The picture shows a young woman driving along a river in a manual wheelchair with a SERVO residual force-boosting wheelchair drive from AAT. On the right is the title of the blog article “Charging lithium-ion batteries correctly”. Below it is a graphic with various colorful charging states of a battery.

Proper charging of lithium-ion batteries

Date: 27.08.2024

Tips for optimum handling and care of your batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of many modern devices and are also indispensable for AAT products. To ensure that you can enjoy your devices for a long time, it is crucial to charge and maintain the battery correctly. In this blog article, we give you valuable tips on how to maximize the service life of your lithium-ion batteries while maintaining the optimum performance of your AAT products.

Reading time: 4 -5 minutes

You wish personal advice? Call us!

In order to give you a better overview, we will explain each of the following topics in more detail throughout this article.

The right order for charging
Charging under optimum conditions
Regular partial charging instead of complete discharging
Avoid deep discharge
Using original chargers
Maintenance instructions and further information

Summary “Charging lithium-ion batteries correctly”

In this blog, you will learn how to properly charge and maintain the lithium-ion batteries of your AAT products to maximize their service life. We explain why it is important to connect the charger to the socket first, give tips on optimal charging and explain how to avoid and fix error codes during voltage peaks. You can also find out how to protect your battery from harmful influences and maintain the performance of your devices in the long term.

1. The correct charging procedure

An often overlooked but important point is the correct sequence for connecting the charger. Always connect the charger to the socket first and only then connect it to the battery.

If you connect the charger to the battery first and then plug it into the socket, this can lead to a voltage spike that puts unnecessary strain on the battery. This voltage spike could reduce the service life of your battery in the long term. By connecting the charger to the socket first, you stabilize the current flow and protect the battery from potential damage.

Such a voltage spike may also cause your AAT drive to display an error code. In many cases, however, this can be rectified by a simple RESET/restart of the battery.

With the lithium-ion batteries of the SOLO or SERVO models from AAT, for example, this can be done by switching the switch strip in the battery off and on again. Further details can be found in the respective operating instructions in the “Battery pack” chapter. If an error code is still displayed, we recommend that you contact AAT or your specialist dealer directly.

The picture shows a lithium-ion battery pack from AAT, which is used for the SOLO and SERVO wheelchair drives.

2. charging under optimum conditions

Lithium-ion batteries do not like it too hot or too cold. The ideal ambient temperature for charging is between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Some lithium-ion batteries from AAT allow a charging temperature of 0 to 40 degrees Celsius. However, it is important to note that the ideal ambient temperature for your product can always be found in the manufacturer's product operating instructions.

Avoid charging in direct sunlight or in cold environments, as extreme temperatures can affect the chemistry of the battery and damage its capacity in the long term.

The picture shows a thermometer which can be used, for example, to measure the ideal charging temperature for charging a battery.

The optimum ambient temperature for charging is between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius.

3. Regular partial charging instead of complete discharging

In contrast to older battery technologies, lithium-ion batteries benefit from regular partial charging. It is not necessary to fully discharge the battery before recharging it. In fact, fully discharging the battery can reduce its lifespan. Instead, charge the battery more frequently and avoid letting it fall below 20 %.

4. Avoid deep discharge

Deep discharging, where the battery is completely discharged, can be harmful. Make sure that your battery is never completely discharged to avoid permanent damage.

5. Use original chargers

To ensure the best performance and safety, only use the original chargers intended for your AAT products. These chargers are specially adapted to the characteristics of the batteries and ensure an optimum charging process. Chargers from other manufacturers may not supply the correct voltages, which can lead to overheating or premature wear of the battery.

The picture shows an employee of AAT Alber Antriebstechnik at his workplace in production. He is smiling at the camera and has his arm on a V-MAX² pushing and braking aid, which he is currently assembling.

AAT strives to offer you the highest quality.

6. Care instructions and further information

Caring for your lithium-ion batteries does not end with proper charging.

For example, avoid leaving the batteries unused for long periods of time. Remove the battery pack before storing your drive and protect it from direct sunlight and moisture. Ensure regular trickle charging at intervals of approx. one month. The battery can be removed from the charger after each trickle charge.

Further care and maintenance instructions for the rechargeable batteries of your AAT products can be found in the corresponding operating instructions. If you have misplaced your instructions, they are available in the download area of our website.

To the download area