Charger Doesn't Run Very Long

NigelS

I have a 1990 CC 36v. I just installed new batteries and read the threads about battery break in. All of them tell me the charger should run for several hours on the first charge, but mine ran only about 80 minutes, but the pack voltage was at 38.7 volts after I let them sit overnight. I have since driven the cart until pack voltage was at 70% and recharged. I have done this several times. Each time the charger only runs a little over an hour, but the pack voltage is always 38.7 volts. Is that common? Could something be wrong with my charger? I'm tempted to run the batteries down a little further to see if the charger will run longer, but too cold for now...

BGW

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scottyb

I have a 90 cc too, and the charger that came with it, a Lester, seems to finish fast... a few hours at most. Batteries are 6mos old. I think it is the chargers. I have an Ezgo Powerwise converted to Crow's foot plug and it runs 7-8 hours on that pack... so I blame the charger. Can you catch it at the peak voltage or just as it clicks off and let us know what the pack is up to? The Ezgo brings mine up to 44 while the Lester only gets it up to 41 .... So I tend to think the 36v Lester is not leveling or finishing the pack as well as some of the other brands.
I put one of my new On Board Chargers on it and let it charge and maintain it ( float charge) for a day then I could really tell a difference in the way it ran. These chargers need to be modified to work on golf carts but they a heck of a job.
Let us know what that peak voltage is.

NigelS

I'll try to get the peak tomorrow. Thanks

NigelS

BTW, mine is also a Lester charger that I believe is the original to the cart.

NigelS

Well I went playing out in the snow today and took the pack down to 35.8v, which I know is well below what I should have, but was relying on my Curtis LED state of charge meter. Only went down two bars, and seemed like there was plenty of power left. Going to have to invest in an on board volt meter. Anyway, plugged in to charge and has now been on for 6 1/2 hours. It has been hovering around 2 amps for a few hours now. I checked the voltage just a little bit ago on charge on it was 46.6v. Will update when the charger kicks out.

scottyb

That is good news. Yes, those Curtis led meters are like a gas gauge that reads full for 3 days of driving and drops to empty on the 4th day
Anytime they drop a bar you can recharge.

NigelS

I didn't catch it right when the charger shut off, but within a half hour, it had settled to 42.6v. Now, after about 14 hours, it's sitting at 38.6v.

GLEEMO

U do know with new batteries it takes many many ( 100+) charges to get the batteries up to their full potential .
Be patient , clean and maintain , and use only distilled water !

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NigelS

Got it. I just wanted to make sure my charger was working correctly, which I think it is. I just hadn't discharged these new batts enough for the charger to fully do its thing. I've learned a lot from this site. Thanks.

GLEEMO

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