Drive Medical Cirrus Plus EC Assembly & Troubleshooting Guide
Congratulations!
You have just purchased the Drive Medical Cirrus Plus, a quality power wheelchair that has been a long term asset to the many who have purchased the product.
The Cirrus Plus was created and manufactured by Drive Medical, an authority on power wheelchairs. Mobility Scooters Direct sells the product to help our customers live independently in the most authentic version of themselves.
The Cirrus Plus is foldable, having a lightweight frame for easy portability. The frame is an attractive steel cross-brace.
The armrest is padded, adjustable and removable — all for the most comfortable traveling experience. The padded back upholstery has a cushioned seat and a storage pouch.
These are some of the characteristics that customers value as they get-to-know their new Cirrus Plus.
But, there are a couple of preceding steps that this Drive Medical Cirrus Plus Assembly & Troubleshooting Guide will address before taking the product to wherever the user needs to go.
Assembly of the Cirrus Plus EC Power Wheelchair
- First, remove all items from the shipping box. Unfold the chair. Verify that all of the parts are present.
- The back upholstery outer cover is installed over the inner back upholstery, which is already mounted on the electric wheelchair.
- Next, align the velcro strips on the outer upholstery cover. Firmly press the strips together.
- Adjust the amount of tension in the back upholstery. Then, remove the outer cover from the back. To increase the tension, release one Velcro strap and pull tighter. Loosen the Velcro strap to decrease the tension.
- Then, reattach the strap when the desired tension is achieved. Repeat this procedure for the three other straps. After that, install the outer back cover on the quality electric wheelchair.
- With the pouch in the front, install the comfortable seat cushion on the seat upholstery.
- On either side of the rear of the battery tray, wrap one end of the battery straps. The Velcro should be facing upward. Next, place the hook section of the Velcro over the smooth section of the Velcro. Press together.
- After that, repeat for the other strap.
- Following that step, it is imperative to verify that the batteries are connected in the battery boxes.
- Place the battery box with only one connector on the battery tray. Slide it to the front of the battery tray. If done correctly, the connector should be facing towards the rear of the power chair.
- Then, place the remaining battery box on the tray. The red connector should be facing forward.
- Proceed to connect the two red connectors.
- Following that step, secure the battery boxes with the two battery box straps.
- The next step is to insert the joystick and the arm. It should be placed into the joystick bracket, which is on the arm of the Drive Medical power wheelchair.
- Next, route the wire from the joystick behind the rear upright of the side frame.
- The next step is to connect the large black two prongs to the black connector from the battery box. If done correctly, it will be apparent that the connector will only fit in one way.
- The next step is to connect the connector marked right motor. It should be placed on the right motor. The connector will only fit in one way.
- Then, repeat for the left side.
- Now, install one of the footrests. It should be aligned in the hole on the footrest hanger. Use the pins on the footrest mounting plate on the Cirrus Plus EC.
- Slide the footrest onto the pins. Then, swing the footrest inward. It should lock into place. Repeat the step for the other side.
- The calf strap, which is attached by wrapping the Velcro straps of the calf pad around each footrest, should be adjusted as needed.
- The calf strap must be removed to take out the footrest. Then, push the footrest release lever. Swing the footrest away from the electric wheelchair.
- After that, lift the footrest off of the chair. Proceed to repeat for the other side.
- The next step for the Drive Medical electric wheelchair is to insert one anti-tipper. The wheels should be facing downward when inserting it into the rear lower frame of the power wheelchair.
- Follow that step by depressing both locking buttons. Continue pushing the anti-tipper into the frame. Stop when the anti-tipper locks in place. Then, repeat for the other side.
- Depress both locking buttons to disengage the anti-tipper.
- Now, turn the anti-tipper 180 degrees. Keep turning it until it locks into place. Repeat on the other side.
- Both motor freewheel levers must be set to the drive position prior to driving the Cirrus Plus electric wheelchair.
- To push the power chair manually, put the freewheel lever in the freewheel position.
- Push the wheel lock handles to the front direction of the Cirrus Plus electric wheelchair to lock the drive wheels.
