Battery drain

reinman88

Got a question on battery drain.

I have an 08 drive with new 2014 batteries. Just got the cart last month.

When I take it down to the woods by the river, which can be almost daily, I make about a 2 mile run round trip. When I get back I charge the batteries each time. Usually it takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for the green light to blink showing a full charge. Since I make this trip almost daily, that means I've probably charged the batteries a dozen times or more so far.

I made the trip on Monday, and charged the cart back up. Because of storms I did not make the trip again until Friday. Between Monday and Friday I used the cart a bit by the house, so maybe 10 minutes driving time.

Friday I go to the river. On the way back I have to go up a long steep hill. I notice I have less power and end up not making it. I shut off the switch and flip the run/tow switch. I make it up the hill, but have to do this 4 more times to make it home. When I get home I check my batteries and they all read from 10.9 to 11.1. At 5 pm I put on the charger and let it run. At 10 pm the green light is blinking so I pull the plug on the charger. At that point all batteries test to over 13, with full pack charge at 53. Twelve hours later all batteries test 12.6 or 12.7.

There is nothing hooked to the batteries in the cart. So why the drain on the batteries after sitting 4 days?

On another thread I asked about a clicking noise the cart makes when I get in and it's shut off, and was told the cart feels movement and brakes itself. I haven't set the parking brake when not using the cart. Is it possible this has something to do with it.

BGW

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crash test dummy

batteries settle after a charge ... 12h is normal reading time for pack voltage

reinman88

Yeah I figure I am back to normal, but why did my batteries drain over 4 days between charges without use. A less then 2 mile run should not have drained the batteries.

At first I was wondering if my charger was working all those other times because I never checked the batteries. But now that I know it's charging, that shouldn't be the problem.

Olman

I have a digital voltmeter on my G29. I noticed that when the green lite on the charger goes steady, the charger is still charging. I read 59-60 volts. I just let the charger stay plugged in and after a few hours, the voltage read 51.5 so it was finished at that point. What I'm trying to say is, contrary to what the manual says, the charger is not done when the green light first goes steady. Try leaving it on the charger longer next time and see if that helps.

reinman88

I'll give it a shot, and I'll double check voltage after charges from now on.

In the case of my charger the orange light blinks when charging and the green light blinks when done. Neither stays on steady.I believe my charger says it's 90% charged with the green light is on.

Yesterday after 5 hours the green light was blinking as always. I unplugged and that that time I was over 13 volts on each battery and 53 volts for the pack, which should be normal. At least I thought that was normal after charge. I expected the drop off to 12.6 per battery and 51 volts for the pack after 12 hours.

But even if my battery pack was not 100% charged when I pulled the plug on Monday, I should be able to go more then 2 miles on Friday without my batteries going all the way down to 11 volts each.

reinman88

Decided since I had someone around in case I needed a tow I'd try the river run again.

All batteries read around 12.4 and they had maybe 1/4 mile use since the charge last night.

After about 1 mile I checked again and had around 12.3 on each, with a pack reading of 49.

After I got back home, which would be about 2 miles I had 12.2 and one at 12.18, pack had a 48 reading then a 49 reading.

It is now back on the charger.

Are these readings a pretty big drop for only 2 miles of use with one big hill to climb.

reinman88

Thought I'd update this again.

Charged the batteries last night. All over 13 when I took the charger off, and the pack was 52. This morning about a 15 hour rest all four checked in at 12.6 or 12.7. Total pack was 50. I assume that should be normal.

Was doing some work on the barn at my daughters house so made quite a few trips back and forth. Probably made 8 trips total with each one about 200 yards. So that should be about 4,800 feet total or less then 1 mile.

This evening the batteries showed 12.19, 12.19, 12.25, 12.29, with the pack voltage at 49.

According to Scotty's chart, that means the pack is 50% to 60% charged. Now I know 4 12 volt batteries is not as good as 8 6 volt batteries. But clearly even with 12 volt batteries you shouldn't go to 50% charge with less then 1 mile driven.

And as a reminder the batteries are new. Three of them are stamped D4. I can't find any stamp on the fourth battery, but it was the 12.25 battery, so there are two that aren't holding up as good.

There is nothing hooked up to the cart that uses electricity. So the only thing I can think of that drains the batteries faster then normal would be the motor, or if the brakes are somehow holding me back just enough to help drain things.

Anybody got any ideas other then that.

joshualmarley

I know you said these are new, but what brand and model are the batteries? Does the cart have a stock controller and motor? I have a 2012 Drive and it has the 6 8v batteries so I can't compare apples to apples but 2-4 miles shouldn't really affect the batteries. I am wondering if your regen is malfunctioning. Also, you might check the cables to make sure they are all connected tight.

I took mine 1.5 miles to the golf course today, forgot something and had to come home and go back so that's 4.5 miles. I was full speed no problem when I got there and then played 18 holes and drove home and my pack voltage after all that was 49.17 so something seems out of place with yours.

Josh

reinman88

The batteries are Trojan T1275. Not sure if those are the better 12 volt or a lower end 12 volt Trojan.

Did another check this morning, and the cart had not been moved overnight.

Last night at 7 pm the batteries tested.

12.29, 12.19, 12.25, 12.19 pack was 49.

This morning at 7 am.

12.27, 12.17, 12.23, 12.17, pack switches back and forth between 48 and 49.

I am stopping to see the guy where I got the cart this morning to detail what's been happening. I talked to him Friday when it first happened, and told him I'd monitor it over the weekend. He said whatever it is they'd get it in and make it right for me.

Edited to add. Everything as far as motor and controller should be stock. He gets in carts from a course, lifts them, fixes them up, and resells them.

johnk4jmk

reinman88 sounds like to me you have something going on maybe a ground of some kind,although you batterys do need broke in since they are new,but you should by a long shot be getting more range and not so much of a voltage drop.My batterys are O9's so they are getting some age on them but i still go on 15 to 20 mile rides 2-3 times a week,not wide open but just getting the cart going and letting it do its thing,the only thing i will add that hill your talking about if your going up it very slow and it is really long you are producing alot of heat,and always plug that cart up golfcart batterys like to be charged,if you ride 10 minutes plug it up and leave it plugged even when your green light comes up.hope this helps.

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