Rapid power loss/drain

[Tom444]

Car: reconditioned 2014 Precedent with 13 months use on batteries (48V pack)
History: about two months ago I started getting a warning light on the Eric charger that indicates it is not able to complete charge and at the same time started to run out of power sooner. Originally it was good for two rounds of golf on a full charge and after the warning light started it ran low after one round and the motor would cut out going up an incline.


Took it to the dealer to have it checked out and they indicated it had one bad battery which they replaced under warranty + $128 in labor. Got it back and it charged up with a full charge indication. First time out same thing only worse. Back to the dealer and this time they said another battery had a melted post. No warranty. Got it back and still running out of power. Not going back to the dealer decided to try fix myself.

My first thought is that even though the original new Trojan batteries are only about 13 months old they may be waring down faster due to the number of hours it is run. My wife and I both golf and it is used 5 to 6 days a week for that last year. we live in Henderson/Las Vegas and of course we have the hot summer temps. which tend to play havoc with battery life.

Testing: after a full, overnight charge the battery pack (6 x 8V) tests out at 50.1v and five of the six test out at 8.1 to 8.65 with the sixth at 7.96. After running 18 holes the pack is 46.2 and each is 7.3 to 8.4 with the sixth one at 5.8.

I am not an expert on voltage/amp amount needed to keep a cart running so can anyone tell me if the above charge amounts are good or bad and is or is not the problem or do I have another issue.

[NoleFan4Ever]

Originally Posted by Tom444

Testing: after a full, overnight charge the battery pack (6 x 8V) tests out at 50.1v and five of the six test out at 8.1 to 8.65 with the sixth at 7.96. After running 18 holes the pack is 46.2 and each is 7.3 to 8.4 with the sixth one at 5.8.

I am not an expert on voltage/amp amount needed to keep a cart running so can anyone tell me if the above charge amounts are good or bad and is or is not the problem or do I have another issue.

The problem(s) is/are noted above. 12 hours after a charge - 50.9 volts should be on a full pack and 8.5 per battery.

Battery Percentages.jpg

[mrgolf]

Batteries are your problem. They seem very unbalanced with the low one needs to be replaced. Seems you have put up with enough problems with this thing. If it were mine I would just replace the battery pack and make sure you keep them serviced and charged anytime you are not using cart plug the charger up. With your batteries if you want them cared for correctly, you have to do it yourself as the old saying goes.

Welcome to BGW

[Tom444]

So you say s/b 50.9v. Does that mean that mine at 50.1v is a problem and too low to keep the cart running for more than 4 - 4.5 hours?

[LukeL]

Originally Posted by Tom444

Car: reconditioned 2014 Precedent with 13 months use on batteries (48V pack)

History: about two months ago I started getting a warning light on the Eric charger that indicates it is not able to complete charge and at the same time started to run out of power sooner. Originally it was good for two rounds of golf on a full charge and after the warning light started it ran low after one round and the motor would cut out going up an incline.





Took it to the dealer to have it checked out and they indicated it had one bad battery which they replaced under warranty + $128 in labor. Got it back and it charged up with a full charge indication. First time out same thing only worse. Back to the dealer and this time they said another battery had a melted post. No warranty. Got it back and still running out of power. Not going back to the dealer decided to try fix myself.



My first thought is that even though the original new Trojan batteries are only about 13 months old they may be waring down faster due to the number of hours it is run. My wife and I both golf and it is used 5 to 6 days a week for that last year. we live in Henderson/Las Vegas and of course we have the hot summer temps. which tend to play havoc with battery life.



Testing: after a full, overnight charge the battery pack (6 x 8V) tests out at 50.1v and five of the six test out at 8.1 to 8.65 with the sixth at 7.96. After running 18 holes the pack is 46.2 and each is 7.3 to 8.4 with the sixth one at 5.8.



I am not an expert on voltage/amp amount needed to keep a cart running so can anyone tell me if the above charge amounts are good or bad and is or is not the problem or do I have another issue.

I’m still having a hard time getting over the fact that they charged you 130 bucks of labor alone to replace one battery!


Club Car DS driver’s club #59

[NoleFan4Ever]

Originally Posted by Tom444

So you say s/b 50.9v. Does that mean that mine at 50.1v is a problem and too low to keep the cart running for more than 4 - 4.5 hours?

Yes, 50.1v is only about ~80% charge. With the weak battery you have lost your amphour capacity.

[E36Racer]

What do the water levels look like?

[Tom444]

Thanks all for the feedback.
Since purchasing the cart I have charged it after every use except 3 times. The first to test if it would make two rounds and twice my wife forgot to put on the charger.
It has an EZ fill watering system and I have always made sure to refill on a regular bases but will take a look to make certain the levels are good.
Is it normal for batteries to become unbalanced in a pack when they have been charged and watered (maintained) correctly?

[swm63]

The single point watering systems aren't the most reliable. I'd bet you have a stuck valve in at least one of them and it's under/over watering the connected battery.

[WalterM6]

hot summer temps. which tend to play havoc with battery life.

As a side note. A Battery is a chemical reaction. Heat speeds up a chemical reaction so that isn't your problem.