Both of these high quality batteries will give 1000 cycles at 50 percent depth of discharge, Which is better than the Optima, the Hawker Odyssey and the ABXAGM AGM batteries (top of page) and both give 500 cycles at 80 percent depth of discharge which is again about 15 percent better than AGM type batteries on this page. For the average user on an average Wheelchair or Scooter these really are what you need. Don't be tempted to buy anything cheaper.  That's for mad people like me to try as an interesting experiment. BECAUSE IT DOESN'T USUALLY WORK OUT CHEAPER IN THE END!

Quality Gel batteries like these normally offer better cycle life, AGM batteries offer faster current (Amps) release if all else remains equal.

Only you can know which is better for you through trial and error or previous experience in your specific application.  For 99 percent of powerchairs and users these are the best solution.

However I still manage to kill both of these batteries in 10 to 13 months on average. That's not actually bad considering that I really work batteries hard. You only get around 500 cycles with these if you discharge them by around 80 percent daily and charge them with a correctly matched charger every night.   Most people do not discharge them so heavily though so get longer life.

If you discharge them deeper, take bigger currents out or fail to charge them after every use then you will get less. My average usage is a little heavy and I take big currents out more regularly compared to an average user or average powerchair or scooter.  I have had 3 sets of Sonnenschein and 2 sets of MK batteries in two powerchairs (10 batteries) so far and another set is on order.

Downside? I removed them from my latest powerchair since it will not wheelie with them fitted. They cannot make the large currents I demand from them. This doesn't obviously effect the vast majority of users!

They don't like big currents. 4.0 mOhm (MK) and 6.0 mOhm (Sonnenschein - smaller battery) for both getting MUCH worse as they become discharged. This is typical for these quality GEL type batteries. That's about 50 percent worse than say the smaller 55ah Optima deep cycle batteries or even the cheap one at the top of this page. That means a 50 percent greater voltage drop under heavy load.  Or an inability to get full power on ramps or curbs on SOME powerchairs.

You notice this as a lack of urgency on a steep hill or a lack of steering control accuracy when going full speed (or trying to) up the same hill.  It gets worse as they become more discharged. They seem like they are discharged or a bit "flat" when there is actually a good bit of charge remaining that isn't really "accessible" as such in a hurry.  This isn't noticeable in an average powerchair in average use for the vast majority of users. For most people the superior deep cycle ability of quality GEL batteries like these is what's important and exactly what's required by them.

A modified powerchair like mine here used very hard on sand or hills needs something that can give a lot of amps fast even when partly discharged. These can both do it when brand new (after a week) and fully charged up but long before range or distance (reduced capacity) becomes a problem they lose that "power" needed to lift the front wheels or to climb a curb or very steep ramp. They go "weak" rather than lose much range over time.

What I THINK actually happens is that voids appear in the GEL between the plates and so they go more "high resistance" over time (No longer 4.0 mOhm / 6.0 mOhm but much greater)

Fast charging wont hurt them either according to the MK representative I spoke to. It still needs a full overnight charge as well though as the fast charge during the day doesn't "fully" charge the batteries and the cells can become unbalanced without it as a result. But they still charge much slower than AGM batteries. Even on the same sized charger due to their higher resistance.

The above information (don't like big currents) is why I personally usually choose a lower cycle life and a dual purpose Starter/Deep Cycle battery now like the Optima, Hawker Odyssey or even the cheap ABXAGM battery at the top of this page..  I prefer to sacrifice cycle life on purpose for wheelie "power" on demand and steep ramp performance even when pretty well discharged.  Stuff the last few weeks and give me some power!!!

I also use the same AGM Deep Cycle and Starter batteries in my van because while they are mainly used as starter batteries they are regularly discharged by the ramp and power doors and suspension system too. They too get deep cycled as well!  Normal factory fitted starter batteries don't like this treatment.

In a stock powerchair with a normal user with standard gearing and programming you don't need to worry about any of this. Just buy either of these two batteries and chill.  Don't be tempted by cheaper batteries because you generally do get what you pay for here.  All the cheap ones have failed me one way or another!

www.sonnenschein.org/A500.htm  and  www.mkbattery.com/hmemobility_products.php

Optima Deep Cycle Yellow Top, and Deep Cycle Marine Blue Top batteries. 
Optima batteries are slightly different in that the lead plates are coiled up like a small Ni-Cad battery or a capacitor. They are still AGM type lead acid batteries though. The Blue Marine batteries and the Yellow "deep Cycle" batteries are exactly the same as each other electrically. The only difference is that these two marine ones on my bed have some extra terminals. That's very useful to connect the powerchairs cables to.

Either Blue (deep cycle & Starting) or Yellow 55ah Deep Cycle & Starting batteries are therefore suitable for a powerchair.   They do not make group 24 batteries and these are Group 34 (smaller) sized. As with most AGM type batteries they can make really big currents. Bigger than most of the rest. More even than almost all similar sized or bigger batteries including starting only batteries!  Wheelies and ramps are no problem.  They will however probably not give an average user as many Cycles as the MK or Sonnenschein batteries above. And they are expensive. They actually last longer in my powerchair though than the other Gel batteries because I take too much current from them. Too many amps. 

