Golf Cart Battery Guru???

[Buffalo]

I have 2 Sam's Club Golf Cart batteries in my travel trailer. Been there for 4 or 5 years, now. I live in the desert, which, is hard on batteries. Always took care of them using distilled water & they never were completely drained of power. I, also, have a 43watt solar panel w/ regulator that keeps them charged, continiously.

The last few days, I've checked the regulator in the AM (45 degs. ) & it's showing in the high 10's & low 11's as far as voltage is concerned. Never did this before.

I checked each batteries voltage after taking the surface charge off & they were 6. 39volts & 6. 56volts. I just checked the regulator & it showed over 13 volts while charging (2:00pm & 71 degs. ) Could I be loosing the amperage & the volts are still high or normal while charging?



I checked to see if I left an electrical appliance, like the furnace, on. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary.

Is checking specific gravity the next way to go? What about checking for a short? I don't have the equipment to do those tests nor the expertise.



Any thoughts would be appreciated.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[jelag]

When a lead acid battery gets old and the plates sulfide up... . the battery requires a higher voltage to charge the batteries... in a car... the voltage regulator won't do that... so the battery no longer has the ability to start the car... in testing the battery its found to be undercharged and a battery charger which will run the voltage over 16 volts is used to charge the battery... . and now it tests good... but in a few days... it will be dead in the car... .



I'm guessing that this is the problem with your batteries... . There is a test, that Sears and other big battery outlets use to test the batteries... (3 minute on charge test) they connect the low battery to a battery charger... start the battery charger at 40 amp and at the end of 3 minutes while the charger is still running take a voltage test. . if the voltage with the charger running is over 15. 5 volts the battery is as mentioned above... .



Hope this is some help...

 

[JPope]

Jim here agrees with Jim there :-laf Sulphation of plates!!!



A while ago I bought a new battery charger (son needed mine for his boat batteries, so the perfect REASON to get the latest) that has both a equalization cycle and a recondition cycle (desulphation), and so far has brought back several batteries (according to charger directions only do this with wet cell batteries) that were starting to not hold a charge well (as with you never drained completely, always charged promptly, cells kept at proper levels, etc. ).

Charger directions caution that it may take more than one recondition cycle (each recondition cycle takes 24 hours) depending upon how sulphated the battery plates were. Hopefully this will extend the life further , but never tried it before.



I would imagine that golf cart batteries with their larger plates could get very thick sulphation over time?

 

[K5IP]

I agree with the "Jims".

Reconditioning the two batteries requires a higher voltage than the 13 VDC you are applying. When you say that you have about 13 VDC (two batteries) after surface charge removal, and you are only charging at 13 VDC, this implies that no charge is b eing delivered.

Two golf cart batteries can be brought up to 15 VDC at a 20 AMP rate without any damage. This will be necessary to recondition the batteries.

They are probably OK.

I think two golf cart batteries are the best combination you can get.

Rog

 

[Megadesertdiesel]

reconditioning the batteries is the way to go, it works. i just installed 4- 6 volt trojan golfcart batteries in my toyhauler. every post i read about rv's say to invest in these batteries. but to recondition them every 24 months. and keep them charged at all times. just info i have gathered, hope it helps

 

[Buffalo]

Last night, I disconnected the batteries from the trailer & checked the voltage on each of them. One was 6. 46 volts & the other was 4. 47 volts.

This morning, I re-checked them and the first was 6. 44 volts & the other was 4. 36 volts.



Some of you guys recommended an equalization charge to recondition the batteries. Given the substantial difference in voltage between the 2 batteries now, am I beyond reconditioning them?



If you think they are still salvageable, does anyone know where to have this done, in the Phoenix area, and the approximate costs? Would I be better-off just buying new batteries?



Thanks for your replys & suggestions. I appreciate the help.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[tkerrigan]

After that much time, just buy new batteries, two of them so you will have a matched set.

 

[TowPro]

Replace them, then switch your RV over to a Progressive Dynamics charger. Add the "charge wizard" and you got a system that automatical does desulfation charges, goes into standby when needed (to stop water loss) and just plan works great! One other advantage is when your batteries are low, this system gives you full output power to recharge the batteries instead of a 10amp trickle charge like the other chargers.



