New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

I inherited a late model 1995 Club Car, 48 volt. Batteries were old so I replaced them. After much reading on this forum and manuals, I charged the batteries fully the first night, and I've been charging the batteries every night after every drive. Usually the next morning I'd find the charger off, batteries fully charged. The other morning I noticed that, after 9+ hours the charger was still running. Now I suspect that the charger was running the full 16 hours. The charger meter shows around 5-6 amps and two batteries measure 8.52, two measure 8.49, and the 2 measure 8.54, so 51.1 (end to end 51.3).
Any ideas would be appreciated. For now I am limiting the charges to around 5 hours, which is maintaining the above volt numbers.

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

Currently it does not sound like there is anything wrong...

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

Battery voltages sounds good to me so I would let the charger run as normal without unplugging it because it looks to be working correctly. How low was the voltage when you plugged it in for a charge? Sometimes the charger can run as long as 16 hours.

Was the individual voltages and pack voltage you reported taken after letting the cart sit 24 hours after the charge cycle was complete? That's the best time to get accurate measurements.

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

So, it's possible for new batteries to charge the full 16 hours? Last night after a ride (just over 10 miles) the volts dropped to between 8.27-8.34 per battery, and 50 volts end to end. I plugged in the charger and manually shut it off after 5 hours, not wanting to risk over-charging. 6 amps on the meter.

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

NCPW- thanks, I'll take readings after 24 hours (can't remember if it was 24 hours last time). The volts were always around 8.00 or so, so around 48 total when I plugged the charger in.

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

Anytime you disconnect the batteries for more than a few minutes it causes the OBC to reset.

When the OBC is reset it will use a different algorithm to charge the batteries dV/dT for the first few cycles until it has enough information about the state of the batteries.

You need to allow those cycles to finish without interruption or the OBC will not switch to the energy counting algorithm, which does not take as long.

You need to make sure there is only a single pack negative cable and that the cable runs through the OBC hole in order for the OBC to measure current In/Out of the batteries.

Your batteries should be near 10v each at the end of the charge cycle while the charger is still running.

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

You're undercharging them by doing that, and undercharging is just as bad or worse than overcharging. It will cause sulfate deposits on the plates which lower capacity and output.
Plug it in, let the charger runs it's full course.

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

Absolutely its possible and entirely likely... New batteries need time to break in and regardless of break in or not keeping them plugged in and charging allows the charger to keep packing in the energy. The likelihood of over-charging is in reality is really not likely to which as long as they are not HOT to the touch or bubbling the fluid right out of them keep them on the charger 24/7 unless being used...

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

Thanks guys, good info. I'll check for hot or over-bubbling, and keep it plugged in for the full cycle. So, should I disconnect the battery and let the OBC reset since I'm starting over? (last question promise!)

Re: New batteries, charger shuts off.. after 16 hours!
 

Disconnect the batteries and leave them disconnected for more than 5 minutes.

Make sure the pack negative cable is the only cable or wire on the pack negative battery post and that it goes through the OBC.