New-to-me 1993 CC DOA

5.0

I just picked up my first cart- a 1993 36v club car. I have been spending a lot of time reading the stickies, searching posts, etc.
The cart has been sitting for approx. 5 years without any attention. It had all new batteries installed 2 hours before it was stored.
I measured 2 volts at some batteries, .79 volts on some, .1 volts on others.

Here is my question: Can I leave 2 batteries hooked in series and use my 12v car charger to get some juice in the batteries so that hopefully the Club Car charger will find enough juice to turn on?

I know I will probably be buying new batteries, but due to an injury, I really need to use the cart for work this week, even if it is slow...

Thanks in advance for any advice, I've already learned a lot.

BGW

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lockman1

Welcome to BGW 5.0!

Yes you can "TRY" to charge 2 6V batteries with your car charger...

BUT... Keep a close eye on them! (check them every 1/2 hour or so)
after 5 years of no charge in them, they may not take a charge, OR... blow up!
(make sure to check the water levels first!)

BE CAREFUL!

My .02

5.0

Thanks Lockman, they all have water in them, none looked swelled up, so I put on the charger. Will report back...

5.0

Cart is charging with the Club Car charger now! The connectors on the solenoid started smoking when I hooked up the CC charger, so I unbolted the cables and cleaned the ends.

Is there any special procedure for charging the batteries in this condition before I can take it on it's maiden voyage? Pics coming this afternoon!

scottyb

Don't be too disapponted if the batteries will not come back to life...... Even brand new, leaving them sit flat (empty) for 5 years would kill any battery..... And.... I have yet to see any battery come back to service from sitting at a voltage reading as low as you posted...

5.0

I'm sure you are right, but I have to give it the old college try...

Do you know is it best to try and charge them to 100% before driving or try to charge them back up in stages?

Currently @ 35% charge according to the State of Charge Readings sticky

GLEEMO

You need to get them Up around 90% before driving.
And that is 90% , checked 30 Minutes after charger is unplugged.

Only Use distilled water in them if you have to add any.
Batteries are like apples 1 bad one will spoil the whole bunch.

After 8-10 hours of charging, let the batteries rest for 2-4 hours then go again , (don't boil then dry )

Like ScottyB said it will be a miracle if they all come back

5.0

Well, you guys were right... 2 of the batteries tested bad, so we replaced them. I put all the batteries back in the cart and it started charging at 16amps. This morning, 15 hours later, it is still charging at 10 amps. Does this sound right?

GLEEMO

Not normal, but reasonable considering 4 are probably really week.
The 2 new batteries will burn out earlier than they would if you had replaced all 6.

But hey some people are on a budget (ME) .

Let them cool for a couple hours , make checks/measurements again , then plug charger back up.

Good luck

scottyb

I see a problem with this method. The reason we never recommend mixing old and new batteries is because like garry said the charger will over charge (cook) the new batteries trying to get the old (dead) ones to come up.... soon this over cooking will reduce the new ones to the old one's level. So..... I suggest you charge the old ones seperatly until they come up, if they do come up? Is this making sense?