Charging Habits
 

This one might be even more stupid than my last question... but I'll ask anyway. ;-)

How often do you all charge your carts? Do you leave it plugged in any time you're not riding it? Or is it like a cell phone where you should only charge it when it needs it and when it is completely drained?

Thanks. :thumbup:

Re: Charging Habits
 

Charge the batteries EVERY time you use it. The batteries only hold
what you put in it. DO NOT leave them in a run-down state or the plates
will sulfate due to the acid that goes inside the lead just sitting there.
You need to charge to run the acid back out of the lead.

Re: Charging Habits
 

OK to charge every time you use it BUT, don't get into the habit of just leaving the charger plugged in after the charge cycle is up. An unfortunate flaw in the automatic chargers of today is that if you get a power outage, or power spike, that it can restart your charger. Most battery problems we get in our shop is from carts getting charged too much and no one is thinking to check water levels. A good set of batteries can be charged one time and still remain fully charged a month, or more, later. If your batteries will not hold a charge, then they should be replaced. I'll argue this with anyone - hands down.

Charging often is OK, ONLY if you are checking water levels often. The charging process is where and when you loose the majority of water.

Re: Charging Habits
 

Good advice. My question in your post, with an fully automatic charger, if you get a power outage or spike and the charger stops ... that it "CAN"T" restart without "ac" power restored and unplugging and replugging the charger to restart the proscess. Like I said "good advice" just (in my opinion) worded wrong for the average user. By the way..Have you had the customer say.....NO ONE TOLD ME TO PUT WATER IN THE BATTERIES? Later Dave

Re: Charging Habits
 

LOL - Every one that comes in with DRY batteries says that. Let me correct myself. If the charger is plugged into the cart, a charging cycle has completed and there is a power outage, yes, the automatic charger will still turn itself back on. As the transformer is re-energized, it will sense voltage from the cart and assume that it has just been plugged in (even though it (charger plug)) was never actually removed.

Re: Charging Habits
 

I am new to the golf cart seen. but my charger is a transformer style, and I can set the hours for it to charge. what is a recommended lenght of time to full charge the bartteries?

Re: Charging Habits
 

Depends on the state of discharge and age of your batteries as well as the amperage of the charger and finally wether or not your timed charger also has features such as 3 stage charging and auto shutoff.....do you have a voltmeter? Owners manual? make and model of charger? ;-)

Re: Charging Habits
 

True on an ez-go, false on a club car.. Try it... go unplug a finished club car charger, plug it back in a day later it wont turn on.. Powerdrive chargers don't turn on until the computer says so, computers wont turn a charger back on until the car has moved. A.C. in a club car charger doesn't turn the car on, The relay is powered by a D.C. wire coming in from the computer.

Re: Charging Habits
 

Good Info, there!:thumbup:

Re: Charging Habits
 

So if Iunderstand you correctly... leaving a Club Car pluuged into the charger won't overcharge it even in the event of a power outage/surge? The computer will still tell the charger it doesn't need a charge and therefore the charger won't charge?

Just making sure I understand. Thanks for the info. :thumbup: