The BiOM Ankle is powered by a state-of-the-art lithium ion battery. The batteries have been tested to last 1 million steps and still maintain 80% of their original capacity. People typically get 3 to 6 hours of battery life a day depending on their usage.
To ensure your BiOM Battery provides the longest life possible, try using these ideas:
- When possible, charge your battery before it becomes fully depleted. It may extend your battery life.
- Always charge the battery after use. Storing an empty battery can make it unusable in as little as 30 days.
- Do not store the battery in the BiOM Ankle when not in use. It can deplete its life.
- Before charging the battery, allow it to warm or cool to room temperature.
- After inserting the battery in the charger, watch the status light on the charger for 10 seconds to confirm the battery is actually charging.
- Remove batteries from the charger after they are full and the charger light turns solid green.
- Store and charge your battery in a climate-controlled, dry location out of direct sunlight. Avoid leaving batteries in your car where temperature extremes can permanently damage the battery.
EXTENDING SHELF LIFE
The most common problem people experience with their batteries is the result of incorrectly storing them. That is because a battery continues to slowly discharge during storage. A fully charged battery can be stored as long as 3 years. Storing a discharged battery may cause it to become permanently disabled in as little as one month.
A battery left in the BiOM Ankle will also drain relatively quickly (3% per day) even if the BiOM Ankle is powered off. To extend your battery life, fully charge and store it separately from the ankle or the charger.
UNDERSTANDING SLEEP MODE
If your battery suddenly loses power, it may have automatically shut down as a precaution for safety reasons or to protect the battery. You will know if this happens as the ankle will lose all power just as if the on/off switch had been turned off. The BiOM Ankle will continue to function, but it will not offer powered propulsion and it will feel heavy.
This power ‘lock out’ happens automatically if the battery operating limits are exceeded. In this state, the battery will not charge or discharge. Causes for the ‘lock out’ include:
- Too high a temperature (110˚F while charging, 150°F while walking)
- Too low a temperature (40°F while charging, but no limit while walking)
- The battery has reached its discharge limit
If your battery has been “locked out”, when the condition has been remedied, simply unplug the battery and then plug it back in to correct it.
- If the temperature was too high, allow the battery to cool to below 110˚F.
- If the battery reached its discharge limit, simply recharge the battery.
Some conditions cause the battery to lock out permanently because charging or discharging could present a safety hazard. If your battery goes in to permanent lock mode, it is time to replace the battery. Just give us a call.
ANKLE WILL NOT POWER ON
Unplug the battery and examine the status LEDs inside the male side of the battery. If the light is blinking very short pulses, charge the battery or try another.
CONTACT US
Follow these ideas to get the maximum performance from your BiOM Lithium Ion Battery. All batteries eventually wear out. If you need new or additional batteries, contact your prosthetist or BionX.
