EZGO Automatic charger

TechBill

This is my first electric cart so I am still learning how to charge it proper. The batteries are still used and seem to be holding charge good.

I have a EZGO automatic charger but there is a timer knob on it so that puzzle me if the charger is automatic and would shut off when the batteries is full, why put a timer on it?

Right now I am reading 41 volts while charging so I assume that the charging peak voltage and anything above 36 is good?

My children drove the cart and ran batteries down until it was barely moving recently, I told them to stop stop stop then brought the charger to where cart was at. It was reading at 35 volts, did it do some damaged to the batteries? I recalled reading here that not to let it go below 36 volts right?

Thank you

BGW

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TechBill

One more question,

I had to remove the "redneck charging receptacle" which was done by the previous owner and installed a new factory look charging receptacle.

Where there a fuse between the charging receptacle and the battery terminal?

Right now I have it direct hook up but wondering if there was a fuse there done by the factory? Anyone have a photo what the fuse look like? Was it one of those firewall mounted fuse like those in automobile?

Thank you

JohnnieB

The "It depends on what the definition of is is" logic applies. Automatic can mean several things.

The "Automatic" as used by EZGO meant their ferroresonant transformer type charger automatically followed a the recommend charging profile developed by Trojan Battery company. (Attachment-1)

The charger (attachement-2) uses turned on and off by a timer.

The schematic for it is attachment-3

Also attached is a SOC chart for Trojan batteries. To use the SoC chart, let the batteries sit for about 12 hours.
As you see 36V is only about 50% charged. Fully charged is 38.2V.

The on-charge voltage ought to climb to about 45V for a full charge.


The fuse is a 50A or 60A: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Recep.../dp/B007RYBEWA

It is typically placed on the main positive battery pack terminal and the white wire from the charge receptacle is attached to it. Stacking order is important, the high current cable to the solenoid goes on first, than the lesser ampacity stuff like the fuse, if used.

Attached Images

	Charge curve.JPG (33.2 KB, 0 views)
	Textron - Timer.jpg (138.7 KB, 0 views)
	Manual Charger - With Timer.jpg (88.9 KB, 0 views)
	SoC vs Voltage - Trojan Battery.JPG (56.9 KB, 0 views)

TechBill

Thank you for the information.

I should let it sit for at least 12 hours then check the voltage without driving it? I have a voltage meter added into the dash. If it read below 38v then keep charging it some more?

I will get that fuse and add it between the charger receptacle wire and battery terminal. How is this fuse installed?

Some type of fuse holder?

I found something like this over at https://www.amazon.com/Littelfuse-29...XCDK5KMPP90NM6

Rickochet

One end of my fuse was bolted to the battery terminal and the other end had a bolt through it and the cable eyelet.

JohnnieB

1. Yes, the chart is based on the batteries having neither been charged nor discharged for about 12 hours. However, that only needs to be done occasionally to see how well the batteries are being charged.

I only let my batteries sit for 12 hours twice a year, sort of a semiannual physical. Otherwise they are either on a regular charge or on float charge when we aren't out and about on the cart. More importantly, I periodically check the SoC about 30 minutes after the cart has been driven a know distance to estimate the max range. As the batteries age, the range get shorter.


Your charger does not have float charging and the timer has a 12 hour max on time. Giving the used batteries a second charge cycle won't hurt them and may help them.

The batteries should be put on charge after the cart is driven, no matter how short of a distance it was driven. If the cart isn't used at least once a week, the batteries should get a charge. While the cart is in winter storage, the need a charge at least once a month.

2. Rickochet said it.

TechBill

Will any of the float charger from Amazon or Harbor Freight work on 36v batteries setup to keep it topped while not in used?

JohnnieB

The inexpensive chargers at Amazon or Harbor Freight and the like, tend to be trickle chargers rather than float chargers and just limit the current to a few amps while letting the voltage vary and it may climb into the gassing range. A float charger regulates the voltage to slightly above the At-Rest voltage and slightly below the Gassing voltage.

Battery maintainers like this: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Saver...ery+maintainer and similar systems seem to do okay.

Personally, I use a DPI Accusense charger that goes into a float charging mode upon completion of the regular charge cycle and initiates a boost charge cycle after every 28 days of continuous float charging. http://www.cartsunlimited.net/chargers-36-48v.html

handtools

This is how I have my fuse installed.


untitled4.jpg

TechBill

I plan to get the DPI charger when my 36v batteries give out because I wanted to switch over to the 48v batteries setup.