First Time Charge

[ron67601]

Hey, Scotty what is your website? I would like to have a look at it. Thanks

[scottyb]

My website is http://cartsunlimited.net/

Click the link below

Scottyb's Carts Unlimited

[fishb8]

Originally Posted by scottyb

For me it easiest to charge the pack fully, let the charger shut off & disconnect it. Let the pack sit 12 hours and take a voltage reading it should be very close to 38.4 for 36v and 50.9 for 48v... take the readings.... It is best if you have somebody who will write them down for you as you call them out....
To keep track of the info # the batteries 1 - 6 and list 3 readings for each battery.... once you post the voltage of each battery & all the SG info here we can help you determine the condition of the batteries.
Your date may look something like this:
50 degrees at testing ...
Battery #1 6.29v 2.35 2.30.2.25

Ok charged last night. Let is sit for 12 hours. I got the only hydrometer I could find, 1.30 is the highest number. I used + or - to indicate if it was a little higher(+) or little lower(-) than the number.

temp 55 degrees: Total pack 37.8v

Battery #1 6.41v 1.30 1.275+ 1.30
Battery #2 6.39v 1.30 1.275 1.275+
Battery #3 6.23v 1.25 1.25 1.275-
Battery #4 6.30v 1.275 1.275 1.225
Battery #5 6.22v 1.225 1.25 1.225
Battery #6 6.31v 1.275 1.25 1.275+

What does all this tell you?

[wizardket]

I believe that more than a .05 difference in cells on the same battery says it is bad. Battery 3 & 6 have that. Can someone else confirm this?

[scottyb]

The batteries look better than I thought they would, honestly. After 12 hours they show good voltage and specific gravity. Some cells do raise concern but but all in all you have 90% of a full reading part of which is due to 55 degrees. I think a load test is in order... can you drive it for 15 minutes straight and let it set for 15 minutes and give us another voltage reading for each battery?

[fishb8]

I was reading around the site and wonder if I need to have the batteries disconnected for all these test/readings?

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by fishb8

I was reading around the site and wonder if I need to have the batteries disconnected for all these test/readings?

NO need to disconnect. There is sometimes support voltage from adjacent batteries but the kind of differences I'm looking for will show anyway.

[fishb8]

Originally Posted by scottyb

The batteries look better than I thought they would, honestly. After 12 hours they show good voltage and specific gravity. Some cells do raise concern but but all in all you have 90% of a full reading part of which is due to 55 degrees. I think a load test is in order... can you drive it for 15 minutes straight and let it set for 15 minutes and give us another voltage reading for each battery?

You want volts per battery only? not the hydrometer, right.

[Gale Hawkins]

Originally Posted by fishb8

Ok charged last night. Let is sit for 12 hours. I got the only hydrometer I could find, 1.30 is the highest number. I used + or - to indicate if it was a little higher(+) or little lower(-) than the number.

temp 55 degrees: Total pack 37.8v

Battery #1 6.41v 1.30 1.275+ 1.30
Battery #2 6.39v 1.30 1.275 1.275+
Battery #3 6.23v 1.25 1.25 1.275-
Battery #4 6.30v 1.275 1.275 1.225
Battery #5 6.22v 1.225 1.25 1.225
Battery #6 6.31v 1.275 1.25 1.275+

What does all this tell you?

I agree those are some good readings for a battery pack it was in the condition you described. For hobby use/taking kids to school/etc I bet you are good to go. A few more discharge/charge cycles may even smooth out the numbers so.

Looking forward to you voltage readings after 15 minutes of use. If they hold up for that test then you can make longer runs and test again but putting on the charger after each test and leaving it there until it shuts off itself.

scottyb pointed that out to me and it was amazing how much longer it kept conditioning the batteries after it got down to like 1-2 amps of output the next time I recharged. When just parked go at least once a week and unplug and replug in the charge AC cord so it will again top them off.

[fishb8]

After running it for 15 min straight and letting it sit for 15 min. The battery indicator is just above half. We used be about to run this hard for more than an hour.
Here are the readings:
Pack 37.0v

#1 6.2v
#2 6.2v
#3 6.0v
#4 6.1v
#5 6.0v
#6 6.1v