8 volt vs. 12 volt

[shadowman]

you gotta maintain your batteries if you went thur 2 sets in five years??????even mid range batts with good care will last 4 to 6 years......the big T,s i have 2 customers each with a set .......one set 13 years old and still running strong and the other set over 12 years old and still going strong.......its ALL in the maintence and care.....also theres a reason C.C. went back to the six 8 volts instead of four 12 volt batts.............that says it all..........................

[shadowman]

you gotta maintain your batteries if you went thur 2 sets in five years??????even mid range batts with good care will last 4 to 6 years......the big T,s i have 2 customers each with a set .......one set 13 years old and still running strong and the other set over 12 years old and still going strong.......its ALL in the maintence and care.....also theres a reason C.C. went back to the six 8 volts instead of four 12 volt batts.............that says it all..........................


sorry for the double post...................DUHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Bert18]

Well I went with the 6 - 8V Energizer Batteries from Sam's Club. They are 110 AH batteries. We will see what happens. I put them on the charger right when I got them and used the cart the next day. We drove about 8 miles or so and we were loosing power pretty fast. I'll keep that cycle of charging after 15 min. or more and see if they improve. Thanks for all the advice.

[galloway]

Dude. You went 8 miles on a new set of batteries? no wonder you can't keep a set.

You need to for the first 25 charges or so just drive it for about 15 mins and then charge it drive it for 15 mins then charge it. drive it for 15 mins and then charge it.

going 8 miles means you drove that puppy for roughly 40 mins.

You got to learn to break them in a bit better.

I think there is a sticky up at the top of this forum on how to break in batteries I think you need to read it.

Cheers

Galloway

[galloway]

here i found them for you.

NEW BATTERY BREAK-IN PROCEDURE:
Following proper break-in procedure can increase the strength and the useful life span of your new batteries. New batteries are initially about 75% of their full strength. The following procedure will insure they reach their full potential.
The 1st 10 to 20 complete charge/discharge cycles are critical to insure they reach 100%. New batteries should be charged before use and thereafter as follows:
Plug the charger in and leave it alone until charger shuts off by itself. Then drive to discharge the batteries to 75% battery pack capacity (see chart) Plug the cart back in and repeat the charge cycle.......It is very important you let it charge until it is completely done. Repeat this for the first 10 - 20 cycles......by the 12th cycle you will notice a difference in power, speed, and run-time.........I have never had a customer say they have not noticed the increase.
Most importantly, NEVER run the battery pack down below 50% of capacity throughout their entire life. Never leave the batteries in a state of discharge for extended periods of time. Recharge the pack once a week if the cart is sitting idle or in storage. And when in doubt, recharge it.
During the break-in procedure, keep an eye on the water levels. T can take 12 hours or more for the 1st few Charging times. These extended charge cycles may evaporate some of the water. ( use distilled water only )
As the batteries break in you will notice the charge time gets shorter. Eventually going from 12 to 5-6 hours per recharge.
ONCE A MONTH:
Routine maintenance is the 2nd most important thing to insure you get the most use out of your new battery pack. It is critical that you get into a routine of spending 10 - 15 minutes a month to keep the cable connections clean and check the water levels. Proper water level is critical. Dry batteries die quickly.
Keep the Distilled Water level up to the bottom of the fill hole sleeve or a half inch above the lead plates. Do not fill to the top.
Use a hard nylon brush to remove any visible corrosion. Carefully check that all of the cable connections are tight. Loose connections cause arching which will melt the soft lead terminals. Spray-on Battery Terminal Protector is available from the auto parts store and greatly reduces corrosive build up.
I hope this helps you get the most use possible out of your battery investment.

Read more about new battery break-in procedures here:

NEW BATTERIES?
http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...attery+Breakin

[OLD MEC]

Bert18-- I HOPE YOU MADE A TYPING ERROR on the amp hour rating for your SAM batterys? 110 amp hour rated is for a light duty car starting battery not a deep cycle continues use golf cart battery? The lightest Trojan 8 volt battery is the T860 which is rated at ( 260 AMP HOUR ), T875 rated at ( 295 AMP HOUR ), and the T890 Rated at ( 340 Amp Hour ). I consider the Trojan T890 a perfect battery for shorter runs and minor loads. Even though you break in the new batterys correctly you wont get very far from home IF your batterys are only 110 Amp Hour??? If 110 amp hour is correct take them back and get some real golf cart batterys, Or you will need a new pair of walking shoes?