Lester Matic 36 Volt Charger with timer knob not working/charging

[TahoeDawgZ71]

My money is on the capacitor. This may be a better question for the EZGO forum. I say this because those guys see 36 Volt chargers all day. Our 48 Volt chargers that I see every day don't use capacitors so I really don't have much experience with them. I haven't seen a 36 volt cart in a few years now so I'm afraid I'm not much help.

[CRK]

Darn... Tahoe you are supposed to know EVERYTHING CLUB CAR related!

Thanks for your input just the same! I have not opened the charger yet to have a look around but will soon and will report back.

[TahoeDawgZ71]

Originally Posted by CRK

Darn... Tahoe you are supposed to know EVERYTHING CLUB CAR related!

Thanks for your input just the same! I have not opened the charger yet to have a look around but will soon and will report back.

I know but I'm not perfect. I'll admit my weaknesses and that's one of them. 36 Volt chargers, Regen 1 cars, and Diesel engines are the devil.

[93yellowclubcar]

Originally Posted by TahoeDawgZ71

I know but I'm not perfect. I'll admit my weaknesses and that's one of them. 36 Volt chargers, Regen 1 cars, and Diesel engines are the devil.

Tahoe,

Can you take a look at CRK's other post http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...do-i-have.html and see if you can tell us anything about the square fendered DS carts in question? We have no clue about them and would like to know about them, hopefully maybe the Club Car Master does.

[joesam]

Regen I cars? The devil?? Geeez, who knew? Glad to say mine has run like a champ for me since 2002; with it's original OBC (the old red light version, believe it or not) and a rebuilt "T" GE controller (the original lasted 14 years, and I think that only died because of an unseen gap/arc in one of my old battery connectors). Plus, I noticed it was always just a bit faster than the neighborhood series DS carts of the day. AND it had Regen braking which I need. If I replaced it, I would choose an IQ - which I perceive to be better. But I use it strictly for what it was designed for - golf, and that probably makes a pretty big difference to it's longevity.

[jakesnake27]

Originally Posted by joesam

But I use it strictly for what it was designed for - golf, and that probably makes a pretty big difference to it's longevity.

What is this 'golf'???

[jdunmyer]

If that thing is humming loudly, the capacitors are probably good. First thing is to check the output fuse. If your unit looks like your picture, that's a dual-element fuse, you should see if both parts are OK. If they are, then check the diodes by disconnecting one side, then checking with an ohmmeter. They should show a very low resistance in one direction, very high in the other.

Those old Lesters will charge the batteries just as well as any other, just set the timer according to the decal on the top. "Set for 12 hours for heavily discharged batteries, 7 if lightly discharged. Turn charger in the morning, if ammeter drops into the green within 15 minutes, batteries are fully charged."

When I had one of those, I'd set it for a couple of hours, just to top off the charge when I knew the batteries were near full anyway.

[CRK]

Yep VERY LOUDLY! Fuse in the round bubble looks good I need to check the diodes.

Where is the other fuse, the cord that plugs in to the cart or, inside the charger?

[jdunmyer]

I'm pretty sure that the round fuse has dual elements, but if it appears good, it probably is. My Lester had 2 screw-in fuses like they used to use in houses, one for the 120VAC, the other for the 36VDC. If you take the cover off, all that stuff is easy to check, and diagrams are available from Lester's site. Parts are readily available, and not expensive until you get to the transformer. If that's shot, you might as well upgrade and be done with it.

[Stevegrmich]

. . . meter the fuse even if it "looks good" to be sure . . .