My Terry lost the charger last summer when the park got hit by lightning. I bought the replacement from this guy I linked you do.



I went 6 years on one 27 series battery before it started to get weak. Plus I leave the RV plugged in all the time. It only uses about a 1/2 cup of water per year in the battery.



I am sure others here will 2nd my opinion on the Progressive Dynamics with the charge wizard.

 

[Sixpack]

Replace them, then switch your RV over to a Progressive Dynamics charger. Add the "charge wizard" and you got a system that automatical does desulfation charges, goes into standby when needed (to stop water loss) and just plan works great! One other advantage is when your batteries are low, this system gives you full output power to recharge the batteries instead of a 10amp trickle charge like the other chargers.



My Terry lost the charger last summer when the park got hit by lightning. I bought the replacement from this guy I linked you do.



I went 6 years on one 27 series battery before it started to get weak. Plus I leave the RV plugged in all the time. It only uses about a 1/2 cup of water per year in the battery.



I am sure others here will 2nd my opinion on the Progressive Dynamics with the charge wizard.

I just installed 4 golf carts in my coach. I can't wait for the first "dry camping" trip in May... . BTW... . Progressive Dynamics 9860 with the Charge Wiz here also!

 

[K5IP]

Joe,

A two volt difference between batteries is significant. If this condition exists even after charging for a few hours, you probably have a shorted cell.

Replace both.

 

[DavidC]

Replace them, then switch your RV over to a Progressive Dynamics charger. Add the "charge wizard" and you got a system that automatical does desulfation charges, goes into standby when needed (to stop water loss) and just plan works great! One other advantage is when your batteries are low, this system gives you full output power to recharge the batteries instead of a 10amp trickle charge like the other chargers.



My Terry lost the charger last summer when the park got hit by lightning. I bought the replacement from this guy I linked you do.



I went 6 years on one 27 series battery before it started to get weak. Plus I leave the RV plugged in all the time. It only uses about a 1/2 cup of water per year in the battery.



I am sure others here will 2nd my opinion on the Progressive Dynamics with the charge wizard.

This has to be the best system going. I have had one for 2 years now with 2 golf cart batteries. The quick charge,desulphation and sleep modes are the best system modes and is all automatic.



Dave

 

[Buffalo]

TowPro,



My trailer came with the "Progressive Dynamics" converter & I installed the "Charge Wizard", a couple of years ago.



I'm glad to here, from all of you, that it is such a good system. My buddy talked me into installing it.



DavidC,



Don't know if you remember me but, I'm the guy that bought your old tongue jack. It's worked flawlessly for me. Thank You, very much for selling it to me. Hope all is well with you.



Since I will be worried about the condition of my "low" battery, even if it can be resurrected I think I will get a new set. Do you guys think the Trojans are that much better than the Sam's Club batteries? Is it worth the extra money?



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[DavidC]

Yes joe I remember you. I am not that old yet. Alzheimers has not set in yet. If it was me I would just buy another set at Sams Club, that is where mine came from and they have worked well boondocking in the winter time with the heater set on 68 with outside temps in the 30's for a weekend. Just my opinion. Are you going to the meet and greet?.



Dave

 

[Buffalo]

DavidC,



I hope you don't remember me because I still owe you money!!!



Regarding the AZ. Meet & Greet, I'm looking forward to going, again. Hope you'll be there, also. I'd like to talk to you about your Oilguard Bypass System, again.



Take Care.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[DavidC]

DavidC,



I hope you don't remember me because I still owe you money!!!



Regarding the AZ. Meet & Greet, I'm looking forward to going, again. Hope you'll be there, also. I'd like to talk to you about your Oilguard Bypass System, again.



Take Care.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

Money?. Maybe there IS an Alzheimers problem, I do not remember having it . Maybe if you owe me I could put it towards therapy. Unless something unforseen happens I will be there. When you see me would you please remind me that you owe me money , I can't seem to remember those things.



Dave