Permobil K450 User manual



Permobil K450
Permobil K450
Power Wheelchair
Power Wheelchair

Produced and published by Permobil AB, Sweden
Version no.: 5. 2010-10
Order. no.: 205230-UK-0

Permobil Europe BV is responsible for the servicing and sales carried out by its
importers and local dealers throughout large parts of Europe. So contact us if
you have any questions regarding servicing or sales in the area where you live.

Permobil AB
Box 120
861 23 Timrå
Sweden
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail:[email protected]
Permobil Europe BV
De Doom 22
NL-6419 CX Heerlen
Netherlands
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Contents
4

 ................................................ 6-7
 ............................................................................................................. 
 .................................................................................................. 24
General ........................................................................................................................ 24
Driving ......................................................................................................................... 25
Shock absorbers ......................................................................................................... 25
Wheels......................................................................................................................... 26
Lights and reflectors .................................................................................................... 26
Batteries ...................................................................................................................... 27
R-Net control panel LCD monochrome display ........................................................... 28
R-Net control panel LCD color display ........................................................................ 36
R-Net control panel LED ............................................................................................. 46
MX seat ....................................................................................................................... 56
Electrical seat functions............................................................................................... 57
Manual seat functions ................................................................................................. 57
Other adjustments ....................................................................................................... 57
Electric Seat Lift .......................................................................................................... 58
Electric seat tilt adjustment ......................................................................................... 59
Seat-to-floor function ................................................................................................... 60
Combined seat lift/seat-to-floor function ...................................................................... 61
ICS Control panel ........................................................................................................ 62
Symbols on the ICS Control panel .............................................................................. 63
 ...................................................................................................................... 66
Leg rest ....................................................................................................................... 66
Back rest recline .......................................................................................................... 67
Foot plate angle........................................................................................................... 67
Arm rest ....................................................................................................................... 68
Control panel, rotatable panel holder .......................................................................... 69
 .................................................................................................................... 70
General ........................................................................................................................ 70
General - Driving ......................................................................................................... 70
Joystick Error - R-net electronics ................................................................................ 71
Driving technique ......................................................................................................... 72
Driving rules ................................................................................................................ 73
Handling the manual brake release ............................................................................ 77
Seat functions ............................................................................................................... 78
Charging batteries ....................................................................................................... 84

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Contents
5

 .................................................................................................................... 86
General advice for air transport................................................................................... 88
 ............................................................................................................... 90
General ........................................................................................................................ 90
Positioning belt ............................................................................................................ 90
 .......................................................................................... 91
General - batteries/storage.......................................................................................... 92
Air pressure ................................................................................................................. 95
Battery replacement .................................................................................................... 96
Resetting the main fuse/battery isolator ...................................................................... 98
 ......................................................................................... 100
 ...................................................................................................... 102
R-net diagnostics ....................................................................................................... 102
Diagnostic screens .................................................................................................... 102
Example of a screen showing a system fault ............................................................ 103
Repair of defective units ............................................................................................ 103
Troubleshooting guide ............................................................................................... 106
 ................................................................ 107
Connecting the emergency operation cable.............................................................. 107
Disconnecting the emergency operation cable ......................................................... 109

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Important information
6

We congratulate you on your choice of power wheelchair. Our goal is for you to
continue to feel satisfied with your choice of both vendor and wheelchair.
Before you begin using your wheelchair, it is important that you read and under-
stand the content of these operating instructions and in particular the Safety
Instructions.
These operating instructions are primarily intended to acquaint you with the
functions and characteristics of the wheelchair and how you can use them in
the best manner possible. They also contain important safety and maintenance
information, as well as describing possible problems that can arise while driving
the wheelchair.
Always keep these operating instructions handy in connection with your wheel-
chair, since the need for important information can arise concerning its use, safety
and maintenance.
It is also possible to obtain information concerning our products from our home
page on the Internet. You can find us at www.permobil.com.
All information, pictures, illustrations and specifications are based upon the
product information that was available at the time that these operating instruc-
tions were printed. Pictures and illustrations that are found in these operating
instructions are representative examples and not intended to be exact depictions
of the various parts of the wheelchair.
We reserve the right to make changes to the product without prior notice.

If you are in need of another copy of the Owner’s Manual, it can be ordered
from Permobil, ask for item No. 205230-UK-0.

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Important information
7

In the event of technical problems, you should contact Permobil.
Always state the seats serial number when contacting Permobil to ensure that
the correct information is provided.

Spare parts and accessories must be ordered through Permobil.

