1985 Club Car Electric - Really sluggish

[GatorsUF]

So I haven't had a good charger for my cart for a while, but I have brand new batteries.

I used one of these: Stanley GBCPRO Golf Cart Charger

I worked great for about a year until I left it outside and it got some rain inside it and caused it to malfunction.

Since then I purchased a Save-A-Battery charger maintainer and it worked ok for a while but the cart has slowly been losing power. I don't use it that often so the slow charge seemed to be ok, but now it acts dead even when it's fully charged.

I just checked the cart and the batteries have 38.6v but right now it will barely move.

What is it that I need to fix this issue? What can I test?

[scottyb]

The charger is the problem, your batteries are dying a slow death.
50 watts at 36 volts = 1.39 amps.
The battery(ies) needs about 10% of their capacity in the bulk stage of recharging. This number is close to 20 amps.
Additionally wet cell deep cycle charging requires at least a 3 stage algorithm.
Get these batteries on a real golf cart charger stat. They may have already lost some of their capacity.

[Golf cart guy]

how many solenoid clicks do you get and does it accelerate on every click?

[GatorsUF]

I am going to grab a new charger. Does it matter specifically which of those large heavy aluminum chargers I get? I see these on craigslist: http://sarasota.craigslist.org/rvs/5844500182.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/rvs/5839133298.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/snw/5805367233.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/bar/5831104631.html - Smaller (onboard?)
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/pts/5804899095.html

They all look kinda similar (other than the small one), does it matter? I have a crowsfoot connection, however I saved the cord from my original charger so I could probably use that if I had to.

As far as silenoid clicks, I don't hear that many of them. I took it out earlier today (my nextdoor neighbors wife has alzheimers and she was wondering) and while driving through the neighborhood it started off kinda sluggish and after about 15 minutes I wasn't sure I'd make it home. It wouldn't hardly make it up the crown in the road. I checked the battery voltage when I got home (they had a strong electrical odor) and it said 38 volts.

[Tommy T]

Spend the money and get a DPI charger from Scotty B . at Carts Unlimited Above. You will not find a better person to deal with. He is all about taking care of anything you need. I am happy I got my DPI charger form him.

[GatorsUF]

Thanks for the help guys!

I'd love to get a DPI charger from Scotty B but I need something under $200. I found a used Powerwise EZ-GO 36v charger online, is that a decent charger for $150? Is there any testing I can do when I pick it up to make sure it works ok?

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/for/5844501506.html

[scottyb]

Yes that is a good charger and you can put you old cord on it.

Jack one wheel up, remove the seat, slowly, methodically push the pedal down and count the number of clicks you hear as cartfixer suggested. You may also have one or more solenoids not working?

[TahoeDawgZ71]

....... and even if they click, it doesn't mean they work.

[GatorsUF]

So I got that charger and it seems to work well. I actually extended the power cord on it by hooking the crows foot cord to the end of the original EZ-GO plug. I had to connect the "red wire" to the negative side to allow it to operate.

I did check the solenoids and I think the first one is out, which probably makes it not take off very fast.

Video for reference: https://goo.gl/photos/xfVm8VAnT1fAu7JT6

Are they hard to replace? Where can I order a replacement solenoid?