Batteries and hills?

Franchise_24 · 03-21-2020, 09:02 PM

Guys & Gals,

I am new to the golf cart game and have a few questions. I have a 1991 Electric Club Car. I replaced a battery I knew was bad and I did the method of charging it up and putting my meter on the batteries 12 hours later. I got a chart that showed what the battery readings mean after 12 hours. I attached the chart just for reference. My question is, and I'm sure I know the answer but wanted to ask the pros, will low batteries give me issues with going up hills? I was testing the cart going up a hill and barely made it.

Batteries read as follows after full charge and 12 hours later:

#1 - 6.13v
#2 - 6.29v
#3 - 6.43v
#4 - 6.30v
#5 - 6.25v
#6 - 6.26v

#3 is the brand new one I bought, and #1 I feel I should replace as well. What do you all think about the other ones? Do you think replacing #1 will be enough to get me up the hills? Would cleaning the armature and replacing the brush on the motor help as well? If I can avoid doing that I would love to, but will if necessary. I was just hoping maybe replacing battery #1 will do the trick.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Budule · 03-22-2020, 04:20 AM

get out your wallet.....

DaveTM · 03-22-2020, 04:35 AM

When I add up your voltages I get a pack total of 37.66V, which puts your pack at about 85% SOC.

The "problem" with just replacing one battery is that the other "not so good" batteries will drag the new one's charge down to theirs. So...if you change the new battery's SOC to say....6.23V (which the new one will get to soon) and then your Pack SOC will be just under 80% at full charge.

Now, you may want to check that your charger is working properly and charging at the voltage it should be. I'm not an expert at that and others will chime in soon.

Hopefully this helps.

NoleFan4Ever · 03-22-2020, 06:22 AM

Just as stated above....

scottyb · 03-22-2020, 08:51 AM

The more important numbers to look at are the under load numbers.
The golf cart will provide the load better than any store bought tester.
Connect a digital battery meter to the pack. This can be a Fluke or a cheap in dash unit. Accelerate hard, preferably uphill with passengers on board and note the lowest voltage reading under load.
Do not do this up against an immovable object as some suggest as the motor heat created can damage the motor.

Franchise_24 · 03-22-2020, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the info, yes I will try to get readings on the batteries while driving. How can I test my charger to see if it is putting out the right voltage?

Franchise_24 · 03-22-2020, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budule

get out your wallet.....

Not really sure what you mean by this?

Budule · 03-22-2020, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franchise_24

Not really sure what you mean by this?

you will be buying batteries soon methinks....

Franchise_24 · 03-22-2020, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budule

you will be buying batteries soon methinks....

So you're thinking I just need to replace the batteries and I may be good to go? No one ever really said but I assume low batteries will give me issues with hills?

WalterM6 · 03-22-2020, 11:34 PM

Quote:

I assume low batteries will give me issues with hills?

Batteries will but a 1991 Club Car with 6V Batteries and resistor speed control will give you more problems.

03-22-2020, 04:20 AM	#2
Budule Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 879	Re: Batteries and hills? get out your wallet.....
Budule Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 879

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03-22-2020, 04:35 AM	#3
DaveTM Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Southwestern Pa. Posts: 6,214	Re: Batteries and hills? When I add up your voltages I get a pack total of 37.66V, which puts your pack at about 85% SOC. The "problem" with just replacing one battery is that the other "not so good" batteries will drag the new one's charge down to theirs. So...if you change the new battery's SOC to say....6.23V (which the new one will get to soon) and then your Pack SOC will be just under 80% at full charge. Now, you may want to check that your charger is working properly and charging at the voltage it should be. I'm not an expert at that and others will chime in soon. Hopefully this helps.

03-22-2020, 06:22 AM	#4
NoleFan4Ever MOD of all BS! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 17,477	Re: Batteries and hills? Just as stated above....

03-22-2020, 08:51 AM	#5
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,401	Re: Batteries and hills? The more important numbers to look at are the under load numbers. The golf cart will provide the load better than any store bought tester. Connect a digital battery meter to the pack. This can be a Fluke or a cheap in dash unit. Accelerate hard, preferably uphill with passengers on board and note the lowest voltage reading under load. Do not do this up against an immovable object as some suggest as the motor heat created can damage the motor.

03-22-2020, 11:05 AM	#6
Franchise_24 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Lexington, Ohio Posts: 11	Re: Batteries and hills? Thanks for the info, yes I will try to get readings on the batteries while driving. How can I test my charger to see if it is putting out the right voltage?