Contact Permobil BV for information about scrapping agreements in force.

All wheelchairs are supplied with a two-year product guarantee. Batteries and char-
ger are supplied with one year warranty.

If an incident occurs please contact your nearest Permobil representative.
Normally the same person you contacted at purchase day. To prepare this
contact there is a link on our homepage, on the internet, at www.permobil.com.
Open up your country page and the contact page. Here is the needed contact
information and a guidance document in what information we need to investigate
the incident. Complete the information as much as possible. This is of great help
for us.
To increase the product quality and to ensure that our product is safe through
the whole life cycle we need you to send in Incident Reports. It is also stated in
MEDDEV 2.12-1 and Annex 9 that the manufacturer shall “Encourage users or
those given specific responsi-bility for reporting incidents that have occurred
with medical devices and that meet the criteria within these guidelines to report
the incidents to the Manufacturer and or to the Competent Authority in accor-
dance with national guidance”.
To meet the requirements and to ensure that our products shall remain safe in
your hands we need your assistance. We hope you never need to use the infor-
mation on this page but if there is an incident please contact us.

This product fulfill the requirements according to EN 12184 and ISO 7176.

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
8

A power wheelchair is a motor-driven vehicle. Therefore, you need to be very
careful when you use and handle it. It is important to read and follow the instruc-
tions and safety rules given in this owner´s manual before starting to use your
wheelchair as incorrect use could lead to a risk of injury to users or damage to
the wheelchair and its environment.

The owner´s manual contains the following “warning labels” which are intended
to draw attention to situations which could lead to problems, near-accidents,
personal injury or damage to the wheelchair, etc.
Take care here.
m
          


m
Take extra care here.
Risk of personal injury or of damage to the wheelchair and its surroundings.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
9

Your wheelchair may have been adjusted precisely to your needs on delivery,
so you should always ask the advice of the person who ordered the seat on
your behalf before making changes or adjustments to the wheelchair. Certain
adjustments may impair the wheelchair’s safety/functions or its suitability for
your needs.
To minimise incorrect use of your wheelchair, it is also extremely important to
take the necessary time to familiarise yourself with the wheelchair and its acces-
sories, the various keys, function and steering controls and the various seat
adjustment options, etc. before starting to use it.
Do not set out alone on your first test ride. Make sure you have assistance close
by if you should need help.
To ensure that nothing has occurred to the seat during its transport to you,
please check the following before first use:
• Check that all products ordered are included in the delivery. If you suspect
that something is missing, contact your aids centre or Permobil as soon as
possible for further information.
• Check that no transport damage or other damage has occurred to the seat
and its accessories. If you discover any damage or see any other problem,
contact your aids centre or Permobil as soon as possible for further informa-
tion before you continue the check.
Check also that the wheelchair’s batteries are fully charged and that the tires
have the right air pressure before using the wheelchair.
If, in any situation, you find that the wheelchair does not behave as expected
or you suspect that anything is wrong, stop your test ride as soon as possible,
switch off the wheelchair and contact your service contact or Permobil for infor-
mation.

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
10


Do not drive the wheelchair if you are under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol
may affect your ability to use the wheelchair safely.
Some physical limitations or the ingestion of medicines, either prescription or
over the counter medicines, may limit your ability to use the wheelchair safely.
Always consult your physician about your limitations and medicines.
m

Do not allow children to drive the wheelchair unsupervised. If your wheelchair
is fitted with lights, they must always be used in poor light and when you are
near public roads. Always remember that drivers may find it difficult to see you.
Be extremely careful when you drive near unprotected ledges, on steep slopes
or on raised surfaces. Unintentional movement or excessive speed in such
areas may lead to personal injury or damage to property.
Do not drive the wheelchair over kerbs or other edges higher than 60 mm.
When you drive over a kerb or similar raised surface, you must cross it at
a 90-degree angle (at right angles). If you cross such surfaces at any other
angle, the wheelchair may tip over.
Reduce speed when you drive on uneven ground or soft surfaces. Do not use
the wheelchair on stairs or escalators. Always use a lift.
Do not lift or move the wheelchair by holding any of its moving parts. If you do
so, the result may be personal injury or damage to property, including damage
to the wheelchair.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
11


If necessary, and when certain medical conditions exist, the user should
practise using the wheelchair together with an assistant who knows how the
wheelchair works and the abilities and limitations of the user.
m

Carry out only the service and maintenance activities noted in this owner´s
manual. All other service, alterations to and interventions in the wheelchair
and its accessories’ vital systems must be carried out by a competent service
engineer or a person with sufficient knowledge to do so in an expert manner.
In case of doubt, always contact a competent service engineer or Permobil.
The power supply must be switched off during all work or servicing on the
wheelchair’s electrical system.
Use only spare parts or accessories approved or recommended by Permobil.
All other use could lead to changes which might impair the functions and safety
of the wheelchair. It could also lead to the warranty for your wheelchair becom-
ing invalid.
Note that the seat is heavy and contains many moving parts, which means
there will always be some risk of crushing.

