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Old 04-18-2013, 05:03 PM   #1
Eastbayfisher
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Default Questions on battery care and maint

I am new to the electric cart world but not totally new to some battery care. I want to make sure that since the batteries are the life of the cart then they are treated properly. I am driving a 2001 TXT Fleet with new batteries (36v) and 22" tires. My questions are these: 1) How far is to far to run the batteries down before charging? 2) Should they be charged after every runaround no matter how low they get? 3) Should there be a wait time after charging prior to running that cart again? 4) What about the specific gravity numbers, time frames? 5) Last but not least, are there any good practices that you have learned and apply that would help out or anything that I have overlooked that is important. Thank you in advance for the information!
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Old 04-18-2013, 07:00 PM   #2
JohnnieB
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Default Re: Questions on battery care and maint

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eastbayfisher View Post
I am new to the electric cart world but not totally new to some battery care. I want to make sure that since the batteries are the life of the cart then they are treated properly. I am driving a 2001 TXT Fleet with new batteries (36v) and 22" tires. My questions are these:
1) How far is to far to run the batteries down before charging?
2) Should they be charged after every runaround no matter how low they get?
3) Should there be a wait time after charging prior to running that cart again?
4) What about the specific gravity numbers, time frames?
5) Last but not least, are there any good practices that you have learned and apply that would help out or anything that I have overlooked that is important.
Thank you in advance for the information!
For starters, nearly everything you've previous learned about batteries, probably does not apply to Deep-Cycle, Lead-Acid, Wet-Cell batteries.

1. They should never be discharged below 50% SoC (State of Charge) or loaded down to less than 1.75VPC (Volts per Cell) during cart operation.
2. They should be charged after each use, no matter how slight the usage. They have no "memory", so there is no need to discharge them at all. The higher the average SoC you maintain, the longer your batteries will last.
3. No need to wait.
4. The electrolyte will be higher close to the plates after being charged and lower close to the plates after being discharged, and will stratify (IE: Lower SG at top of cell due to gravity) when sitting still. I usually wait a few hours after charging or a few minutes after discharging before taking SG readings. Also, fill the hydrometer bulb several times and carefully squirt back into cell several times to mix stratified electrolyte.
5. Keep the terminals and battery tops clean. Make sure battery terminal nuts are tight, but do not over-tighten. (IE: Spec is 95-105 lb/in, which is only about 8 Ft/Lb, so be careful. The stud is only a hex head bolt embedded in Lead and it doesn't take much to loosen it, which in turn causes the battery post to melt.)
Only add distilled water. Only add water to fully charged batteries and initiate a charge cycle after adding water.
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Old 04-18-2013, 07:56 PM   #3
kernal
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Default Re: Questions on battery care and maint

Here's a couple of charts you might find interesting:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg batterytable1118242f71.jpg (43.1 KB, 0 views)
File Type: jpg SoC vs Theoretical Charge cycles with Voltages.jpg (119.3 KB, 0 views)
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Old 04-19-2013, 08:55 PM   #4
Eastbayfisher
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Default Re: Questions on battery care and maint

Thanks guys thats what I was looking for!
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Old 04-21-2013, 09:34 AM   #5
Eastbayfisher
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Default Re: Questions on battery care and maint

If I were to upgrade to 2G cables would I have to change anything else due to that change? Would it be worth the change just by otslef? I want to eventually do an upgrade to the controller and solenoid and so on. Right now I beleive the buggy is stock with a left and 22" tires. Also how do you tell what amp controller, motor and solenoid that are on the buggy now? I use this buggy mostly for hunting and I am looking for more travel distance out of my batteries.
Thanks
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Old 04-21-2013, 10:44 AM   #6
JohnnieB
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Default Re: Questions on battery care and maint

Do you have a Series drive or a PDS drive?

You say it is a 2001 TXT, so if the F/R switch is on the dash, it is a PDS and if it is by your right knee, it is a series drive.

A stock PDS controller is 300A
A stock Series controller is 275A.

The stock solenoid for either is about 80A continuous.

The motors in either, while different in design, are capable of handling more amps and/or voltage than the stock controller can deliver.

--------------
You don't have to change anything else when you upgrade to larger cables.
Be sure to replace all the high current cables. 13 or 14 for a series drive and 10 for a PDS.

It depends on how bad the original cables are, but you may see some improvement in torque and maybe a little better top speed with a series cart.
(PDS top speed won't change because the controller limits motor RPM)

As for new/larger cables increasing the travel distance (run-time), it probably won't change much. However, if the existing high current cables are really bad and getting hot, some of the AH your battery pack has are being converted to heat instead of motion and a good set of cables will eliminate that waste.

Technically, travel distance is determined by how many Kilo-Watt Hours (Amp-Hours X Volts = kWh) of energy are stored in your battery pack. To increase the run-time you have to install batteries with more Amp-hours and/or use more batteries in the pack.

Each revolution of your 22" tires will move your cart further than it would have traveled on stock height (18") tires, but more energy is needed to turn the taller tires, so the travel distance will probable be about the same, or maybe even less.
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