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Friday, October 2, 2009
What do we call it?
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Debbie's TravelScoot Debut
After having my TravelScoot for almost two weeks, I finally got to try it out (outside of my living room and kitchen). I had to take the battery, seat and basket off of it to get it out of my house onto the porch. I reassembled it, powered it up and ZOOM...whoops, too much zoom. I went flying down the ramp from my porch down the sidewalk toward my car. I got stopped before I got to the car, although I think I used my foot instead of the brakes. After that I rode it on the road in front of my house a few times. Then I parked it by the trunk of my car, my niece came along and wanted to help me put it in the car. I told her no, that is why I bought it and if I couldn't load and unload it myself, I had wasted my money. I took it apart, loaded it in two or three minutes, so I was very proud of myself. The next day I took it to Menards, since they don't have electric carts and it is a huge store. After that, I was wanting to go to Walmart, but was debating if I would, well, as it happens, it is adjacent to Menards, so I scooted from their parking lot, across the service road and into Walmart's lot and store.
About buying the scoot, I was so hesitant, I wrestled with the decision for four months. One of my biggest concerns was that I would not be able to load it in and out of my car myself, which is the whole reason I wanted it. I am thrilled that I CAN! If anyone out there is debating, it really is as easy as Hardy makes it look. Elizabeth's TravelScoot website is probably the reason I bought it, seeing all the pictures, videos and stories. Thank you for providing it for all of us to enjoy. Okay, since I was by myself, I don't have any pictures of me riding it, so I have included pics of my scooter cats. They all liked trying it out while I had it in the house.
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About buying the scoot, I was so hesitant, I wrestled with the decision for four months. One of my biggest concerns was that I would not be able to load it in and out of my car myself, which is the whole reason I wanted it. I am thrilled that I CAN! If anyone out there is debating, it really is as easy as Hardy makes it look. Elizabeth's TravelScoot website is probably the reason I bought it, seeing all the pictures, videos and stories. Thank you for providing it for all of us to enjoy. Okay, since I was by myself, I don't have any pictures of me riding it, so I have included pics of my scooter cats. They all liked trying it out while I had it in the house.
Cynth's Battery Scare
Written by Cynth:
I too bought one of the "gold brick" double Lithium Ion batteries. I took it for a test drive last night in Home Depot.
I love Home Depot for its wide isles and smooth floor lol I found isles that had no people or objects in the way and "floored it" down and back (Yes I slowed down at intersecting isles) but I needed to test out my new battery.. and besides it was fun :) I spent an hour doing this and actually doing some shopping and the battery worked flawlessly.
The other reason I was at Home Depot was to purchase a voltage meter. I had a recent "scare" with my Lithium Ion battery (the regular one). I came home after doing some shopping for a friend of mine who is in assisted living. I used the scoot in the store and the assisted living center. The battery had been fully charged before I left that day.
I plugged in the battery before I went to bed and woke up expecting a green light on the charger. Instead there was a flashing red light on the right side and solid red on the left.
So I unplugged the battery and the charger and tried again. I kept getting flashing red on the charger meaning the battery wasn't charging.
I of coursed went into panic mode at the thought of being without a battery and emailed Hardy and Elizabeth in a flurry of emails. (sorry!)
I wanted to buy another Lithium Ion battery thinking my battery was bad, but all of the Lithium Ion batteries were in transit from Florida to Washington state (TravelScoot is moving!). But Hardy did have one of the new double size Lithium Ion batteries available so I purchased it.
Well it turns out that it was not my Lithium Ion battery it was the charger that was bad. (yea!) In order to find this out I had to buy a voltage meter to test my battery after charging it on the new charger that came with the double sized Lithium Ion.
After running the double sized Lithium Ion battery around I plugged it into the charger that came with the regular Lithium Ion battery to make sure it was the charger that was bad, it was.
Long story (very long sorry!) short. My battery charger went bad. If you plug in your Lithium Ion battery (in the correct sequence) and keep getting a flashing red light on the charger, don't panic it could just be a bad charger.
Also during this time of "omg no battery panic", Hardy sent me a "kit" to make my own SLA battery with so I would not be without a battery (Hardy is awesome). I purchased the batteries to make it with locally. I will keep the SLA battery in my trunk for emergencies.
I plan on making a video on "How to make your own SLA emergency battery" over the weekend and hope to have it posted soon.