- Now, to release the wheel locks on the Drive Medical power wheelchair, push the wheel lock handle towards the rear of the product.
- Next, connect the power cord to the battery charger.
- Proceed to plug the battery charger into a wall outlet.
- The red light on the charger should come on. It indicates there is a good connection to the wall outlet.
- It is important to be certain that the power wheelchair is turned off. Then, plug the charger into the charger port on the joystick.
- Now, turn the charger on.
- A yellow light should present itself adjacent to the red indicator.
- Finally, when the charging is complete, the yellow light will turn green. Proceed to turn the charger off. Disconnect the charger from the Cirrus Plus and the wall outlet. The charge time depends upon the discharge state and the condition of the batteries.
New VSI Flash Codes on the Cirrus Plus Electric Wheelchair
If the New VSI controller senses a fault, then the battery indicator LED lights will proceed to flash. Here’s what the flash codes mean.
Flash Code |
Meaning |
Possible Reasons and Solutions |
ONEFLASH | Low Voltage | Check the battery cables and connections. *Charge the batteries. |
TWOFLASHES ORTHREEFLASHES |
Left Motor Fault |
The left motor has a short. *Check the motor wiring and connections. *Test the motor. *Check the motor brushes. *Replace the motor. |
FOURFLASHES OR FIVE FLASHES |
Right Motor Fault |
The motor has a short *Check the motor wiring and connections. *Test the motor. *Check the motor brushes. *Replace the motor. |
SIXFLASHES | Not Used | |
SEVENFLASHES | Joystick Fault | Joystick was engaged when power chair was turned on. *Turn power chair off and turn on without engaging the joystick. |
EIGHT FLASHES |
Joystick Fault |
The joystick has failed. *Check the joystick connections and wiring. *Replace the joystick. |
NINE FLASHES |
Brake Fault | The brake is not engaged. *Engage the brake. *Check the brake wiring and connections. *Test the brake. *Replace the brake if defective. |
TEN FLASHES |
High Voltage | Batteries are overcharged. *If driving downhill slow down and turn lights on, if so equipped. *Test the charge to ensure that it cuts off when batteries are fully charged |
IMPORTANT: For flash codes two, three, four or five, swap the motor connections. However, if the flash code remains the same, then the joystick is the problem.
What do These Cirrus Power Wheelchair Flash Codes Mean?
When the VSI controller senses a fault, a sequence of battery indicator LED lights will flash in response.
Flash Code |
Meaning |
Possible Reasons and Solutions |
ONE LIGHT | Low Voltage | Check the battery cables and connections. *Charge the batteries. |
TWO LIGHTS OR THREE LIGHTS |
Left Motor Fault |
The left motor has a short. *Check the motor wiring and connections. *Test the motor. *Check the motor brushes. *Replace the motor. |
FOUR LIGHTS OR FIVE LIGHTS |
Right Motor Fault |
The motor has a short *Check the motor wiring and connections. *Test the motor. *Check the motor brushes. *Replace the motor. |
SIX LIGHTS | Charger Fault | Unplug the charger from the power chair. |
SEVEN LIGHTS | Joystick Fault | Joystick was engaged when power chair was turned on. *Turn power chair off and turn on without engaging the joystick. |
EIGHT LIGHTS | Joystick Fault |
The joystick has failed. *Check the joystick connections and wiring. *Replace the joystick. |
NINE LIGHTS | Brake Fault | The brake is not engaged. *Engage the brake. *Check the brake wiring and connections. *Test the brake. *Replace the brake if defective. |
TEN LIGHTS | High Voltage | Batteries are overcharged. *If driving downhill slow down and turn lights on, if so equipped. *Test the charge to ensure that it cuts off when batteries are fully charged |
IMPORTANT: Fort flash codes two, three, four or five, swap the motor connections. The joystick is the problem if the flash code remains the same.
Andrew Fatalo is the owner of Statewide Mobility Inc & Mobility Scooters Direct. He has been in the mobility product industry since 2005 and knows a ton about e-commerce marketing. He gives back to the handicap community by hosting mobility scooter and electric wheelchair give-aways which you can learn more about by following his companies on Facebook.