The battery is a unique Nickel Metal
Hydride battery pack made especially for the Mealtime Partner. With normal operation, being
discharged and recharged daily, it should last over a year. When the battery
will no longer hold a charge it must be replaced. A replacement battery can be
obtained from Mealtime Partners via the Mealtime Partners internet website
at www.mealtimepartners.com or by
telephone at 817-237-9991.
Low Voltage Indicator.
A
low battery indicator is located near the top right corner of the control panel.
This indicator will begin blinking when the battery is low. To make sure the
mealtime partner is aware of the condition, two short beeps will be sounded when
the Low Battery indicator begins to blink and every one minute interval
afterward. The meal should be quickly completed as very little power remains in
the battery. When the Partner detects the battery power is almost depleted,
it will shut itself down automatically, accompanied by four short beeps. The
battery must be recharged before it will operate, that is, you cannot turn it on
when the battery is extremely low.
Recharging the Battery.
The
Partner is battery operated and cannot operate with an uncharged battery. Charge
the battery by plugging the connector from the A/C Charger Adaptor into the
Partner. Next plug the A/C Charger Adaptor into a 120V AC Outlet. The A/C
Charger Adaptor should always be plugged into the Partner when it is
plugged into the wall.
The
charge indicator on the right side of the Partner is amber when the battery is
charging. The charge indicator is green when the battery is fully charged.
You
cannot overcharge the battery. The Partner will not stay on if it has a low
battery. It requires at least a partial recharging before using. In addition,
you cannot charge a battery when the Partner is operating (even if the A/C
Charger Adaptor is plugged in). The Partner always operates from the power from
the battery. It never operates from the A/C Charger Adaptor.
To
conserve battery power, turn the Partner off after use. However, if you forget,
the device will automatically turn off after 8 minutes of inactivity. It is
recommended that the battery be charged every night. Charging a
completely discharged battery requires around 4.5 hours. The charger will sense
when the battery is charged and stop fast charging at that time.
There are no user serviceable parts in the Partner lower case except for the battery. Be careful not to disturb any other components while the case is open. Do not open the case until the replacement battery is available. Replace the bottom cover as soon as the battery is replaced.
Battery Replacement.
There are no user serviceable parts in the lower case except for the battery. Be careful not to disturb any other components while the case in open. Do not open the case until the replacement battery is available. Replace the bottom cover as soon as the battery is replaced.
Locating the Battery. The battery is located in the lower section of the Partner. To access the battery, remove the spoon and bowls and disconnect the adaptive switches. Remove the Partner from the Support Arm and lay it upside down on a flat surface. Do not lift the Partner with the Bowl Support or damage may result. Remove the five screws highlighted in yellow. Lift the bottom cover from the lower case.
Battery Removal. The
Partner’s
Battery Installation.
The battery is installed in the same manner
it was removed. With the end of the battery without the wires against the
circuit board. From the side, slip the battery into the three battery clips with
a slight rotation. Next, install the battery wire connector into the connector
on the circuit board. Note, the battery connector will only go in one way and
that is with the red wire on the side nearest the battery. (RED is written on
the circuit board indicating the correct orientation of the battery wire
connector.) The battery wire connector must be straight out from the mating
connector or it will not enter correctly. It may seem difficult to connect at
first, but when the correct orientation is found, the battery wire connector
will slide securely into place. Make sure the connector is fully seated so it
cannot vibrate loose during movement of the device.
Battery Disposal.
The Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack contains no environmentally dangerous chemicals and can be disposed of using normal waste disposal methods. With the battery wire connector properly attached the battery wires cannot touch causing an electrical short. However, if this connector is damaged, tape the wires to the battery case so that they cannot touch each other before disposing.
Do not heat the battery or dispose of it in a fire. Doing so may cause
battery fluid leakage, generation of heat, or explosion and cause personal
injury. In the unlikely event that the battery has leaked fluids while in the Partner, wipe the battery and any affected parts of the
Partner with clean water. If
fluid from the battery gets into the eyes, immediately wash them thoroughly with
clean water (do not rub them), and see a doctor immediately. Battery fluid in
the eyes may cause loss of sight.
Battery Deactivation.
During long-term storage, battery deactivation may occur, and for this reason charging may stop early during recharging after storage. This problem can usually be solved by charging, operating the Partner until the low battery indicator activates, and recharging several times. Also, the first charging after prolonged storage may result in a lower capacity than normal. While this will vary depending on the storage conditions, charging and discharging the battery several times will usually completely restore the battery. If after a few days operation with daily recharging, if the battery does not return to normal capacity, the battery should be replaced.
Back to Cleaning and Storing the Partner, or Back to Index.
This page last updated on 01-16-07.