Owner`s manual

Quantum Dynamo ATS RevE/May03 www.pridemobility.com 11
Electric mobility vehicle motion caused by EMI/RFI can be erratic. The vehicle may move by itself or come to a sudden stop.
Furthermore, it is possible for EMI/RFI to unexpectedly release the brakes on an electric mobility vehicle. Some intense
sources of EMI/RFI can even damage the control system of an electric mobility vehicle.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER RADIO WAVES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNINTENDED
MOTION OF MY POWER CHAIR?
Unfortunately, interference from radio wave sources may be difficult to recognize, because the signals from these sources are
invisible and may be intermittent. However, the FDA recommends that you report all incidents of unintended motion or brake
release to the power chair manufacturer and, if possible, note whether there was a radio wave source nearby at the time of the
incident.
HAS ANYONE BEEN HURT FROM ERRATIC, UNINTENDED MOTION OF ELECTRIC MOBILITY VEHICLES?
The FDA has reports of injuries that may have resulted from the uncontrolled motion of electric mobility vehicles. However, it
is unclear how many of these incidents were actually caused by radio wave interference.
ARE ALL ELECTRIC MOBILITY VEHICLES SUSCEPTIBLE TO EMI/RFI?
Each make and model differs in its ability to resist EMI/RFI. Each electric mobility vehicle has a particular level of immunity to
EMI/RFI. This immunity is measured in volts per meter (V/m). A higher immunity level offers greater protection. In other words,
a power chair with a high immunity level is less likely to be affected by a strong radio source than one with a low immunity level.
WHAT IS THE FDA DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM?
The FDA has written to electric mobility vehicle manufacturers and requested that they test their new products to be sure that
they provide a reasonable degree of immunity against EMI/RFI. The letter states that electric mobility vehicles should have an
immunity level of at least 20 V/m. This provides a reasonable degree of protection against the common sources of EMI/RFI.
The FDA has also requested or recommended that:
l Electric mobility vehicle manufacturers clearly label new products with their immunity level or state that the immunity level
is not known.
l The labeling or informational material supplied with new electric mobility vehicles must explain what the immunity level
means and warn users about the possibility of EMI/RFI and how to avoid it.
l Electric mobility vehicle manufacturers undertake an educational program to inform users and their caregivers about the
problems associated with EMI/RFI and about the actions they can take to minimize the risk of EMI/RFI.
WHAT CAN I DO TO FIND OUT IF MY POWER CHAIR IS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY EMI/RFI?
If you have owned your power chair for a long time and have not experienced unintended motion, it is unlikely that you will
have problems in the future. While there is no exact way to tell if your power chair is totally safe from EMI/RFI, an immunity
level of 20 V/m is generally achievable and useful. However, it is always possible that problems could arise if your power chair
is close to a source of radio waves. Therefore, it is very important to be alert to this possibility. Your power chair meets or
exceeds an immunity level of at least 20 V/m.
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE RISK THAT MY POWER CHAIR COULD BE AFFECTED BY EMI/RFI?
Here are some precautions you can take:
l Do not turn on or use hand-held personal communications devices, such as citizens band (CB) radios and cellular
phones, while the power chair is on.
l Be aware of nearby transmitters such as radio or TV stations, hand-held or mobile two-way radios or any type of remote
control device, and try not to come close to them. For example, if you are in a power chair with an immunity level of 20 V/
m, you should remain at least three feet from a hand-held two-way radio and ten feet from a mobile two-way radio.
l Be aware that adding accessories and/or components or modifying the power chair may make it more susceptible to
interference from radio wave sources.
l There is no easy way to evaluate the effect of accessories or modifications upon the overall immunity of the power chair.
EMI/RFI