Cart can't last 18 holes, why?

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by bigtimegolf777

Ok, what exactly does this mean?

Do i have battery issues or is something else in need of repair/upgrade?

well one good thing is that your batteries are still attaining 100% charge. your real question is how far can I go... (RANGE) with age.....you batteries range will decrease. and if properly cared for, will last in the neighborhood of 5 or so years, on average.

EVERYTIME you use the cart....recharge it.....and keep it charged at all times. there are times I may not use my cart for a few weeks, so after I have charged my cart.....and I haven't used it in a week or so, I go and start the charge cycle again to top them off.....its GOOD for the batteries to keep it topped off. and at least once a month, check the water levels.

[bigtimegolf777]

Originally Posted by Sir Nuke

I too live in a community that has a course that runs through it..... for your range estimate, try this, its what I did, and it works. chart out a long course around your neighborhood in your car, at least the 5 or 6 miles. before you start, clear/set your trip meter....when you get back to your house, note the mileage. THEN, with you cart charged/rested, should be the 38.2v as before (100% SOC).....run the same course....stop back at the house and wait for about 30 minutes and check total pack voltage again and note it....do the math. AFTER TRIP / BEFORE TRIP. This will give you a good idea of your range.

AND seeing as how it appears that all you have is a DVM.....We would highly suggest you get one that mounts in the dash that reads out pack voltage.....kind of acts like a "GAS GAUGE". Here is a link directly to one of your sponsors. which is where most of got ours.

http://www.cartsunlimited.net/Digita...ry_Meters.html

Sir Nuke,
I already tested the batteries after a full charge (and letting them sit for 12 hours). Those numbers were posted earlier. The most recent numbers are after driving for 5 miles.

So i technically already did that, but i still don't know what it all means. Why has my cart died the past 2 rounds if my batteries are fine? Both those times, the cart was driven maybe 6-7 miles.

If i tested my batteries RIGHT before they were ready to die, what numbers would expect? 1.5V ??

[Sir Nuke]

well your last round (9 holes) still had lots of life (80%) and should have lasted another 9 holes no problem. actually, a lot more than that. now we are not sure of your battery maintenance schedule over the last 2 years of their life.....do you keep the cart charged at all times? even in the winter? has it ever gone totally dead? \

the lowest you should ever let a 6v battery get down to is 6v (50% SOC) lower than that, detrimental damage has been done.

[yurtle]

Originally Posted by Sir Nuke

the lowest you should ever let a 6v battery get down to is 6v (50% SOC) lower than that, detrimental damage has been done.

What's maybe even worse than running the pack down too low, is letting it stay that way for a prolonged period. Even if you only run it down to 70%, it should be charged as soon as practical.

[JohnnieB]

You started at 38.19V (99.8% Soc) and ended at 37.58V (82.3% SoC) and traveled an estimated 5.5 miles, so the estimated max range of the cart without going below 50% SoC, is about 15.7 Miles.

Cold weather does reduce the range, but my numbers are based on the temperature ate the time the 5.5 miles was driven, so you should easily get 18 holes, if the back nine are the same as the front nine (3.0 miles)

There is the possibility that you have a battery or two that drops out under load, but I'm more inclined to believe the problem is something other than the batteries.

When the cart dies, how does it act?

[bigtimegolf777]

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

You started at 38.19V (99.8% Soc) and ended at 37.58V (82.3% SoC) and traveled an estimated 5.5 miles, so the estimated max range of the cart without going below 50% SoC, is about 15.7 Miles.

Cold weather does reduce the range, but my numbers are based on the temperature ate the time the 5.5 miles was driven, so you should easily get 18 holes, if the back nine are the same as the front nine (3.0 miles)

There is the possibility that you have a battery or two that drops out under load, but I'm more inclined to believe the problem is something other than the batteries.

When the cart dies, how does it act?

It just starts to slow down, and eventually will come to a complete stop. Sometimes, before its completely dead, if i let the cart sit for 5 minutes, when i come back to it, i can go a few hundred yards, before it slows to a stop again

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by bigtimegolf777

It just starts to slow down, and eventually will come to a complete stop. Sometimes, before its completely dead, if i let the cart sit for 5 minutes, when i come back to it, i can go a few hundred yards, before it slows to a stop again

Take your voltmeter with you and the next time it slows to a stop, measure the battery pack voltage and the individual battery voltages.

Also, is it a series drive or DCS?
What size tires are on it?

Sounds like your battery pack is dying, but the voltage number you posted earlier doesn't indicate they are all that bad.

[jjance]

Do you use any accessories such as a high wattage stereo/radio, or keep your lights on. Also up in cold weather land a battery cell may have frozen. I'd try jacking the rear wheels off the ground and running the motor long enough to get a voltage reading on the pack and the individual batteries. See if any of the individual batteries has an excessive drop. Also chock the front wheels.

[bigtimegolf777]

Ok last test run/update.

Played 18 holes today and made it home with cart not dying. Total driving 7-8 miles.

I checked the batteries about 2 hours after i made it home and here are the results.

6.23
6.23
6.10
6.21
6.21
6.24

Can we safely say it's not the batteries?

[radioman]

Read JohnnieB post #27 again.