So figures alone don't tell the full story.  These should be charged to 14.4 to 14.7 volts. Most wheelchair chargers will be fine, and most actually overcharge the standard GEL type batteries to a small degree which shortens their life in the interests of a faster charge. In this way you may be surprised how long these last!  They are shorter, and smaller than most of the other batteries on this page too.

I typically get 14 to 16 months from a set of these. That's better than I get out of the Gel MK batteries which goes against conventional wisdom. These should be about 20 percent worse on cycle life.  Unless you need big currents (8mph powerchair, 20 stone weight, live in a hilly area), then the Gel MK or Sonnenschein batteries are still a better bet. Personally though I love them.

Elecsol

Elecsol batteries looked like a cheap solution too!  So I had to test them so you don't have to! Now first of all they are NOT sealed and contain loose liquid acid. These are not really "mobility" batteries. But they don't know that do they...

They can gas when charged and so may need occasional topping up with distilled water. Depending on charge voltage. They cannot be transported on aircraft either. Standard powerchair chargers are fine. They do have one large redeeming feature however. They are 100ah in the same sized package as all the rest of the 55 to 73 amp ones here on this page. The rest are 55, 56, 65, 70, 73, Amp Hours. (But there's much more to batteries than storage capacity). Woohoo!  More THEORETICAL range, cheap, and Very Deep Cycle! They use carbon fibre plates.

They don't sulphate if discharged apparently (CLAIMED) They can do 1000 cycles according to their website at 50 percent. So then what's the problem?  Yes there had to be one...  No wheelies, no steep ramps because although they claim, to be engine start capable and so should be able to easily zap a powerchair into life they just aren't!   To be fair I expected as much. They are about as good as the MK batteries for current, and are "bigger" capacity so should give more range and longer service life cheaply.

All that happens if you gun your powerchair is that it accelerates moderately and the lights dim on the battery meter!  Well on my chair at least. Then as speed gathers its fine. Actually on my powerchair that's exactly what MK batteries do as well. But they are not for me. On a more average soggy programmed chair they could well be OK but I cant say since I don't have one.

So they "should" be OK on a more "normal" users moderately programmed powerchair with say a 50 to 80 amp controller. I don't know for sure because I don't have a soggy underpowered chair to test them on.  If you need more range and you have a moderate requirement for power with smaller powerchair, 4mph, soft programming so that you seldom actually use the full amp capability then they should be just fine and a bargain. Just watch the battery acid levels.

Hawker Odyssey,  Sold as a Deep Cycle and Starter battery.

http://www.hazebattery.com/index.html

These batteries were surprisingly good. They lasted me as long as the premium GEL batteries did and had the power to make my modified powerchair go like it does with the AGM type batteries. Wheelies even when 50 percent discharged too. Range and cycle life were as good as the best. 

I would recommend  these unconditionally if it were not for the fact that when they did fail after 13 months it was very sudden. So sudden that one minute I was crossing the road with apparently good batteries in a good state of charge and then nothing! Zilch! Totally unable to move one inch or get me going at all or home. Battery voltage read as about 80 percent charged.

Something inside failed. Suddenly, like a connection between cells, or something just failed like a fuse going! Never had a battery do that before. Didn't know they could.  This may have been a one off situation but the idea of getting stuck and unable to get home -- even slowly -- really doesn't appeal. If this doesn't worry you then get these in place of the Sonnenschein A500 or MK GEL batteries and save some cash! f it does then spend the money. Was going to cut one open so I could see what failed but it was too cold out there...

Halfords Leisure Batteries

While in the car accessory shop Halfords, I spotted some batteries that were the correct physical size (Group 24) and 70 Amp Hour clearly labelled "DEEP CYCLE". For about the same price as a cheap starter battery. Mmm interesting but highly unlikely I thought...

So I asked the guy that was the resident battery "expert" if they would be suitable for proper deep cycle use in the powerchair I was sat in. He said yes absolutely, and that they have a full 2 year warranty to back it up and were perfect for a powerchair. This was going to be fun. TRUE Deep Cycle batteries don't have 2 year warranties even if you pay four times as much since even really good ones will not last 2 years if heavily cycled..

I explained that I expected them to last about 3 months maximum. He insisted they would be perfectly fine. So I bought a set for a laugh. They performed great, with normal range and good "wheelie power" performance on the first week. The second week they were getting a bit weaker and shorter in usable range.

After 5 or 6 weeks they couldn't get me out of the house and into my van without the battery warning flashing... Seriously.  This I expected.  But Even I expected a couple of months!  So they swapped them under warranty. 5 times!  That kept me going for about 6 months in total.  Then they refused to honour the warranty.

So I got all my money back. Not all batteries are equal. Be careful how much you "save".  This also put me right off ALL Halfords batteries completely.  But they keep on building NON ACCESSIBLE new buildings with no disabled access illegally with much of the "stock" and displays  upstairs where I cant get to it so bugger them!

See also:  Inverters and Chargers  &  All about Powerchair and vehicle batteries and  Which batteries to buy

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