U.S Batterys issue...smell?

outatime

Hello

Is anyone familar with U.S Batterys http://www.usbattery.com/usb_us12vxc_golg.html

I have just had them replaced for free in my Precedent club car under warrenty and I gave it a charge last night and when I came back later that evening and opened my garage door up there was a strong smell of sulphar or something similar and I could hear the batteries bubbling when I lifted the seat. I touched the batteries and they were not hot or leaking.

I think it might have been the first change the batteries ever had and the needle on the golf cart meter was all the way over past the red state and against the side of the meter.

Anyone any advice please, worried that I might be causing damage? or is this normal for new batteries?

Thanks

Stuart

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

GLEEMO

Yep sounds like U may be boiling them a little harder than required !

Next time this happens check across the entire pack and see how much voltage is going into them ?

outatime

Hi, thanks for the reply.

OK Just went and put the meter on it and its measuring 62 volts, soon as I unplugged it the voltage started dropping.

Is that the right voltage?

Thanks

Stu

Gale Hawkins

If at the end of charging a 12v battery requires 15.5v to completely charge the battery then 62v output would be dead on at end stage of the recharging cycle for a 36v bank it seems to me. Tonight I have four 12v's conditioning in parallel and I am waiting on the 40 amp charger to hit 15.5 volts or close to it so I can move the charging harness to another set we use in a 48v set up.

Batteries do not technically "boil" and the correct term is "gassing". If this gassing does not occur during a recharge cycle and very agressive right at the end then you will shorten their life by years. This is the required "equalizing" phase of the recharging process. If you do not smell them in a closed building like you did then one has a nose or charger problem. :)

scottyb

Vent the garage and let the charger finish. It will take the pack to 63v.

GLEEMO

No this is good , 62-63 volts for a 48Volt pack.
These batteries (NEW) will keep getting stronger over the next 25+ charges (not stronger in smell but power ), always if passable let the charger complete the cycle.

gornoman

Fixed it for ya.

outatime

Thanks guys for all the replies, I was getting worried that my charger was on the fritz but by the sounds of it we are all good. I have plugged it back in with the garage door open a bit for venting and will let it complete its cycles. I take it I am good to plug it back in each time I take it for a spin?

gornoman

15 minutes of actual "pedal time" warrants a charge, but it does not REQUIRE a charge for this useage level. If you have used it for 15 minutes THAT DAY, charge it THAT NIGHT.

dougmcp

Your charger is not on the fritz but it is an old style ferroresonant charger that is essentially a dumb charger that doesn't know what state your batteries are in so it goes through a complete cycle each time you charge including the equalizing stage.
Each time you go over 2.5v per cell (60v) you have entered the equalizing stage and your batteries will boil.
Equalizing is just another saying for overcharging to eliminate sulfation and stratification. Equalizing boils the batteries and the resulting hydrogen gas is what you that smell.
As equalizing is detrimental to your batteries, battery manufacturers recommend that you equalize your batteries between once a month, once a year or based on a SG reading.
For maximum battery life you could use your charger manually. To operate your charger manually you could actually stop the charging when your batteries reach 60v on the charger and let it go through the complete cycle once every few months.