Troubleshoot EZGO Powerwise Charger

[RLTexas]

I have an older Powerwise 36 volt charger (model w/o LEDs). I replaced the connectors in the charger plug and have a new charger receptacle. I recently purchased new batteries and doing my first charge. Charger is on, went to about 12.5 amps and voltage meter on cart went to 41.6v. Its been about 2 hours and the amp meter looks little changed and the voltage is only up to 41.8v. Sounds like I may have a problem with the charger. Any suggestions? BTW, this site is the best! I rebuilt a cart using the help and advice of many of you on this forum. Many thanks!

[JohnnieB]

The initial charge on new batteries takes a long time, 12 hours or more in some cases.

Let it charge until it shuts off automatically or times out (~16 hours), then restart charger.

The amps should drop down to about 5 or so within half an hour or so and the on-charge voltage should climb into the 44-46 range before it shuts off.

What batteries do you have?

[RLTexas]

Thanks JohnnieB! The charger shut off after about 3-4 hours, but voltage was still only 41.8v. I started again and it went back to the 12.5 +/- amps. I'll give it another try this evening. I ended up buying the Energizer batteries from Sam's Club. The cart is not going to get a lot of use so hopefully they will last a while.

[JohnnieB]

Something is not right.

The on-charge voltage should reach about 45.0V before it shuts off, or run about 16 hours before the safety timer shuts it off.
Should be one or the other rather than 3-4 hours at a lower voltage.

Where exactly are you reading the battery pack voltage?

Check the battery in your DVM, some read low when their internal battery gets weak.

Here is a manual on a PW charger.

Can you use your charger on a different cart or a different charger of your cart?

That should tell us if problem is in cart or charger.

-------------

How long the batteries last depends on their Amp-Hour rating and how well you take care of them, more than which name is on them.

If it is the 232AH Energizers, they ought to last a fairly long time if you keep them charged, watered and the terminals clean.

[RLTexas]

Thanks! I tried again and this time it worked. Started around 12 amps and went down below 5 amps, voltage between 45-46. Need to see if charger will shut off automatically, I just unplugged it this time due to time constraints.