Power problems lead to summer ramble in Sandy UT
Normally the batteries on my power chair take a beating in the colder temperatures, and snow drifts, of winter ~high demand and super-cooling. So when my power supply recently dropped from providing ten hours of go to twenty minutes of uncertainty, investigation was necessary.
Possible short, or bad battery cell? On strip down, I found both inside brushes had jarred loose, but were still functioning. Batteries showed full charge and tested well under load. Still the malfunction.
Enter my standby batteries. Like spare tires, these batteries normally languish in un-use, looking the part but not being put to the test recently.Two deep cycle batteries weigh in at around fifty pounds. The change over is best described as fiddly. The offending parts are alwaws the hardest to get at. When I am sitting on the groung, getting the batteries in is a dead lift. Not to worry, the system was soon on charge. All indicator lights suggested success.
Now for the road field test.
Sandy UT is in the heat of August, another hot afternoon. We are short of rain; high altitude desert, of course. Thus off-path travel was a possibility as the ground was not only bone dry but the surface hard, and vegetation reasonably sparse. A great afternoon to grab my hat, and my camera (and my water) and spend two hours observing my city from a few different perspectives. Who said men were deficient in multitasking?
Surprising, also, the number of locals I got to talk to as well during my excursion. ("G'Day, Mate... Hot, eh? Dry as a dead dingo's ... Wotcha doin out? Missus OK? Bewdy. Avagoodwegend... Seeya...")
As I darted across open spots to deep, and pleasant, shade. I was able to see the summer beauty of Sandy UT, and to record some of it to share with you. Power chair test was highly successful, it is ready again for my daily forays.
Sandy UT is a great place to visit any time. A lot of us think it is a wonderful place to call home. Perhaps you might too.
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