The maximum user weight for your wheelchair is specified in the specifications
section of the owner´s manual supplied with the seat model in question. If the
wheelchair is used by anyone who weighs more than the maximum permitted
user weight, the result may be personal injury or damage to property, including
damage to the wheelchair. This may also invalidate the wheelchair’s warranty.
Do not carry passengers on the wheelchair. This may result in personal injury
or damage to property, including damage to the wheelchair.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
12



When driving down a slope, you should always select the lowest speed and
drive carefully. Driving down a slope with a front-wheel drive wheelchair can
shift the user’s center of gravity forwards. If the wheelchair moves faster than
you want, you can stop the wheelchair by letting the joystick go and then start
to drive downhill again at a lower speed.
Avoid sudden stops or starts. Stop by letting the joystick go. If the wheelchair
is switched off using the ON/OFF key on the control panel while the wheelchair
is moving, the wheelchair may stop suddenly. Ensure that any recommended
fixing belt is always properly tightened.
When driving up a slope, you must try to maintain a steady speed. If you stop
and start the chair while moving uphill, the wheelchair will be more difficult to
control.
Do not drive up or down slopes that are steeper than specified in this owner´s
manual. There is a risk that the wheelchair cannot be controlled safely.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual
13
Safety rules


Do not drive the wheelchair where the side slope is steeper than specified in
this owner´s manual. There is a risk of tipping.
Do not drive up or down ramps that are not fitted with adequate edge protection
along the sides of the ramp to prevent the wheelchair from falling off the ramp.
When you drive up a slope, ensure that you drive the wheelchair straight up
the slope (vertically). If you drive at an angle, the risk of tipping over or falling
is increased. Be extremely careful when you drive up a slope.
Always avoid driving on slopes covered with snow, ice, gravel, clay, sand, wet
leaves or similar or where the surface is uneven.
m


Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
14


The risk of the wheelchair tipping over increases at high turning speed, in tight
curves, on uneven surfaces, with fast changes of direction and if you drive from
a place with low friction (for example a lawn) to a place with high friction (for
example a gravel road).
To avoid tipping over, with the risk of personal injury or damage to property that
entails, you should always drive slowly when turning/cornering and changing
direction.

To prevent the wheelchair from rolling off, ensure that it is on a dry, level sur-
face before releasing the brakes.
Always ensure that someone is present to help you if the brakes need to be
released when you are in the wheelchair.
Never release the brakes if the wheelchair is on a slope. This could result in
the wheelchair rolling off, which could result in personal injury or damage to
property, including damage to the wheelchair.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
15


When the wheelchair is set to the lowest speed and the batteries are not fully
charged, it may be difficult to drive on some surfaces, for example gravel, sand
or thick floor coverings.

You should only drive in the dark on public roads if your wheelchair is fitted with
functioning lights front and rear or according to national or local traffic rules.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
16


Make sure that there is no risk of anything getting in between the chassis and
the seat when the seat lift/seat angle and back angle functions are being used.
Using these functions alters the center of gravity, which always means an
increased risk of tipping. Always drive at low speed and only use these seat
functions on a level surface and not on slopes, ramps, hills or other gradients.

Note that the following factors may affect the center of gravity of the seat/
wheelchair and thus the risk of tipping:
• Raising the seat lift
• Height and angle of seat
• Position or weight distribution of the body
• Driving on sloping surfaces, for example a ramp or hill
• When wearing a rucksack or using other accessories, depending on the extra
weight.
If your wheelchair starts to move in an unexpected way, immediately let go
of the joystick to stop the wheelchair. Except in an emergency, never use the
on/off key to stop the wheelchair. This could lead to the wheelchair stopping
quickly and violently and could lead to personal injury.

The seat height should only be adjusted by a competent service engineer or
someone with adequate knowledge to perform the adjustment in an expert
manner. See the service manual for further information.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
17
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Permobil’s fixing belt is only designed to hold the user in place and not as
protection in the case of collision/accident. Check the condition of the belts
regularly in case any damage or worn places have developed.

If your wheelchair is fitted with support wheels, they must always be fitted when
you drive.

