Only getting 3 miles per charge

[Nelda]

I've been in denial on this for quite a while.
We just took our two 'p's for a glide to really compare our mileage. Took the gps too. Now, keep in mind that our 'p's are inseparable; they go everywhere together and do the same things at the same times. They hardly ever go out alone.
This low mileage thing has been going on since spring. We have run the batteries down completely, then charged them. My question is how many times do I do this?
My Seg got just under 4 miles before shutting down and Jerry's ran another 1/2 miles before shutting down. This was on flat terrain around the neighborhood and a steady glide, not pushing it or making sudden movements.
I can't tell you how disappointing this is. What can I do, am I doing something wrong?
Nelda
SegPortland

[W9GFO]

Sounds like you need to do a series of full charge/full discharges. If after five cycles the range is still not acceptable you may need new batteries.

Rich H

The Un-Official Segway Battery FAQ
http://www.spinfoot.com/SegwayBatteryFAQ.html

[larryKay]

If your Segways are more than a year old or in constant usage, do the battery charge/discharge stuff, and then if your mileage does not increase, It is time for new batteries. I just went that route.New batteries ( over $600 ).

Larry

[Nelda]

The segways are nine months old and really not used much. Maybe once a week. In total, we don't have that many miles on them and believe me, they are babied.
When you say do a series of full charge/full discharges, I did the full charge/full discharge a couple of months ago and nothing changed and am doing another right now. This can't be happening!

[segwayowner]

Two things....

1) Are you carrying a large ammount of "stuff" do you have a 12.0 bag and 15 phone books? That might contribute to the decreased performance.

2) check the tire pressure (with nobody on). If you have very low tire pressure it will also effect the performance.

DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .

[Nelda]

We carry nothing, one weighs 160 and the other 178. So now I'm hesitate to go anywhere because I'm afraid I won't be able to get back.Tires are kept at 22 psi.
Nelda

[terryp]

Hi Nelda,

I would have called Segway when you first noticed this several months ago. Based on your usage and the fact that both have the same problem, I wonder if there might have been a batch of bad batteries.

Our p is about the same age as yours and, with me on the i and my lighter wife on the p, we get almost identical range. I'd try conditioning a few more times, and if that doesn't help, give LLC a call.

Seg - Way to Go!

[Brian]

Maybe one battery is dead.

Brian

[Hauptagon]

If you only use them once a week, is it possible they're not being used enough?

-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[stevew]

Doug F. mentioned to me at SegFest 04 that the Seg's batteries are kind of like muscles, you get best range if the batts are exercised regularly, i.e full range glides daily, and get 'lazy' if you only use your Seg every once in a while for short distances.... for what its worth..
Steve W.

[BJ]

When they are standing idle, do you leave them plugged in?
If not, try this, you can't overcharge them.
Good luck.
BJ

[W9GFO]

If you use the HT only occasionally I would recommend that every other week let them drain down completely after your ride. Just lean them up against a wall in balance mode, put something behind one of the tires to keep it upright for when it finally shuts off and go to bed. Next morning plug in.

Don't worry too much yet about your batteries. It may take a few charge/discharge cycles to bring them back. If two or three cycles don't do any good keep going. If after five cycles you see no improvement then you can worry. [:o]

Rich H
Jerome, ID

The Un-Official Segway Battery FAQ
http://www.spinfoot.com/SegwayBatteryFAQ.html

[Deviant]

With the idea of a single battery limiting the pair, do you notice if one "half" charges much faster than the other? If you look closely at the blinking lights, you'll notice that there is a left and a right - separate. On my HT, I recently realized that one seems to change charge mode much sooner than the other, indicating that the other weaker battery may have cells in lower condition. My only thought to that right now is that I need to "rotate" them, just in case the machine is (for whatever odd reason) pulling more from one than the other. My machine (early 30) has always gotten much less range than others', but fortunately, the range has been sufficient for normal trips.

[W9GFO]

Rotating the batteries certainly won't hurt but I know of no evidence that suggests that it does any good. With the exception of determining whether a battery or the powerbase is faulty when a battery will not charge.

Rich H
Garland, UT

The Un-Official Segway Battery FAQ
http://www.spinfoot.com/SegwayBatteryFAQ.html

[W9GFO]

Any improvement in range yet? How many cycles have you done?

Rich H
Rawlins, WY

The Un-Official Segway Battery FAQ
http://www.spinfoot.com/SegwayBatteryFAQ.html