Battery Questions

cpc12 · 09-24-2012, 08:06 PM

I am getting my cart tomorrow for the first time.

I have never owned a cart before. I purchased a 08 Precendent. with 4 12 V batteries

I had the batteries replaced with new Trojan 1275s. I do not know the first thing about batteries.

I read the sticky about batteries and it says to completely cycle the batteries approx 10 to 12 times. It says to run the batteries down to 50 % before charging.

How do I know when they are down to 50 % ? Is there some way to check with the charger ?

What if I use the cart and do not run them down to 50 % ? Do I not charge them until they are run down to 50 %

With winter coming I do not know I can do this ( 10 to 12 times ) before it gets to cold to use the cart.

Is it bad to not complete this break in process before the winter ?

I assume that I should leave the cart on the charger all winter. I am leaving the cart in my unheated garage is this an issue. Do I need a heating blanket for the batteries ?

If someone could please take the time to answer my concerns I will be most grateful...

Thanks

Nate · 09-24-2012, 08:50 PM

Don't worry about running the batteries to 50% before charging. There is a break in period but don't worry about it just don't run them to low before a charge. You can charge after every use. Running them down to far will cause permanent damage. Personally I don't allow my batteries to drop below 11 volts under load, this does not include surge loads like a hard start where the battery drops below 11V for a second or two.
Watch water level
Storage:
Will your charger restart its self if the batteries drain past a certain level? If not then charge pack then disconnect charger then remove one wire from pack to break circuit. Will your garage drop below 32 degrees inside? All you need is to supply enough power to keep the batteries above 33 degrees.

cpc12 · 09-24-2012, 09:33 PM

how do you know if they drop below 11 V ?

My garage will drop below 32 degrees so what do you mean by supply enough power to keep above 33 degrees ? heating blanket ? or Charger ?

What if charger shuts off when they are charged ? Will they freeze ?

Please bear with me as I am new have ZERO clue in this hobby yet.

Any other input would be great

Thanks

Kingman · 09-24-2012, 10:04 PM

Great question, l will also wait for an answer.

Thanks

Alan

Speedchaser · 09-24-2012, 10:23 PM

The lower the charge the more likelyhood they will have a tendency to freeze.

Nate · 09-24-2012, 10:37 PM

You would need to hook up an actual voltmeter to know when you were around 11 volts.
I looked up freezing point of PbA batteries and it looks like a fully charged pack would need to get to -77F. I think your garage is warmer than that at its coldest. A discharged battery will freeze about 20F so keep em charged and you won't need to do anything else, forget the 33F remark, I was thinking about the freezing point of water.
Charger can be off and it will still need to get to -77F to freeze a charged battery.
Keep in mind that colder batteries have less run time if you plan to do winter driving.

cpc12 · 09-25-2012, 06:46 AM

Thanks Nate

What type of voltage meter should I get and where do you hook it up to the cart to test it ?

lowrider · 09-25-2012, 08:24 AM

I went with the meter from Scottyb(sponser). I am very happy with it. If you do not have the time or expertise to mount it in the dash properly, you may can hook it to the battery pack and leave it on top of the batteries to just see whats going on with your voltage. However, I wouldnt drive it around that way. You could also attach a hand held meter the same way to see whats happening.

Nate · 09-25-2012, 09:50 AM

If your cart already has a bar meter you can do what Lowrider mentioned with a temporary meter. Once you know what voltage the LED bars represent you can monitor your pack with it. I would charge the batteries at the end of every day for normal use and do opportunity charging for heavy use.

09-24-2012, 08:06 PM	#1
cpc12 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 42	Battery Questions I am getting my cart tomorrow for the first time. I have never owned a cart before. I purchased a 08 Precendent. with 4 12 V batteries I had the batteries replaced with new Trojan 1275s. I do not know the first thing about batteries. I read the sticky about batteries and it says to completely cycle the batteries approx 10 to 12 times. It says to run the batteries down to 50 % before charging. How do I know when they are down to 50 % ? Is there some way to check with the charger ? What if I use the cart and do not run them down to 50 % ? Do I not charge them until they are run down to 50 % With winter coming I do not know I can do this ( 10 to 12 times ) before it gets to cold to use the cart. Is it bad to not complete this break in process before the winter ? I assume that I should leave the cart on the charger all winter. I am leaving the cart in my unheated garage is this an issue. Do I need a heating blanket for the batteries ? If someone could please take the time to answer my concerns I will be most grateful... Thanks
cpc12 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 42

09-24-2012, 08:50 PM	#2
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Battery Questions Don't worry about running the batteries to 50% before charging. There is a break in period but don't worry about it just don't run them to low before a charge. You can charge after every use. Running them down to far will cause permanent damage. Personally I don't allow my batteries to drop below 11 volts under load, this does not include surge loads like a hard start where the battery drops below 11V for a second or two. Watch water level Storage: Will your charger restart its self if the batteries drain past a certain level? If not then charge pack then disconnect charger then remove one wire from pack to break circuit. Will your garage drop below 32 degrees inside? All you need is to supply enough power to keep the batteries above 33 degrees.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

09-24-2012, 09:33 PM	#3
cpc12 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 42	Re: Battery Questions how do you know if they drop below 11 V ? My garage will drop below 32 degrees so what do you mean by supply enough power to keep above 33 degrees ? heating blanket ? or Charger ? What if charger shuts off when they are charged ? Will they freeze ? Please bear with me as I am new have ZERO clue in this hobby yet. Any other input would be great Thanks
cpc12 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 42

09-24-2012, 10:04 PM	#4
Kingman Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 290	Re: Battery Questions Great question, l will also wait for an answer. Thanks Alan

09-24-2012, 10:23 PM	#5
Speedchaser Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 909	Re: Battery Questions The lower the charge the more likelyhood they will have a tendency to freeze.
Speedchaser Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 909

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09-24-2012, 10:37 PM	#6
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Battery Questions You would need to hook up an actual voltmeter to know when you were around 11 volts. I looked up freezing point of PbA batteries and it looks like a fully charged pack would need to get to -77F. I think your garage is warmer than that at its coldest. A discharged battery will freeze about 20F so keep em charged and you won't need to do anything else, forget the 33F remark, I was thinking about the freezing point of water. Charger can be off and it will still need to get to -77F to freeze a charged battery. Keep in mind that colder batteries have less run time if you plan to do winter driving.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

09-25-2012, 06:46 AM	#7
cpc12 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 42	Re: Battery Questions Thanks Nate What type of voltage meter should I get and where do you hook it up to the cart to test it ?
cpc12 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 42

09-25-2012, 08:24 AM	#8
lowrider Getting Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Lake Murray,South Carolina Posts: 112	Re: Battery Questions I went with the meter from Scottyb(sponser). I am very happy with it. If you do not have the time or expertise to mount it in the dash properly, you may can hook it to the battery pack and leave it on top of the batteries to just see whats going on with your voltage. However, I wouldnt drive it around that way. You could also attach a hand held meter the same way to see whats happening.

09-25-2012, 09:50 AM	#9
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679	Re: Battery Questions If your cart already has a bar meter you can do what Lowrider mentioned with a temporary meter. Once you know what voltage the LED bars represent you can monitor your pack with it. I would charge the batteries at the end of every day for normal use and do opportunity charging for heavy use.
Nate Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 679

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