New Batteries--problem charging

[scubabud]

Originally Posted by jlutsey

scubabud, care to share where you found the batteries/cost? if not, i understand. may be in the market myself.....

I didn't purchase any batteries, just the Digital Meter that I've shown in the pictures attached. My batteries are just a bit over 1 year old now.

[iaudit]

Originally Posted by scubabud

If you plan on keeping your cart for any length of time I would highly recommend getting an inexpensive Digital Meter and use it as a very accurate fuel gauge for your cart. You have a fuel gauge in your car, truck or SUV so why not have one on your cart. It will let you know when you’re nearing 50% of pack voltage, 48.41v on a 48 volt system which is optimal as to where to recharge your batteries to get the most life from them. Online they’re less then $20.

http://cgi.ebay.com/UP8135-BLUE-LED-...item518d285957

Here is an example on ebay of the meter I use.

What is involved in hooking this meter up??
Thanks

[scubabud]

Originally Posted by iaudit

What is involved in hooking this meter up??
Thanks

4 wires

1=Power source from a battery + 6-12 volt. (can be from a wire in the dash that is also in that range such as from your light switch, inverter, etc.)

2=Power from that same battery - post. ( A ground lead will do.)

3=Input + from the Battery Pack, (36v or 48v pack.)

4=Input - from the Battery Pack, (your ground from the pack.)

My dip switches are set this way:
1,2 & 3 are OFF or down
4&5 are up because Dip 3 is for common ground, (2&4 are using the same ground on my cart, your choice.) and Dip 5 is only if you are using your meter for voltage below 2 volts, (we're using it for between 36 - 48v.)

[golfcarfixer]

As you know clubcar has that little yellow light on the dash of 48volt cars and when you get to about 25% charge left in the batteries it will blink a lot.That means its time to head towards home and charge the car.

[Pfretz]

Originally Posted by jlutsey

scubabud, care to share where you found the batteries/cost? if not, i understand. may be in the market myself.....

I actually ordered the batteries on line from an local outfit called WheelzLLC and picked them up from my local Trojan distributor,,,,, for a lot less money than I could find them anywhere else. I paid $105 each out the door with a core exchange. Around here, the cart shops are quoting $127 to $138 plus tax for the Trojan T-875 so I think a got a fairly good price.

[FIXEROFCARTS]

Originally Posted by Pfretz

Ok,,, I couldn't stand it an put in a new set of Trojan T-875 batteries yesterday. I put them in and put the cart on the charger and it took about 12 hours for it to shut off. I took the cart out this morning and ran it around hard for about 20 minutes in the neighborhood and it performed amazing compared to how it was with the old Workahaulic Batteries. Upon returning I put it back on the charger and it ran for about a minute and the charger shut itself off. I unplugged the charger cord and plugged it in again and the same thing happened. I checked the batteries just to see and they each show 8.6v and the system was 52.0v.

Is this normal or does anyone think I have a problem?

You ran it for 20 minutes, plugged it in and the charger ran for "about a minute" and shut off? Thats not right. If you drive the car 10 feet and plug it back in its gonna run for 30 minutes. 20 minutes of run time is equal to over 9 holes of golf, it should run longer than 1 minute.

[Pfretz]

Originally Posted by FIXEROFCARTS

You ran it for 20 minutes, plugged it in and the charger ran for "about a minute" and shut off? Thats not right. If you drive the car 10 feet and plug it back in its gonna run for 30 minutes. 20 minutes of run time is equal to over 9 holes of golf, it should run longer than 1 minute.

Well,,, that's what I thought but in checking the batteries this morning each one of them reads 8.5 volts and the overall system reads 51.7 volts. I tried the charger again this morning to see what would happen,,,, and it did the same thing. Any ideas to float around?

[scottyb]

I'm a little slow sometimes ..... if I understand you correctly. You are saying that the battery pack is 51.7 volts and you want to know why your 48v charger is not charging? Is that correct?

[FIXEROFCARTS]

Your batteries are charged, so your charger is working. I'd say, use it normally, then try to recharge and see what happens then.

[Pfretz]

Originally Posted by scottyb

I'm a little slow sometimes ..... if I understand you correctly. You are saying that the battery pack is 51.7 volts and you want to know why your 48v charger is not charging? Is that correct?

No I'm the one that's a little slow,,,, I guess. I was curious as to why after running the cart for 20 minutes straight, and a lot of it uphill, that the charger only ran for a few of minutes before it shut off. I would have thought it should have run a lot longer to bring the batteries back up to full charge,,,, but apparently not.

Hey,,, if I knew all the answers, I wouldn't be here now would I!