 25% of the way - warning: do not push all the way forward), your wheelchair should slowly start to climb the kerb and you may experience a small judder once it's over. Depending on the weight of the user and the condition of the terrain you will need to use the power setting accordingly. We advise starting at a lower power setting and incrementally increasing if necessary.

 

Approaching a Camber

 

The majority of UK pavements feature dropped curbs. This makes getting around in a wheelchair much easier. However, when you come across a dropped curb on the side of the pavement you are traveling on, they inconveniently cause a slope down towards the road (known as a camber). So how do you maintain a steady pace in a straight line across this uneven terrain? Here are a few points to help you do so safely.
 

• When you see that you're approaching a camber, slowly bring the joystick all the way back to the centre to slow down all the way to a stop right before you reach the camber.
• Before crossing the camber ensure that the wheelchairs power setting is on maximum. This is to make sure the wheelchair has enough power to overcome the resistance of the uneven terrain.                                                                                                      
• Try to stay as close to the top of the camber as possible. This is because the bottom of the camber is usually the steepest.
• Most importantly, cross the camber at a slow and steady pace. As mentioned above, the joystick is very sensitive, so you want to move the analog stick forward only very slightly and make sure not to push the analog all the way forward which will cause you to travel at full speed.
• If I were to cross a camber going down towards my right, my wheelchair may start to veer to the right-hand side naturally following the slope of the camber, to maintain moving in a straight line I would have to steer the wheelchair in the opposite direction of the slope. To do this I would alternate the joystick position between straight (12 o'clock) and away from the camber (10 or 11 o'clock). This is known as cross-steering.  

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that just like any other moving vehicle, when you have built up momentum traveling forward in the wheelchair it will take longer to come to a complete stop. Similar to a car, the faster you are travelling the further the braking distance. This is why it is especially important to be mindful of the pace at which you cross uneven terrain and to take it slow and steady to prevent the build-up of momentum.