I feel MUCH more comfortable knowing I can find the parts I need around town to make my own battery and be back in Scootin business in one day.
I too bought one of the "gold brick" double Lithium Ion batteries. I took it for a test drive last night in Home Depot.
I love Home Depot for its wide isles and smooth floor lol I found isles that had no people or objects in the way and "floored it" down and back (Yes I slowed down at intersecting isles) but I needed to test out my new battery.. and besides it was fun :) I spent an hour doing this and actually doing some shopping and the battery worked flawlessly.
The other reason I was at Home Depot was to purchase a voltage meter. I had a recent "scare" with my Lithium Ion battery (the regular one). I came home after doing some shopping for a friend of mine who is in assisted living. I used the scoot in the store and the assisted living center. The battery had been fully charged before I left that day.
I plugged in the battery before I went to bed and woke up expecting a green light on the charger. Instead there was a flashing red light on the right side and solid red on the left.
So I unplugged the battery and the charger and tried again. I kept getting flashing red on the charger meaning the battery wasn't charging.
I of coursed went into panic mode at the thought of being without a battery and emailed Hardy and Elizabeth in a flurry of emails. (sorry!)
I wanted to buy another Lithium Ion battery thinking my battery was bad, but all of the Lithium Ion batteries were in transit from Florida to Washington state (TravelScoot is moving!). But Hardy did have one of the new double size Lithium Ion batteries available so I purchased it.
Well it turns out that it was not my Lithium Ion battery it was the charger that was bad. (yea!) In order to find this out I had to buy a voltage meter to test my battery after charging it on the new charger that came with the double sized Lithium Ion.
After running the double sized Lithium Ion battery around I plugged it into the charger that came with the regular Lithium Ion battery to make sure it was the charger that was bad, it was.
Long story (very long sorry!) short. My battery charger went bad. If you plug in your Lithium Ion battery (in the correct sequence) and keep getting a flashing red light on the charger, don't panic it could just be a bad charger.
Also during this time of "omg no battery panic", Hardy sent me a "kit" to make my own SLA battery with so I would not be without a battery (Hardy is awesome). I purchased the batteries to make it with locally. I will keep the SLA battery in my trunk for emergencies.
I plan on making a video on "How to make your own SLA emergency battery" over the weekend and hope to have it posted soon.
I feel MUCH more comfortable knowing I can find the parts I need around town to make my own battery and be back in Scootin business in one day.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Look what Georgia C. has been up to!
It looks like Georgia C. has been busy with her TravelScoot. Way to go, Georgia! Keep us posted on future adventures!
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Airventure 2009 Oshkosh, WI
Allen County Genealogy Library
Ft. Wayne, IN
Sasha trying out the scoot
The "Mac Daddy" of Lithium Ion Batteries
TravelScoot has a new higher-capacity lithium ion battery available. I don't pretend to be a battery expert, but my understanding is that there are 3 battery options for your TravelScoot. More information is available at http://www.travelscoot.com/batteries.htm, but nothing is there yet about the newest battery.
1) Sealed Lead Acid $165
It's the least expensive, and can withstand being left in a hot car trunk, but it weighs 20 lbs and hasn't the lowest capacity of any of the batteries. A 180-lb person will get about 8 miles out of this battery on a level surface.
2) Lithium Ion (single capacity) $695
More expensive than the SLA battery, but only weighs 6 lbs. A 180-lb person will get about 12 miles out of this battery on a level surface.
3) Lithium Ion (new) $1295
The mostly costly and the highest capacity. Hardy Huber (TravelScoot owner) weighs 240 lbs and he gets 22 miles continuous driving on a level surface. He says it's only 2 1/4 pounds heavier than the single capacity.
I own all three batteries. My favorite for most trips is the single capacity lithium ion. It's lightweight and works well for me in most situations. I bought an SLA so I could leave it in the trunk of my car. I use it when I'm out and about and need my scooter, but hadn't planned ahead and brought the lithium ion battery. I bought the new lithium ion battery becauseI am a TravelScoot junkie I depend on my TravelScoot for everyday use and have had a few times where I've needed more battery capacity than I had. Keep in mind that I'm over 400 lbs. and it takes more power to pull me around than it does most of you. I haven't used my new battery yet, but I'll be trying it out this weekend at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.
If I could only own one battery it would be the single capacity lithium ion. There is a huge difference in weight between the SLA and the lithium ion and I feel it EVERY time I lift it in and out of the trunk of my car. Ask me after this weekend and "Mac Daddy" will probably be my favorite.
