1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping

tdump · 06-10-2016, 09:53 AM

Ok, let me start from scratch. 1988 resistor Ez-Go. We got the cart from a local junk yard about 2 years ago. I put new battery racks in it, ,bed, decent wheels and tires, new brake cables, made battery cables and we put 6 of the 12 volt gel battery's in it. Worked great till about 2 months ago. Neighbor checked the battery's and decided, well just get some more.
So we did, It worked ok but it needed charging more often and then got to where it needed charging at lunch.
When fully charged, it runs like a ape with it's *** on fire. But it does not last.
First assumption of course is battery's. Well they all test uniform in voltage under load and charge quickly. Had 1 or 2 been low and others "hot" I would assume bad battery's dropping out.
I installed a new solenoid first. I thought perhaps it was getting hot and dropping out. Wrong,no change. I then charged the battery's and drove it some up and down a hill. When it started slowing down I stopped and checked wires and connections for heat. The wire for full throttle I guess you could call it was hot and flimsy near the connection to the resistor box. I made a new cable. Repeated process. I found the new cable and that connection cool to the touch. But the cable from the solenoid to the forward reverse switch was "warm" So I made a new 1. We charged it over night, it worked about a hour and dropped out. I have not tested anything yet. Neighbor is getting frustrated. I put the cart in my shop and loaned him my "40 buck special" till I can get this mystery figured out.
I can't hardly blame the battery's as this is the second set and the problem is still there. the previous battery's are in my Legend and working great.
I am thinking the worse is going. the motor may have a armature going to the bad and when it gets hot, it requires alot of current to run and is killing the battery's. The motor was a bit warm to the touch yesterday evening when I found the wire from solenoid to forward-reverse switch warm. I also thought perhaps brakes were dragging. but it coast down hill without a problem.

I need some pointers if there are any. Thanks.

teecro · 06-10-2016, 09:59 AM

"and we put 6 of the 12 volt gel battery's in it"

What final voltage are you running, 72 volts? And exactly what kind of 12 volt gel batteries are these?

tdump · 06-10-2016, 10:18 AM

These are the computer memory back up battery's used in large office buildings. I think most of the sets are Data Safe. Between our carts at home and the neighbors and a couple others we are running them in a total of 8 carts with great results. Same size as a cart battery but taller and about 10 pounds heavier.
I wired them all like this. I have 3 wired in series for 36 volt on each side of the cart and parallel them together so the cart only sees the 36 volts it likes.
All 6 get charged together. The battery's are second hand but most last about 3 years without issue. I will try to get a pick posted later today.
But just think of 2 sets of 3 in series then the 2 sets hooked in parallel.

teecro · 06-10-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdump

These are the computer memory back up battery's used in large office buildings. I think most of the sets are Data Safe. Between our carts at home and the neighbors and a couple others we are running them in a total of 8 carts with great results. Same size as a cart battery but taller and about 10 pounds heavier.
I wired them all like this. I have 3 wired in series for 36 volt on each side of the cart and parallel them together so the cart only sees the 36 volts it likes.
All 6 get charged together. The battery's are second hand but most last about 3 years without issue. I will try to get a pick posted later today.
But just think of 2 sets of 3 in series then the 2 sets hooked in parallel.

Got ya, that's what I expected you to say... I've run into similar batteries and some are very well suited to golf cart use.

tdump · 06-10-2016, 10:40 AM

ok here is a couple photos. The Red arrows mark the 2 cables I felt hot during the troubleshooting.

Clemsoncartguy · 06-10-2016, 10:43 AM

Deleted duplicate post

Clemsoncartguy · 06-10-2016, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teecro

"and we put 6 of the 12 volt gel battery's in it"

What final voltage are you running, 72 volts? And exactly what kind of 12 volt gel batteries are these?

I was going to say the same thing. I bet at that voltage he fried or melted something down and could just be shorting batteries out or something .

tdump · 06-10-2016, 10:53 AM

Cart is only getting it's 36 or closer to 38 most of the time. no 72 that would cause me alot more work and headache!