Make sure the power is turned OFF before getting into or out of the wheelchair
and before raising the arm rest with the control panel. When getting into or
out of the wheelchair you should take all precautions to reduce the distance
between the wheelchair and the point to which the user is moving. If this dis-
tance is increased, it could result in the user losing balance or falling over.
Permobil recommends that users get in and out with another person present to
keep an eye on the operation or to help.
Be careful when bending down or reaching out to get something.
Never use the joystick as a handle or support.
Do not use the foot plates or arm rests as supports when getting into and out
of the wheelchair. The foot plates and arm rests are not intended to support
heavy loads. Unnecessarily high load could cause them to give way, which
could result in personal injury or damage to property, including damage to the
wheelchair.
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Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
18

The wheelchair is not designed to transport passengers, whatever their age.
Nor is it designed for taking heavy items other than the user’s personal belong-
ings. The maximum user weight specified in the owner´s manual for the seat
in question must not be exceeded. Ignoring this could impair the wheelchair’s
maneuverability and stability.

Permobil’s wheelchairs are designed to tolerate most weather conditions, but
you should avoid exposing the wheelchair to severe cold, persistent damp-
ness, heavy rain/snowfall and similar situations. If the wheelchair has been
exposed to any of these, do not use it again before it has completely dried out.
Remember also that certain surfaces on the wheelchair/seat may heat up or
cool down under lengthy exposure to strong sunshine or cold, etc.
If any of the seat covers or the control panel box shows signs of cracking, etc., they
should be replaced so no moisture can penetrate and damage the electronics.
Do not use the wheelchair when it is icy or slippery outdoors. These conditions
may impair the performance and safety of the wheelchair, which could result
in accident, personal injury and damage to property, including damage to the
wheelchair.
 Be extremely careful when you use oxygen in the immediate proximity
of electronic circuits and other inflammable substances. Contact your oxygen
supplier for instructions on the use of oxygen.
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Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
19


The wheelchair must only be transported in vehicles approved for this pur-
pose. Always ask for confirmation of the transporter that the vehicle is suit-
able designed, insured and equipped to transport a person in a wheelchair. A
wheelchair is not designed as a car seat and cannot offer the same degree of
safety that is offered by standard car seats, no matter how securely it has been
fastened in the vehicle concerned.
Carefully check that the wheelchair is properly fixed and that the break release
has not been activated (the wheelchair drive wheels must be locked). The
wheelchair can be locked in position with loading straps from the transport
eyes at the front and rear, marked with yellow stickers, or by using a Permolock
locking system.
If the wheelchair needs to be transported with the user seated in it, be sure to
use an approved attachment system suitable for the total weight of the wheel-
chair to secure the wheelchair.
• The wheelchair can be fastened by securing it to the tie-down points on the
wheelchair’s chassis or in the Permolock locking system. The wheelchair
must not be secured onto any accessorie.
• Permobil recommends that the wheelchair be equipped with a headrest
and that this is used during transportation.
• During transportation, it is essential that you are secured with a three-point
safety belt that is attached to the floor and a side of the vehicle.
• A lap strap attached to the wheelchair only serves to keep the person in an
upright position and cannot be considered on par with a car safety belt.
m

Permobil K450 Owner´s manual Safety rules
20

Carry out only the service and maintenance activities noted in this owner´s
manual. All other service, alterations to and interventions in the wheelchair
and its accessories’ vital systems must be carried out by a competent service
engineer or a person with sufficient knowledge to do so in an expert manner.
During all work on the wheelchair’s electrical system, the battery isolator must
be in the OFF position.
Be careful when using metal objects when working with batteries. A short-circuit
can easily cause an explosion. Always use safety gloves and safety goggles.
Use only spare parts or accessories approved or recommended by Permobil.
All other use could lead to changes which might impair the functions and safety
of the wheelchair. It could also lead to the warranty for your wheelchair becom-
ing invalid.
If you connect non-approved electrical or electronic appliances to the wheel-
chair’s electrical system, the chair may be damaged and it may no longer be
controllable or may drive erratically. Such use may also invalidate the warranty.
Note that the wheelchair is heavy and contains many moving parts, which
means there will always be some risk of crushing and of clothes, etc. getting
caught.

The batteries must be charged in a well-ventilated room, not in a wardrobe.
The batteries must not be charged in a bathroom or wetroom. Only a charger
with max. 10 A charging current (average) may be used (the effective value of
the charging current must not exceed 12 A). When the charger is connected,
the chair must not and cannot be driven.
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