What is safe minimum voltage before use?

[Gorhad]

Check the SG

go to local auto store and buy the instrument its very inexpensive got mine for under 10 bucks, check each cell and post back. See attached for good readings

[dougmcp]

It still may be batteries. Put your meter on the battery pack, turn on the key and press the throttle, do you get a big voltage drop? If it drops to 35v or less, it's probably one or more bad batteries.
If no voltage drop, then your right, it may be something else like a solenoid or even the throttle switch..

[scottyb]

Yes if you have 38v in the pack and it will not move then you have other problems

[GLEEMO]

Originally Posted by Gorhad

Check the SG

go to local auto store and buy the instrument its very inexpensive got mine for under 10 bucks, check each cell and post back. See attached for good readings

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/attac...rytable1-1.jpg

[FIXEROFCARTS]

39 volts while on the charger after 8 hours....those battrees are no good

[Carwhisperer]

Originally Posted by FIXEROFCARTS

39 volts while on the charger after 8 hours....those battrees are no good

Guess I'll throw 'em in the trash. After all, you've been fixing golf carts for 28 years. No need to find out anything further, right?

Last test drive I had clicky clicky from a solenoid. Voltage dropped to 35ish from 38 with the pedal depressed. My cables look a bit corroded so I think I'll try cleaning them. Then I'll report back.
Brian

[sunking]

Originally Posted by Carwhisperer

If I've got 38v after resting for 1 hour and it won't drive then I've probably got other problems?

No it means your batteries will not take a charge. They are heavily sulfated with hard lead sulfide crystals coating the plates, which means very high resistance, which means very little current. The 38 volts you see is a surface charge, let them set for a couple of hours and that voltage will crash. Or put a load (draw current) on the battery and the voltage will crash.

Lead acid batteries cannot tolerate left being left discharge, or else lead sulfate crystals will form on the plates and harden.

[sms-shop]

if you have 38.2 volts after the pack has set for more then one hour you have problems else were the battery pack is good...

[iaefebs]

Brian,
One of the hardest things to hear for a new cart owner is "Your batteries are trashed.... it will take $700 to fix it" The reason you can pick up a used cart cheap is because the previous owner is dumping it... they know the batteries are shot. They charge them up .. give you 3 minutes to test it... and now it's your problem...So now it's time to move past this stage. The posters here are trying to help you. Do you want to know how to test individual cells of a battery? Do you want to explore the possibility of using ebay elixer ? it's all available in this forum.... bottom line though... your batteries are toast....sorry

[golfcarfixer]

Originally Posted by iaefebs

Brian,
One of the hardest things to hear for a new cart owner is "Your batteries are trashed.... it will take $700 to fix it" The reason you can pick up a used cart cheap is because the previous owner is dumping it... they know the batteries are shot. They charge them up .. give you 3 minutes to test it... and now it's your problem...So now it's time to move past this stage. The posters here are trying to help you. Do you want to know how to test individual cells of a battery? Do you want to explore the possibility of using ebay elixer ? it's all available in this forum.... bottom line though... your batteries are toast....sorry

I agree