PowerDrive3 Charger Issue 08 Precedent

itstheburns327

Hey guys! Its been some time since I've been on here but after searching, I couldn't really find an answer or possible solution to my issue so here I am.

I recently bought 6 08 Precedents with 6 PowerDrive3 chargers. All the carts batteries were toast and I've been replacing the packs with new Crown batteries (which I use exclusively) as they sell. I'm finding strange issues with the chargers. When I plug them into any cart, the needle on the ammeter goes over 15a and starts vibrating. I was able to test another charger on one of the carts from, I believe is, an 06 DS with 4 12v batteries. The test charger is a PowerDrive2. This one seemed to have worked just fine and seems to have charged all the way. The needle never pushed over 12a and was not vibrating.

The carts were sitting for a few years when I got them with dead batteries (2-3v each battery) but I still did an OBC reset as per the sticky just for the heck of it. I changed out all of the rectifiers in all the chargers since they all kind of did the same thing. It seemed to work but they still had a very visible vibration in the ammeter needle.

I've yet to come across this and I'm wondering if there is anything else that I may have missed? Possible bad transformer? Bad connection to the OBC? Any ideas or troubleshooting will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance guys!

BGW

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TahoeDawgZ71

The PD3 chargers are loud and tend to vibrate a lot. They also get much hotter than a PD2. Also, the ammeter exceeding 15amps is common. If the charger is working and charging the golf cart I wouldn't worry about it.

itstheburns327

Thats where my concern comes in. I feel its not fully charging the cart. Its possible the obc timer exceeds and gives up. When i say the needle vibrates, i mean oscillating back and forth as if its being fed AC current. This is very visible and was much more violent until i replaced the rectifier. Prior to that it would oscillate so much it would look as if it wasnt there.

TahoeDawgZ71

If it's charging correctly with the PD2, but not the PD3, I would take a look at the rectifiers you're putting in them. What is the model number and where are you buying them? Lots of cheap junk out there. If these are 26560 version PD3 chargers with the square rectifier in the back of them, the correct fix is to install the double diode conversion boards.

itstheburns327

I have a dealer accounts with Red Hawk and Nivel. I get most of my parts from there. I never buy on amazon or ebay so i have more control over my inventory. I replaced the oe parts using the part number and cross reference to find the new part. Currently 3 of the 6 chargers have the square rectifier and the other 3 have the double diode. I see more of an issue with the square rectifiers since they seem to have less heat dissipation properties. I can order up the double diode versions and swap them out on the square rectifier models and see what that does. I had a rectifier go up in smoke from so much current goin thru it.

jjance

If it's possible you need to get a dealer account with Revolution Golf Cars. You would have much better customer service.

itstheburns327

I've had no troubles with customer service. With Red Hawk. Nivel is a different story. I typically like to keep my vendors in close proximity so orders are only a day or two out. Red Hawk is in MD and now in FL and Nivel jas a warehouse in PA, where I'm located. I'll give Revolution a looksee and see what they can offer. Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you posted when the new double diode rectifers come in. It may help someone in the future.

TahoeDawgZ71

I have an account with them too. But you're not gonna find the double diode conversion kit. You'll be able to order the diodes from them, but you're gonna have to make your own jumper wires and drill out the back of the charger to make them fit. This is fine with a Gen2, 26580 PD3, but with a 26560 you need the conversion kit. I've often found that the cross-reference numbers on Nivel and Redhawk's site aren't exactly accurate.

TahoeDawgZ71

Thanks. Experience with the actual parts goes a long way. Most people just sell them and don't know what they're selling.

itstheburns327

I can sure agree with that. This is the first time I've had this issue and wanted to learn from those who have a little more experience with it before getting into trouble lol