What are stairlift batteries?
All modern home stairlifts now use batteries to power their movement. A built in charging system recharges them when the stairlift is in the home position. The industry has adopted this approach as it is a safer method of powering a stairlift. It does not involve using mains electricity during travel. Another advantage is being able to use your lift during a power outage.
How long does a stairlift battery last?
Stairlift batteries can last for several years with proper care and maintenance. We would expect between 2 to 4 years. However, the length of life of your stairlift batteries can depend on a number of factors.
Stairlift battery life depends on a number of factors
- Use – If the stairlift is used a couple of times a day then the batteries will likely last 2 years.
- Charging habits – Stairlifts automatically charge when they are at the top or the bottom of the travel. Some also have intermediate charge locations. And a few have full length track charging. Always ensure your lift is parked and ‘on-charge’ when not in use.
- Unplugging the lift – This is a big no no! Try to avoided this. A lift uses a constant trickle charge to ensure it is in top condition. Unplugging the lift from the supply is not good for the condition of the batteries and will shorten their life span.
- Regular maintenance – During a service a stairlift technician will check the condition of the main batteries and suggest a replacement if needed.
How long does it take to change a stairlift battery?
They can usually fitted within an hour. Most stairlift batteries are fairly standard. There are, however, some products on the market that use bespoke designs. The Acorn/Bison 180 curved stairlift uses an in-house developed Lithium Ion battery pack. The Handicare 1100 straight stairlift also has its own design.
What is the cost of stair lift batteries?
This can vary dependant on the type of batteries required for the specific stairlift however the vast majority of domestic stairlifts use a similar costing type of battery and you shouldn’t really be expected to pay much more than £100 for replacement stairlift batteries (excluding the call-out and fitting).
As stated previously in this article there are a few ‘odd-balls’ that can cost significantly more. Always call your local authorised stairlift agent for a quote as they will know which specific battery fits in to each type of lift and will be able to give you the exact price before you proceed with replacement.
What kind of a battery does a stair lift use?
The majority of stairlifts currently in the market place use a 24v DC system for powering its main control boards (usually stepped down to 5v for safety circuits) and for powering its electronic motors, these are usually fitted in pairs of 12v lead acid batteries.
Don’t forget that remote controls and ancillary equipment such as powered hinges can/may have separate battery power supplies.
How do you test a stairlift battery?
In short, we suggest you don’t! Most, if not all, stairlift batteries are located within the housing of the stairlift carriage (seat). This means that disassembly is required in order to test/fit replacement stairlift batteries. Leave it to a trained engineer.
If the lift is not correctly reassembled and tested prior to being used again then you can create the potential for an accident. Stairlifts take people up and down the stairs. We don’t want a failure because something has been missed. Always leave this kind of work to a reputable stairlift company.
Remote control batteries can be changed without the need for an engineer, these are usually as easy as changing the batteries in your TV remote control.
Our engineers have all the necessary tools to test a stairlift battery. They carry spare batteries on their vans too. So they will get you back up and running
Has your stairlift started running slow or just stopped completely?
Is it feeling a bit sluggish and not running in the way it used to? This could be as simple as the main batteries for your stairlift coming to the end of their practical life. Read on for all you could ever need to know about stairlift batteries and replacement stairlift batteries.
What are the symptoms of flat or damaged stairlift batteries?
- Slow stairlift movement. Particularly in the up direction when they are working harder to lift the load.
- Stairlift won’t run at all when trying to activate it.
- Clicking sounds. These are the relays clicking but without movement from the stairlift.
- Beeping stairlift and possible error code shown on the display (if fitted).
Please see our other articles about possible reasons – other than flat stairlift batteries – that your stairlift might be being troublesome.
What power supply does a stairlift need?
Stairlift power supply’s vary vastly between products, even between products that use the same type of battery. Some power supplies are actually power transformers. The control board within the lift manages the power and charging functions required to keep your batteries in tip-top condition.
Some power supplies are self contained battery chargers. These should never be mixed up as uncontrolled overcharging can occur. Batteries can swell and possibly fail leading to the stairlift not working.
Always use a reputable stairlift company when trying to source a replacement power supply.
How do I reset my stair lift?
The best way to reset your stairlift is to refer to the manufacturers user guide that you will have been provided on the installation of your new stair lift to find the procedure, however as stairlift micro-controllers are essentially mini computers, then a lot of faults and issues (other than flat batteries) can be resolved with a simple power cycle.
Power cycle procedure for stairlifts
- Move the stairlift away from the charge point (or if constant charge system turn off the charger)
- Turn off the stairlift using its power switch
- Pause for 15 seconds
- Turn the stairlift back on using its power switch
- Turn back on the charger (if applicable)
- Drive the stairlift back to the charge point and test
How do I know if my stairlift is charging?
Modern stairlifts are very clever. They like to stay charged up and ready for use. The control system will let you know if they aren’t charging properly.
- An error code may be displayed on a diagnostic screen if not charging
- Beeping when stationary
If you need further help and advice about Stairlift batteries
If you need further information, help or advice in regards to changing, upgrading or replacing your stairlifts battery then please call a local reputable and respected stairlift repair centre, obviously if you fall within our area (see here) then we are more than happy to provide free advice over the telephone or arrange a service call if you prefer.