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1) Sealed Lead Acid $165
It's the least expensive, and can withstand being left in a hot car trunk, but it weighs 20 lbs and hasn't the lowest capacity of any of the batteries. A 180-lb person will get about 8 miles out of this battery on a level surface.
2) Lithium Ion (single capacity) $695
More expensive than the SLA battery, but only weighs 6 lbs. A 180-lb person will get about 12 miles out of this battery on a level surface.
3) Lithium Ion (new) $1295
The mostly costly and the highest capacity. Hardy Huber (TravelScoot owner) weighs 240 lbs and he gets 22 miles continuous driving on a level surface. He says it's only 2 1/4 pounds heavier than the single capacity.
I own all three batteries. My favorite for most trips is the single capacity lithium ion. It's lightweight and works well for me in most situations. I bought an SLA so I could leave it in the trunk of my car. I use it when I'm out and about and need my scooter, but hadn't planned ahead and brought the lithium ion battery. I bought the new lithium ion battery because
If I could only own one battery it would be the single capacity lithium ion. There is a huge difference in weight between the SLA and the lithium ion and I feel it EVERY time I lift it in and out of the trunk of my car. Ask me after this weekend and "Mac Daddy" will probably be my favorite.
The "Mac Daddy" Lithium Ion TravelScoot Battery
(Mac Daddy: Biggest and Baddest)
New battery charger
The (original) single capacity sitting in front of the new, higher capacity battery
Welcome, Krystal!
I received this wonderful email today from Krystal, who has a brand spanking new TravelScoot. I hope we get to hear about a lot more of her adventures!
I’d like to thank you and all the other lovely ladies that contribute to your mytravelscoot blog to help me have the courage to ride my scoot at work.
I’ve been fighting the need for help with distance walking for twenty years after a car hit me. Missing half of Dragon*Con put me more in the mind set that it would be better to have help than to miss the fun. Many hours of research lead me to the Travel Scoot and then to your blog.
Even so, as I was unpacking it yesterday, I was still having doubts. You know - the “what would people think?” thoughts. Then, in the back of my mind, I heard a little voice say: “Elizabeth would think you’re a wimp if you don’t”. With that, I put it together, rode it up and the hallway a few times, and put it in the Ravi. This morning I almost didn’t use it, but that little voice. . . . . Thanks so much!
By the way, I didn’t realize how much my co-workers were picking up on my pain. I’ve only had positive reactions – except for the jealousy. They can see all the fun I’m having!
Krystal
I’d like to thank you and all the other lovely ladies that contribute to your mytravelscoot blog to help me have the courage to ride my scoot at work.
I’ve been fighting the need for help with distance walking for twenty years after a car hit me. Missing half of Dragon*Con put me more in the mind set that it would be better to have help than to miss the fun. Many hours of research lead me to the Travel Scoot and then to your blog.
Even so, as I was unpacking it yesterday, I was still having doubts. You know - the “what would people think?” thoughts. Then, in the back of my mind, I heard a little voice say: “Elizabeth would think you’re a wimp if you don’t”. With that, I put it together, rode it up and the hallway a few times, and put it in the Ravi. This morning I almost didn’t use it, but that little voice. . . . . Thanks so much!
By the way, I didn’t realize how much my co-workers were picking up on my pain. I’ve only had positive reactions – except for the jealousy. They can see all the fun I’m having!
Krystal
Kay's Battery
Hardy was out of the standard lithium ion battery when Kay ordered her scoot, so she got an SLA battery AND the brand new larger lithium ion battery. I ordered the new battery too, and I'll post more about it tonight, including pictures. The reason for buying both batteries is because the SLA battery isn't heat sensitive and can be stored in the trunk of a car. The lithium ion battery needs to be kept cool. The advantage of the lithium ion battery is that it is MUCH lighter (6 lbs. instead of 20 lbs.), and it also will go much further (about 1 1/2 times as far as the SLA). The advantage of the new lithium ion battery is that it's got a much greater capacity. Hardy told me he weighs 240 lbs and he gets 22 miles out of his. I'll be trying mine out this weekend at the New Orleans Zoo.
Still confused about batteries? Take a look at Hardy's explanation on his website, at http://www.travelscoot.com/batteries.htm.
Still confused about batteries? Take a look at Hardy's explanation on his website, at http://www.travelscoot.com/batteries.htm.
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