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Electric EZGO Electric EZ GO Marathon, Medalist, TXT and RXV. |
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11-05-2015, 07:25 AM | #1 |
Card Carrying Old Fart
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 706
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How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
I have an '07 TXT PDS 36v that I bought in '12 and it came with a new set of trojans. During the summer I leave the cart at the lake in the marina parking lot with about 40 other carts. There is no electricity in the parking area. I charge the cart the night before I leave and drive it 1/4 mile to the lot. I have often left it for 3 weeks with no issues and when I arrive back at the lake I have plenty of power to get me to my boat. The last time there when I arrived after 4 weeks it barely had enough power to get me to my boat. This is the first time it has done this.
I keep the water checked and try to never let it go below 80%. Perhaps at 4 years the batts aren't as strong as they once were. I also set the run/tow switch to tow and there are no accessories to get left on. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to keep the charge up on the pack while parked for extended periods. I have found some 36v solar chargers but they are pretty expensive and I am afraid it would get stolen. I also wondered that if I get to the cart and voltage is way down could I use an additional 12v batt jumper cabled to the pack to boost voltage to get me the 1/4 mile to the boat or would this fry the controller? Would doing a 48v conversion help my situation? Any other suggestions other than get a gas cart would be appreciated. |
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11-05-2015, 08:48 AM | #2 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
only a solar charger would work in your usage
they do bolt to roof adding a 12v jumper box would work short term , if put in parallel with 2 of your batteries , but i would not do it |
11-05-2015, 08:53 AM | #3 |
Card Carrying Old Fart
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 706
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
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11-05-2015, 09:05 AM | #4 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Rio Verde, Az
Posts: 7,183
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
Solar charger might work for you if it's outside.
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11-05-2015, 11:32 AM | #5 |
Techno-Nerd
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 19,654
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
The self-discharge rate of batteries is about 1% of the SoC per day, so for 225AH batteries it is about 2.3AH per day, or a flow rate of about 0.1A. So a 36V solar charger that puts out 100 Milli-amps or more, ought to keep them charged.
------------ Putting the Run/Tow switch in Tow doesn't completely turn off a PDS controller and keeping the filter capacitors charged in any type controller draws current for the battery pack. Disconnecting the any of the high current cable connecting the batteries in series will reduce the parasitic drain on the battery pack. The batteries, in and of themselves, will still self-discharge, but the overall discharge rate of the pack will be less. (Be aware that you'll get an arc when you reconnect the cable.) -------------- Going to a 48V system might help since you are starting with a higher voltage. Also the cart's performance will be better. Last edited by JohnnieB; 11-05-2015 at 11:35 AM.. Reason: Added comment |
11-05-2015, 11:39 AM | #6 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Acworth, Ga
Posts: 244
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
Quote:
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11-05-2015, 12:15 PM | #7 | |
Techno-Nerd
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 19,654
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
Quote:
I disconnected my DPI charger after the power was off for a couple days (Strange what you think of doing when there is nothing much to do. ) and measured the battery voltages right before I plugged it back into the cart after the power was restored. I seem to have misplaced the spreadsheet I used, but IIRC, I lost a bit over 1% per day with batteries connected, but Run/Tow in Tow. (DCX500 controller at the time) The 1% discharge rate is a general rule of thumb and is the basis for the recommendation that carts be charged at least once a month while in storage. Some cart setups discharge more while others discharge less. I suspect your battery's life span will be greater than what your neighbor will get, but even if it isn't, you will be starting each trip with full charged batteries and enjoy better performance on the trip. |
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11-05-2015, 01:27 PM | #8 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 13,176
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
If you have 39 other carts there, you could think about putting in a power pole and split the costs... You would need a bunch of outlets though..
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11-05-2015, 02:09 PM | #9 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
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11-06-2015, 08:18 AM | #10 |
Card Carrying Old Fart
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 706
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Re: How To Decrease Self Discharge When Not In Use
The parking area in question floods about once per year so it is unlikely that we could get permission to run a line and outlets and might be too expensive anywho.
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