2015 Club Cart - ERIC Charging/Battery Issue

[shoreguyoc1]

Hi All,

I have been researching this forum and need some direction.

Recently my 2015 Club Cart Precedent seemed as if the battery was dying fairly quickly after a full new charge. (About 1 Mile of usage). It would buck as the battery was getting low. I tested the battery with a Hydrometer and my 2nd cell on battery 2 was bad. I replaced it with a new battery and immediately had the same issue. I was reading that the bucking could be a bad MCOR. I replaced the MCOR, charged it completely and same thing. After a full charge, the golf cart dies after a mile or so. I have a buddy that said he was having the same issue and suggested I try someone elses charger (we both have E.R.I.C. chargers). After a full charge, same thing, started to buck and die after an hour. After that test he suggested charging the cart fully, unplugging the E.R.I.C. and leave it disconnected and try and charge the cart again. The light were low like it had not been charged. It took 2 hours to look like it was fully charged again. I disconnected the E.R.I.C. from the wall and the cart and reset it and plugged it back in again and it started the charge from really low. Again, it took a couple hours to charge it again.

It almost seems as if the charger is saying that it is charged but it is not. Any suggestions on what to do next?

Few items below to help:
Hydrometer shows all batteries are good on all cells
Upgraded motor with PlumQuik Bandit. (This was happening before the upgrade).
Nothing is connected to the batteries to drain the power.
When I drive it after what I believe it is a full charge, it is peppy and acts normal for the first few minutes then starts to die.
48v System - 6x8

Any help is appreciated.

I can test whatever needs to be tested.

Thanks,

Greg

[NoleFan4Ever]

You are missing several components of the equation that are needed to determine the fault.

1- Age of Batteries?
2- Individual battery voltages 12 hours after charge completion?
3- Pack voltage 12 hours after charge completion?
4- Pack voltage as you are riding the cart and the drop in power is occurring? (Very Important!)

These four (4) things will bring us to the needed conclusion...(I already feel it is going to be battery pack issues but the devil is in the details..)

[movin-on]

If they are the original PD+ Club Car batteries you are lucky to get 5 yrs out of them...They are an entry level battery made to last 2-3 yrs for a golf course...Do the load tests that Nole suggested...

[bbbdale]

My golf course carts were 2017s and Club Car replaced 84 batteries when they were 2 years old because they were already failing.

[shoreguyoc1]

Thank you all!

I bought the cart used with a 90 day warranty. I got it in April-2020 and I am about 90 days outside of the warranty. The company I got it from wouldn't even talk to me and we got in an argument over it.

No Load:
Total 51.2 & 51.6

1 - 8.5 (2019)
2 - 8.6 (2015)
3 - 8.5 (2016)
4 - 8.6 (2015)
5 - 8.6 (2015)
6 - 8.6 (2015)


Under Load:
Total 49 & 48.7

1 - 8.3
2 - 8.1
3 - 8.1
4 - 8.1
5 - 8.1
6 - 8.1

[NoleFan4Ever]

Those no load numbers are crazy high for mostly 5 year old batteries. Are you sure those were taken 12 hours after the charger cut off?

[shoreguyoc1]

Yes, I did do a couple cycles with the charger as someone I know suggested maybe the ERIC is shutting off prematurely and just registering full. I didnt charge it at all today and it was charged overnight.

[shoreguyoc1]

OK - Just took it out for a ride. I got 1.9 miles out of it before it started to buck and really slow down. Avg Speed was 14MPH and max speed was 25MPH.

**Edit - Just tested all the batteries and they are at 8.5 with no load.

[movin-on]

You have all the symptoms of bad batteries or cables...What are you using for a multimeter (High end or Harbor Freight) and what is the make of the batteries...

[NoleFan4Ever]

Connect the meter to your MPP and MPN, then lay it on the seat and drive it now. When you feel the loss of power watch it and see how far the voltage is dropping. Do it several times.