Clemsoncartguy · 06-10-2016, 01:24 PM

Yea I saw that after I responded. Sorry Mr. Dump.

tdump · 06-10-2016, 02:53 PM

"Mr Dump" hehe!

I appreciate you all's help. I gota get this thing going. I did try hard to fix it without bugging anyone else but it just did not work out.

06-10-2016, 09:53 AM	#1
tdump Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: north carolina, small state on planet earth Posts: 265	1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping Ok, let me start from scratch. 1988 resistor Ez-Go. We got the cart from a local junk yard about 2 years ago. I put new battery racks in it, ,bed, decent wheels and tires, new brake cables, made battery cables and we put 6 of the 12 volt gel battery's in it. Worked great till about 2 months ago. Neighbor checked the battery's and decided, well just get some more. So we did, It worked ok but it needed charging more often and then got to where it needed charging at lunch. When fully charged, it runs like a ape with it's *** on fire. But it does not last. First assumption of course is battery's. Well they all test uniform in voltage under load and charge quickly. Had 1 or 2 been low and others "hot" I would assume bad battery's dropping out. I installed a new solenoid first. I thought perhaps it was getting hot and dropping out. Wrong,no change. I then charged the battery's and drove it some up and down a hill. When it started slowing down I stopped and checked wires and connections for heat. The wire for full throttle I guess you could call it was hot and flimsy near the connection to the resistor box. I made a new cable. Repeated process. I found the new cable and that connection cool to the touch. But the cable from the solenoid to the forward reverse switch was "warm" So I made a new 1. We charged it over night, it worked about a hour and dropped out. I have not tested anything yet. Neighbor is getting frustrated. I put the cart in my shop and loaned him my "40 buck special" till I can get this mystery figured out. I can't hardly blame the battery's as this is the second set and the problem is still there. the previous battery's are in my Legend and working great. I am thinking the worse is going. the motor may have a armature going to the bad and when it gets hot, it requires alot of current to run and is killing the battery's. The motor was a bit warm to the touch yesterday evening when I found the wire from solenoid to forward-reverse switch warm. I also thought perhaps brakes were dragging. but it coast down hill without a problem. I need some pointers if there are any. Thanks.

06-10-2016, 09:59 AM	#2
teecro Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Sunset Bay, TN Posts: 2,390	Re: 1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping "and we put 6 of the 12 volt gel battery's in it" What final voltage are you running, 72 volts? And exactly what kind of 12 volt gel batteries are these?

06-10-2016, 10:18 AM	#3
tdump Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: north carolina, small state on planet earth Posts: 265	Re: 1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping These are the computer memory back up battery's used in large office buildings. I think most of the sets are Data Safe. Between our carts at home and the neighbors and a couple others we are running them in a total of 8 carts with great results. Same size as a cart battery but taller and about 10 pounds heavier. I wired them all like this. I have 3 wired in series for 36 volt on each side of the cart and parallel them together so the cart only sees the 36 volts it likes. All 6 get charged together. The battery's are second hand but most last about 3 years without issue. I will try to get a pick posted later today. But just think of 2 sets of 3 in series then the 2 sets hooked in parallel.

06-10-2016, 10:43 AM	#6
Clemsoncartguy Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,291	Re: 1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping Deleted duplicate post

06-10-2016, 10:53 AM	#8
tdump Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: north carolina, small state on planet earth Posts: 265	Re: 1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping Cart is only getting it's 36 or closer to 38 most of the time. no 72 that would cause me alot more work and headache!

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06-10-2016, 01:24 PM	#9
Clemsoncartguy Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,291	Re: 1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping Yea I saw that after I responded. Sorry Mr. Dump.

06-10-2016, 02:53 PM	#10
tdump Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: north carolina, small state on planet earth Posts: 265	Re: 1988 Ez-go killing batterys and stopping "Mr Dump" hehe! I appreciate you all's help. I gota get this thing going. I did try hard to fix it without bugging anyone else but it just did not work out.

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