2001 ezgo golf cart

[Bobsz28]

I have six Trojan batteries in my cart that are 3-4 years old. They just barely make it 18 holes with one rider. I play once a week and leave the charger plugged into the batteries from the time I finish 18 until the next week. I find that if I unplug and replug the charger in the night before I play it starts to charge again and I can make it 36 holes.

Why do I have to do this? Shouldn't the charger recharge the batteries on its own without me having to unplug and replug?

[yurtle]

Probably not. Most chargers only charge once, unless it has a float mode. You already are doing the best thing you can do. I was gonna suggest that, until I saw you already figured it out. Batteries self discharge, and may do so faster as they age. You're doing everything right. Place on charger immediately after use, and again the night before use.

[sportcoupe]

You could also replace your factory, charge-once charger with something like a DPI charger which has float mode, then you wouldn't have to remember to restart the charge process. The DPI charger maintains a full charge forever.

ScottyB sells them for a great price.
http://www.cartsunlimited.net/48v_Battery_Charger.html

[yurtle]

Definitely a good idea, especially if you rarely use it during winter. Weekly use and weekly charging is fine, but if you have to leave it for months unused, you have to remember to keep up the routine. Not necessary with a DPI.