How many hours on a full charge

[scoghill]

I have been shopping for a used Segway "i" model. I have a line on one and a question came up in regards to how long a charge will last on relatively level surfaces.

The gentleman that is selling me the unit claims it takes approx. 3 hours to charge the unit. The last time he had it out last summer it would get a ballpark of 2 hours use out of a charge.
My question to the group is does this sound like a normal amount of time or do these batteries have some miles on them and I am at the end of their useful life?

I am suppose to pick up the unit tomorrow and don't want to have to stick $600 into the unit for new batteries if this 2 hour time sounds like I have weak batteries.

Any quick answers would be appreciated as my delivery date is tomorrow Wednesday.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[mrleisure]

It would almost impossible to guess the state of the batteries by what you have related here. And there are so many variables with NiMH batteries that it would be hard to know for sure what you are getting in almost any case, excluding purchasing them new.

I'd put it to you this way- If I bought a used machine I would plan on installing new batteries sooner than later and if I didn't have to, great. Not trying to be negative here, just trying to be straight.

My batteries lost their pizazz after about 7-8 months of heavy use (abuse?). Others here have reported over a year of daily use with no loss of performance.

"In the future, we will all drive standing up"
David Byrne, in 1984

[TiVoAussie]

It's not really feasible to assess battery life in "hours", so much depends on the usage pattern. My wife was moseying around two museums the other day, she was probably on it for about 4 hours and barely used one bar, but she was mostly moving at a very slow walking speed or just balancing, looking at the exhibits.

On the other hand, I can ride it hard, playing around, and knock a bar off in 15 or so minutes...

Gentle, controlled riding makes a big difference to battery life! If you want to go far, go slow!

Cheers

Ron

There are a little over six thousand Segway owners!
There are a little over six billion people in the world!
I'm one in a million! :)

[GlideMaster]

quote:Originally posted by TiVoAussie



On the other hand, I can ride it hard, playing around, and knock a bar off in 15 or so minutes...

Gentle, controlled riding makes a big difference to battery life! If you want to go far, go slow!

Cheers

Ron


<center>Its all according to how you glide. Consider the above advice.</center>
<center>Try and keep it at about 8 mph, the batteries will give you more glide time.</center>

<center>http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/avatars/glidemaster.gif</center>

[scoghill]

So I'm pretty in the dark then about an average 2 hour life of normal move around driving. I hear claims of 8 to 12 miles.... I wonder how many hours that takes to complete?

I guess from what you all are telling me the battery thing is just a gamble. Drive slow and I get more.

I hear you guys going on these "glide" events and all I can imagine is if you all stop at 2 hours..... what do you do with the rest of the 6-10 hour day with all the transports lined up against a wall with plugs in them?

Still pretty charged up to pick up my 1st Segway today. Still haven't even been on a test or demo one yet. Lose my virginity today. I bet you guys remember that day. I might not be able to go very long but I'll look good standing next to it charging. :-)

[dexter]

good luck scoghill

i can only repeat the battery advice. if you are not moving, just balancing on the segway the batteries won't go dead for 20 hours or more. If you ride hard, keep up against the speed limiter and lots of starts and stops, you will run the batteries down quickly.

overall the batteries are judged by range, not time, and even that varies with riding style, and terrain. you will find as you become more experienced riding you can naturally "train" yourself for battery conservation. when i am out "joyriding" i can run the batts down pretty quickly, but i've also taken my segway to work, about 11 miles, nice conservative ride, and i get there with a bit of battery to spare as a "safety" factor. I would plug it in at work for the ride home. the trip takes a bit over an hour for me.

when you get your seg check the threads here about conditioning the batteries... you may want to drain and charge them completely the first few times to condition the batts. you never want the batteries to go dead though as it can damage them, so always keep it plugged in when you are not using it. every once in a while i'll leave mine in balance mode, resting against a stair, to drain the battery until it shuts down (that's how i know it can go more than 20 hours just balancing :)) and then i plug it in for a full charge before riding again.

good luck and have fun with it.

Dave C.
me: www.idexter.com
work: www.idealjacobs.com
play: www.nyline.org

[SegwayUtah]

scoghill,

Today will certainly be one of the most exciting days you'll have for quite a while :) Be sure to watch the safety video and read the rider's guide before you get on, and see if you can find a friend to spot you your first time just so you're comfortable.

I have found that people who _completely_ trust the machine before they get on will get on and figure out how to move more or less instinctively. If you're thinking you need to balance yourself on the machine, you don't: it balances you :) Just think of it like a stepping stool (and have a friend hold onto the machine for comfort) the first time you get on, and then practice getting up and down a few times.

And prepare to have a really, really fun time.

Safe gliding,

Chris

[BruceWright]

Dexter, you get 11 miles each way?!!?

Now I'm starting to wonder about my unit.

My commutte to work is 7.5 miles. I charge it up all day at work, and STILL I'm fighting to get back home.

I get to work with maybe one bar (very slight downhill grade) I'm riding vapors on the way home.


Is this something I should be looking at? I certainly would LOVE it if I could do eleven miles!

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[kagudesu]

I get 8 miles, no more, no less. Always. I wish I got more. I have a fairly flat commute.

I use the Red Key, though. If I used the Yellow, would I get more distance?

Cheers,

Andrew Crow

You own a Segway, now buy a Macintosh.

[SegwayUtah]

Andrew,

Using yellow key will almost certainly get you more distance, assuming that you're not pushing the (stick) limiter.

Chris

[scoghill]

Well, thanks for the advice. I got it home and because Chicago is all snowy I've been riding it in the basement. It is a blast and within about 20 mins have gotten a bit cocky. The cockiness quickly translated to my bumping into my pool table.

Decided to lose the cockiness and back down to gain better / tighter turning experience.

You guys are all correct.... this is a ball!!

Thanks for all your help and advice. This certainly is a friendly and nice group of people here.

[fredkap]

Congratulations! You will continue to have a blast.

Enjoy your new fraternity...SegwayChat as well.

Fred

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Another important key to longer battery life is to charge in cold environment and use in a warm environment. Here in FL I keep the room that my Segways charge in at 66 degrees and the average temp during riding is around 75 degrees. Also, I keep the speed at 8mph or less. I also find that each one of the units I have (9 of them) have different battery usage characteristics. Know yours.

Tom Jacobson

[jrmiller]

Greetings Scoghill and congradulations. You have joined a fraternity of a special group of people. As you have already found out they are all exceptional and most helpful. Your battery life will depend greatly on your usage. I got 8 hours , miles uknown, at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando FL this Spring. Most of the SEG time was at slow speed using the yellow key. I still had about a third of my bars showing charge available. Quite remarkable. Enjoy and remember.... SEG-ON SEG-RIGHT JR :&gt;)