Doesn't stop charging?

mike_d

Recently moved into our new home so our '06 48V Precedent is starting to get some use now. Prior to this, it was chilling in my in-law's garage, on and off the charger when I remembered but I always checked it to ensure it wasn't going completely dead and occasionally moving it around.

First few days in here I plugged it in, it didn't seem to stop charging... It would occasionally click off (like a charge complete cycle) but would then kick back on probably <60 seconds later. I noticed some bubbling batteries (which I've never noticed before but understand is somewhat normal) so I unplugged and let it sit a day until I had time to fool with it again. Checking all the batteries, they were all ~12.3-12.4v and pack voltage was ~50v. Seemed low by my notes.

Yesterday, I checked the water in all the batteries, 2 of them were a little low so I topped them off with some distilled and my handy dandy watering bottle and put them back on charge. Started around 15A, dropped to 12-13A within a few minutes, clicked off after a bit. Clicked back on about 10-15 seconds later. Left it alone for maybe 30 mins and it was down around 5A. All sounding good so far, right? Left it on charge while we left and went to dinner. Came back about 3 hours later and it was still around 4-5A, more bubbling in the batteries. Took it off the charger. Checked the individual voltages (all even/12.99-13.00V), pack voltage 53V... Which now seems like an overcharge. Individual packs should be ~12.75V at 100%, right?

Left it off the charger overnight and now posting here. Do I have a bad controller? What the hell have I done? :)

BGW

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crash test dummy

good read >>> http://www.cartsunlimited.net/charging-tutorial.html

mike_d

Good info that I had read most of (though not this particular link) before posting... I just went and checked my batteries again after sitting overnight - 12.92-12.93 on all and 51.6 across the entire pack.

Plugged the charger back in, started at 15A and dropped quickly to around 6A. Noticed the bubbling sound immediately. Kicked off within a minute or two then kicked back on around 5-6A within 5 seconds. Still hear the gurgling/bubbling noises.

I've left it connected for now - I've never noticed the bubbling before though I understand it is likely normal... I just don't want a fire. How long should I leave it on the charger/running before I can safely determine something may be wrong? Am I just being paranoid?

golfcoursemonkey

Our cart barn guys just brought me over a Precedent doing the exact same thing. This is a 6x8v setup, but getting the same symptoms. Charger clicks on and off and warm bubbling batteries. My pack voltage after a night of charging was 49.9V. After reading the charging tutorial, I'm assuming that these batteries are just sulphated and hanging in the absorption phase? The batteries are original and date do 12/2011, so I think its past time.

mike_d

Just checked on it and it's bubbling away at 5A... Batteries are not warm to the touch. Was told the batteries were new when we bought the cart (last summer), and just double-checked my date codes - I have 3 Oct 2014 batteries and a Feb 2015 battery. So they are indeed new (or were only a few months old) - cart has also seen fairly light family use since we bought it, obviously not a course cart.

scottyb

Somethings not right. I'm more concerned about the charger cutting off and coming right back on than I am about voltage readings, since 63v would be a max. Simplest thing to do is take your charger to a friends cart or a cart shop. Explain the on & off operation and ask them to test it on good cart.

The charger and the cart work together using an onboard computer to charge the batteries. The possibility of an OBC problem exists.

mike_d

Thanks. Just pulled the charger off. I'll try and get the charger by the cart shop today for them to give it a test.

If the OBC is bad, just an excuse to upgrade, right scottyb?

golfcoursemonkey

OBC= On board charger or computer? Ours are stand-alone chargers and they have swapped between 4 of them. That wouldn't rule out an issue with the cart in my case. My batteries are visibly swollen out the sides.

jjance

Always leave your charger plugged in when not driving it. If you unplug the DC cord and plug it right back in the charger goes into an equalization charge. In this mode you will have excessive bubbling and the voltage will rise to 63 volts at low current 3-4 amps. This should last a few hours.

mike_d

Ok - I'll plug it back on and leave it for the rest of the day and see how we do.