2005 TXT Batt Meter LEDs 'Bouncing'.

Sid007

Recharged the batteries last night and, this morning, when I turned the switch on, the battery gauge reading continuously jumps between the bottom two segments. Have never seen this in ten years. My cart's electrical was checked and tuned up only two months ago by the dealer. Has been running like a top and, today, is doing so (except for the crazy gauge).

Anyone with an idea about what caused this?

BGW

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scottyb

No, not seen this but if you have a bar graph meter it may be time to upgrade to real time digital readout.

cgtech

Batteries did not reach the "reset voltage" during last charge cycle. Could be a sign of worn batteries. Try replugging charger. The meter does not increase for partial charges, only full charges where a predetermined voltage was reached during charge.

Sid007

Thanx, CG. The charger was on all night (at least ten hours) which has always fully charged the batteries. This anomaly didn't occur several years ago when I had to replace the batteries the first time. It is true that the cells are running long in the tooth after about five years service (which is what I got from the first set). However, I really don't think that is the cause of the sporatic bar graph behavior.

cgtech

Try my suggestion... I am experienced with these things. If i had a copy of the manual for the Curtis meter, i would post it, but its at work.

Sid007

Okay, CG, I've got'er back on the charger at 6pm, Friday, and will report back tomorrow with the overnight results. In the meantime, my wife and I took 'er out to the pecan orchard this afternoon for a couple of hours rolling pecans and the little jewel purred like a kitten. Plenty of power.

CG, do you think the problem with the battery readout could possibly be a faulty circuit in the display unit and not the batteries?

Incidentally, I have never let the remaining power drop below the third LED segment from the top and keep the batteries filled with distilled water and clear of corrosion and crude.

I appreciate greatly your advice on this, CG.

cgtech

I cant say i have never seen a failed meter, but I feel this way about it, "If your gas gauge says empty, the car stops moving, you dont replace the gas gauge". No one wants to hear "battery problems" ($$$$$$), when they can think "bad meter" ($). There are much better options out there for battery monitoring, but they might also tell you that other problems are at work here.

Sid007

LOL! I can see you are not only a cart guru, you are also quite the psychologist! Your comments deserved quoting (so, I did) because they are so very true. It cost me over $500 for the six new batteries five years ago and, as you point out, I would much rather be replacing a 'gas gauge' this time!

CG, you were also dead nuts on in your initial diagnosis. After only a couple of hours on the charger tonight (it's still Friday night) the meter is showing steady at the very top. Could be that I didn't fully insert the charging plug the other night. Whatever. I'm just glad to see things back to normal, but, this raises another question I'd like your opinion on.

As the batteries reach the end of their useful life, can one trust the readout of remaining power, or, does the readout start to do weird things? As I recall, when the first set pooped out on me, they just would not keep a charge and the meter reading dropped much more rapidly. Very interesting stuff.

OT: We lived in Prescott for twelve years back in the '70s -- '80s. Our daughter lives in Mesa.

cgtech

Occasionally doing "back-to-back" charges (charge it overnight, like normal, then go un-plug and re-plug it to start another charge), like once a month will help keep all batteries in balance. The 10-led meter does goofy stuff whenever the batteries are not well balanced (aged batteries, one or more starting to go south). That meter only reads very accurately with nearly perfect batteries. It's strong point is convenience for golf cart users of all levels of "battery experience", not accuracy for batteries of all conditions.

kernal

Here is some info on it. This only applies to you if you have the Curtis model 906. It's commonly used by golf cart manufactures.

It is my experience that the gage will show a more rapid discharge during cart use as the batteries age (loose capacity) or other influences on battery capacity like cooler temps and such. I agree with cgtech also. It is a useful tool but should be verified occasionally and not meant for diagnostics.

Attached Files

curtis gage manual.pdf (912.0 KB, 0 views)