---
title: "Care of Active Wand"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/ActiveWandDoc/339348551/Care%20of%20Active%20Wand"
format: markdown
---
To keep your Vicon Active Wand in good working order, ensure you understand the battery charge indicator LEDs (for location, see > Macro (inline-media-image)
in [Active Wand controls](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ActiveWandDoc/pages/339348612/Configure+Active+Wand#Controls)), and charge and store it correctly.
If the batteries need replacement or you need any accessories for your wand, see the information in the relevant sections.
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> ⚠️ **Caution**
> ⚠️ Vicon Motion Systems Ltd is not responsible for any unauthorized changes or modifications to this equipment. Unauthorized changes or modifications could void your authority to operate the equipment.
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## Charge Active Wand
To correctly care for your Vicon Active Wand batteries, make sure you understand the significance of the battery charge indicator LEDs and charge the batteries appropriately.
> ✅ **When to charge the batteries**
> ✅
> ✅ - **On first use**: The wand is shipped partially charged. We recommend that before first use, you charge the batteries to 100%.
> ✅ - **During normal use**: Unless you use the wand so intensively that charging levels fall below 25% in a single session, you don't need to charge the Active Wand after each use. To ensure the accuracy of the battery charge level that is indicated by the LEDs, we recommend that you only charge the device when the battery charge level reaches 25% or lower.
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### Understand the battery charge indicator LEDs
When you plug in the Active Wand to charge it, the battery charge indicator LEDs illuminate to show the current level of charge in the batteries, as shown in the following table.
If you try to turn on an Active Wand while it's charging, the Active Wand remains off but the status indicator LED flashes red and the battery charge indicator LEDs illuminate for approximately five seconds to indicate the charge in the batteries.
> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ The battery charge level is displayed only when Active Wand is turned on, or when it is charging.
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| LED display | Charge level |
| --- | --- |
|  | 5 x green LEDs:
Fully charged |
|  | Between 5–2 x LEDs:
100–25% charge level.
As the charge level falls, the final LED fades. |
|  | 1 x LED: 25–15% charge level:
Recharge needed. To ensure safe shipping, ensure the LEDs indicate this or one of the following states. |
|  | 1 x dim LED:
15–5% charge level |
|  | 1 x dim LED (pulsing every 5s):
Less than 5% charge left |
|  | 0 x LEDs:
Batteries are fully depleted (flat).
or
If batteries are being charged, the batteries are fully charged. |
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### Charge the Active Wand batteries
To maximize the battery life and ensure the continued use of your Active Wand, follow these guidelines:
- When you first receive your new wand, to ensure the batteries are charged to 100%, charge the batteries for a minimum of two hours, even if the LEDs are all green.
- When the batteries are fully charged, the battery charge indicator LEDs turn off. To check the charge, unplug the charger, turn on the Active Wand and check the battery charge indicator LEDs on the wand.
- Use the Active Wand until one green battery charge indicator LED remains illuminated.
> ✅ **Tip**
> ✅ To ensure optimum battery health, we recommend that you charge the device when it reaches 25% or lower. This is indicated by a single, fully illuminated LED.
**To charge the batteries:**
Note that the Active Wand automatically turns off when plugged into a charger.
1. Plug in the supplied battery charger.
⚠️ **Caution**: To prevent damage to the Active Wand, use only the supplied USB-C charger (Model: Haredata NEO6), which complies with the relevant medical regulations.
2. Insert the charger connector into the Active Wand and leave it to charge.
A full recharge takes approximately 2 hours.
3. When the batteries are fully charged, all the battery charge indicator LEDs turn off and you can detach the charger.
> ⚠️ **Important**
> ⚠️ To ensure the batteries are fully charged, always charge the Active Wand for at least 2 hours, even if all the LEDs are green.
> ❌ **Warning**
> ❌ This product contains lithium ion batteries.
> ❌
> ❌ - Do not incinerate the batteries.
> ❌ - Do not disassemble the batteries.
> ❌ - Do not short the battery terminals.
> ❌ - Do not expose the product or the batteries to high temperatures (140°F/60°C).
> ❌ - Use only the supplied USB-C charger (Model: Haredata NEO6).
> ❌ - As the batteries are subject to shipping regulations, use only the original packaging to ship the unit. For further shipping instructions, please contact Vicon.
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## Store Active Wand
Active Wand is the instrument used to define Vicon system accuracy. When you're not using the wand, to ensure its continued accuracy:
- Use the supplied box.
- Store it in a cool, dry place.
- Ensure it is secure and stable, away from any sources of impact that could damage or misalign it.
> ✅ **Tip**
> ✅ The Active Wand is the instrument used to define system accuracy. To ensure continued accuracy, please take care of it and store it safely in its original packaging when not in use.
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## Replace Active Wand batteries
To replace your Active Wand batteries, please contact [Vicon Sales](mailto:sales@vicon.com). Due to current shipping regulations, which do not permit shipment of lone lithium ion batteries, if you need to replace the batteries, you will be asked to return your wand without the batteries. Vicon will then fit new batteries before shipping your wand back to you.
> ❌ **Warning**
> ❌ Before removing the batteries, turn off the Active Wand.
**To prepare the Active Wand for shipping back to Vicon:**
1. Remove the 7 screws from the wand.
2. To reveal the batteries, detach the back of the handle.
3. Remove both of the batteries.
⚠️ **Warning**: To avoid damaging the electronics, after removing the batteries, do not replace them in reverse (see [Ensure the correct polarity of the batteries](#BatteryPolarity)).
4. Ship the wand without batteries to Vicon, first packing it in the original Active Wand box with the supplied charger to ensure that it can be tested and then securely packaging the box in a shipping carton.
Vicon will fit new batteries to the wand and will return it to you, ready for use (see [Charge Active Wand](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ActiveWandDoc/pages/339348551/Care+of+Active+Wand#ChargeBattery)).
5. Please dispose of any non-functioning batteries correctly and responsibly, in accordance with local requirements for lithium ion batteries.
For further shipping instructions, please contact Vicon.
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### Ensure the correct polarity of the batteries
Unless you are returning a wand to Vicon (see [Replace Active Wand batteries](#ReplaceBatteries)), do not remove the batteries from the wand. If you find it necessary to remove and reinsert the batteries, ensure their polarity is correct when you reinsert them, with both positive terminals nearest the top of the wand, as shown in the following images.
> 
> 
> ⚠️ **Avoid damage to the wand**
> ⚠️ Always ensure the batteries are oriented as shown above. If you insert the batteries incorrectly, you may damage the electronics of the wand, rendering it inoperable.
## Obtain Active Wand accessories
You can obtain the following accessories from Vicon:
- **Batteries**. Cannot be shipped without Wand. For shipping and preparation instructions, see [Replace Active Wand batteries](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ActiveWandDoc/pages/339348551/Care+of+Active+Wand#ReplaceBatteries).
- **Battery charger**. Model Haredata NEO6 (USB-C power supply). Contact [Vicon Sales](mailto:sales@vicon.com) for information.
- **Level screws**. Contact Vicon Sales for information.
- **Force plate alignment guides**. Contact Vicon Sales for information.
- **Bubble levels**. Replacement must be recalibrated by Vicon so please return the wand to Vicon for fitting.