Off Group request for help with Lomax Powermax wheelchair

[davidpbo]

Sorry to post this off group request here but if there is anyone reading who could point us in the right direction we would be immensely grateful.

A relative has a Lomax Powermax electric wheelchair with electric tilt and back rest. She is totally dependent on it for any movement. Following a short on the cable between handset and control module it has been phenomenally unreliable. During the last 13 weeks or so she has barely had it and not at all for the last 4 weeks as it went back to the manufacturer for repair and test. We had it back yesterday, took her out for a few hours last night and it broke down within an hour of her being put back in it this morning.

Is there anyone out there who has any knowledge of these chairs, their motors or control circuits who could give me information or point me in the direction of a site or someone who could. Preferably not a dealer ? I am fed up with the repairers (NHS supplied) and manufacturers who whilst trying their best have not effected a reliable repair. I am not going to do anything to it myself but I would like information on how the motors and electric brakes work and provide feedback to the central processor.

Control system believe to be Penny & Giles.
Motors EMD 22.5V D.C. PM63-50-2-24-GB9-30:1-BF-3800-1 3-BK-A
Code 63-954B. Class F Rating Unit. Torque 8.5 Nm

The fault indication is usually brake solenoid. I have lost track of how many times they or the motors have allegedly been replaced.

Private mailing may be the most appropriate response for a detailed reply.

Apologies again to the group for posting here it is desparation for me to post a message so far off group interest.

 

[fireball]

So I guess she can't get down to the harbour to watch the sailing then ... (see - got a boating link now! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) Good luck with it ... you could always replace the controls with remote control car kit ..... and then have a giggle with the controls! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[davidpbo]

[ QUOTE ]
So I guess she can't get down to the harbour to watch the sailing then ... (see - got a boating link now! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for the reminder we were able to go and see the boats at Rudyard Lake yesterday evening whilst the chair was working.

[ QUOTE ]
Good luck with it ... you could always replace the controls with remote control car kit ..... and then have a giggle with the controls! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That is precisely why I posted here, I am hoping someone can point me to a Robot Wars or model web site where lurk some boffins who can have a chat with me.

 

[roly_voya]

It sounds like the voltage spike caused by the short has damaged the controle hardware, have they replaced the control box or just the remote? if not probably needs it.

Best people to talk to are probly their consultant (if its an NHS chair they are responible for ensuring the quality of service provided plus they tend to be good at getting things done) Also try local disability groups (either look in yellow pages of hospital notice board) as user groups they usually have a good idea about who provides the best services locally and may be able to recomend an engineer

Shout screem and jump up and down, this is NOT acceptable service if its taken more than 3 months to not repair it they should be replacing the complete chair. If you dont get it fixed quickly make a formal written complaint of inadequate service to whoever is responsible for providing the chair - might be the NHS trust or social services depending on circumstaces but either their consultant, GP or social worker will know. If all of this fails the next step is to find out if the local concil employs a disability rights officer or ultimatly get in touch with your local MP, the government is after all paying the bill and should be doing somthing if the local service is not working properly and its quite amazing how fast people can move in response to house of commons note paper!!

Hope it all works out shortly.

 

[PlanB]

Hope you got my PM with a contact web address. The private comment from that company is that he tries to avoid dealing with Lomax and
"In the first instance, she should phone her local Trading Standard Officer and get him/her to deal with her problem prompto.

AI very good information centre is the Disabled Living Foundation, who are based in London. They most likely will able to steer her in the direction of a competent electronic wiz-kid.
Their daytime help line is 0845 130 9177 or 020 7432 8009 or she can email advice@dif.org.uk

 

[davidpbo]

"It sounds like the voltage spike caused by the short has damaged the controle hardware"

That was my surmise. It is an NHS supplied chair and I don't get reports as to what has been done to it. I believe the control module was replaced as opposed to the hand controller.

It seems to me as though the control module has an incompatability problem with the motors/solenoid brakes.

I think we are now at the stage of a formal complaint. We have already written strong letters.