Battery Problem

[bobking44]

2002 Western (EzGo) series cart running on 42 volts.
Batteries 2 years and 4 months old.
Providing less than half the run time they were two months ago.
The drastic change came on suddenly.

I fully charged the batteries (Trojan 105) last night and let them set for over 12 hours.
The SG is now excellent and equal in all cells
The voltages range from 6.38 to 6.43 across the battery pack.

Last even when cleaning the cable connectors and terminal posts I discovered the light/horn circuit was drawing current when all accessories were off. I did not measure the drain but it sparked when reconnected and that sparking was followed briefly by a humming or buzzing sound that lasted for about t seconds and then there was silence. I pulled the fuse on the circuit and left it over night to perform the test that provided the results above.

To your knowledge, is the sparking and hum of the lighting system normal?
If so, what is the cause?
If not normal, do you have any suggestions as to what the problem may be?

With regard to further testing the batteries, am I correct in assuming a load test to determine whether there is a bad cell is the next step?

If that is the correct next step is there an inexpensive way to perform such a test and what might that be?

Thanks so very much for any help you may be able to offer.

Bob

[scottyb]

I guess the light circuit has a short which draws the pack down or which ever two batteries the lights are connected to. Just try leaving the fuse out of the light circuit for a couple of charge & play cycles .... see if it performs better. If so the lights are the problem.

[bobking44]

Good thought. I will try that.

Is there any need to do a load test with the test results I already have?

Bob