To Plug In or Not To Plug In

Sdsuslacker

Just recently purchased a 1984 Marathon. I will be using it in the So Cal desert where it will also be stored. My family heads out to our RV every 2-3 weeks just for the weekend.

So.... Do I leave my cart plugged into the charger while we are away?

Do I purchase a trickle charger and leave that plugged in?

Do I not charge while we are away,and just plug the cart in as soon as we get to the RV?

Or....?

Thanks so much.

PS. Sorry for the upside down picture. Not sure what my phone was thinking there. :-)

Attached Images

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BGW

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JohnnieB

Golf cart batteries typically self discharge at about 1% of their charge per day, so after three weeks your batteries will only be about 80% charged.
Therefore, they should have a refresher charge before the cart is used unless the charge level is maintained during your absence.

Trickle charging might do it, but float charging would be better.

A charger that goes into float charge after the regular cycle completes would be the ideal solution.

This is what I use: http://www.cartsunlimited.net/48v_Battery_Charger.html

sportcoupe

Doesn't the Lestronic charger automatically turn on every 14 days if left plugged in or am I thinking about the Power Drive charger?

JohnnieB

No, or at least that isn't a feature listed in the manual.

Attached Files

Lestronic II - Model 07850 charger - 00870_E.pdf (152.7 KB, 0 views)

Sdsuslacker

Thanks sportcoupe and Johnnie. I had found the manual and repair manual, but neither answered my question.

So, does my charger just charge once and then shut off until I reconnect it?

I have plugged it in, it charges then shuts off. I haven't seen/heard it turn back on yet, unless it's being secretive and charging when I'm not in the garage.

JohnnieB

The attached is a cut&Paste from Page-4 on the manual I posted.

The way I read that statement, the charger does not come back on once it terminates the charge cycle.

The manual also states the DC plug must be disconnected and reconnected to initiate a new charge cycle, so just using a timer on the wall outlet won't work, unless you modify the charger.

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PG-4 Lestronic II manual.JPG (16.8 KB, 0 views)

Sdsuslacker

Well I guess I need to put a new charger on my Christmas list.

So would a regular battery charger (like the Harbor Freight style http://www.harborfreight.com/26-amp-...0322-9302.html) work?

The description says it will automatically switch to trickle charge when battery is fully charged.

Thanks.

sportcoupe

Typo, I said Power Drive (that's club car), I meant PowerWise.

Found what I was thinking of. The Lester 19300 can be left connected all the time. It will automatically turn on periodically to charge the batteries according to the owners manual.

Attached Images

Lester 19300 Capture.jpg (32.8 KB, 0 views)

Attached Files

Lester 19300 - OM-WD-PL.pdf (199.5 KB, 0 views)

remac

Nope - that is a 12v charger - your Lestronic is a 36 volt charger.
I assume you have 6 volt batteries so you could charge two at a time in series.
But that's not going to help out in the desert.

Sdsuslacker

Hmm! Well I can't afford $300 for a new charger, so I know it would be a pain in the posterior region, but what if I disconnect the battery cables and then connect 2 batteries to their own trickle charger?

I can buy 3 trickle chargers from HF for $15 (http://www.harborfreight.com/automat...ger-42292.html) I actually already have 2 of these, so I need only 1 more.

I know this is a pain, but I am spending all my money on new batteries and I really cant fork out the extra $300 on a new float charger. But I also don't want to kill my new batteries on a poor charging routine.