Can I save my batteries?

[Starfox]

2003 Club Car DS, 48 volt

Been reading the battery threads and found on the EZGO forum that if batteries are left uncharged for more than a year they are toast. Is that true? Mine have been down for near two years.

I'm new to carts and thought that leaving the charger plugged in I would keep the batteries charged up - I didn't know that the standard charger won't do that.
So I've been trying to get them charged up over the last few weeks, charging two batteries at a time with the 12v charger and I can get a pair to 10 or 12v but it isn't enough to get my cart charger turned on.

Bought the cart from someone who buys and turns them so I would expect the wiring to be ok. I believe the batteries were new when I got them.

Is there anything else I can try or do I need new batteries?

Thanks,
Fox

[Mooncarter]

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[Mooncarter]

Originally Posted by Starfox

2003 Club Car DS, 48 volt

Been reading the battery threads and found on the EZGO forum that if batteries are left uncharged for more than a year they are toast. Is that true? Mine have been down for near two years.

I'm new to carts and thought that leaving the charger plugged in I would keep the batteries charged up - I didn't know that the standard charger won't do that.
So I've been trying to get them charged up over the last few weeks, charging two batteries at a time with the 12v charger and I can get a pair to 10 or 12v but it isn't enough to get my cart charger turned on.

Bought the cart from someone who buys and turns them so I would expect the wiring to be ok. I believe the batteries were new when I got them.

Is there anything else I can try or do I need new batteries?

Thanks,
Fox

Are you saying you bought the cart 2 years ago and have never used or charged the cart?

[NoleFan4Ever]

Originally Posted by Starfox

-snip-
if batteries are left uncharged for more than a year they are toast. Is that true? Mine have been down for near two years.

You will be hard pressed to get them back, but I would surely try if there was no load on them. The self discharge rate would make them extremely hard to bring back at this point.

[Mooncarter]

You will never get 2 eight volt batteries charged with a 12 volt charger. Fill the batteries about 3/8" above the plates with distilled water. Hook a 12 volt charger to each one and tend them while you do this. This may bring them up enough to start the charger, but as Nole said they are likely shot.

[Starfox]

Thanks for the input.

The cart was bought to put hand controls on it so it was only driven a few times b4 being parked. I just got busy on other projects. Sure, it was charged a few times b4 parking.

I thought if I could get the battery pairs charged to 12 volts I'd have 36 and might be able to get the cart charger working.

Expensive mistake!