Quote:
Originally Posted by coffeebean
I don't have an objection at all. I just didn't know that not keeping them charged all the time would shorten the life of the batteries. I was told the batteries have a maximum amount of cycles before they will need to be replaced. I figured, the least amount of cycles, the longer the batteries would last. Right now, I'm only using one cycle per week by plugging it in only once per week. That is wrong to do?
Let me get this straight.....now that the batteries are "conditioned", I SHOULD charge the batteries every night even if I only drive 5 miles or less in one day? For example: to the mail center and back necessitates the cart to be plugged in?
Please advise. Thanks.
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Ahhh, now I see where your coming from. Charge Cycles don't work that way...One charge cycle is from dead battery to full battery charge and not the number of times you plug it in. If you charge to 100% and then discharge to 70% full (About 25 miles with your Yamaha - EZGO RXV maybe 30 miles since it is more efficient/less powerful), you have used about 1/3 of a charge cycle. Trojan T batteries (The brand in your Yamaha) have about 2500 charge cycles with this depth of discharge. If you drive 25 miles everyday and plug it in every night you should see 2500 / 365 = Almost 7 years of battery life. You did not need to ever "condition" the batteries because the Yamaha smart charger takes care of everything for you. Charge your batteries full even if you only drive one mile that day. basically, plug in your cart, and leave it plugged in, every time you pull in the garage. The charger will cycle on and off on its own. It will even automatically perform a charge cycle every 2 weeks when your away for 7 months(snowbird?). The charger will also automatically perform an Equalize charge about every month. Keep them watered and charged...That's all you have to do.
I do this - When I pull into the garage and I know I will leave again in less than 30 minutes, I will not bother plugging it in. Any longer that 30 minutes and I always plug it in. I have the plug sitting on a shelf right next to me when I pull in the garage. I just reach over and plug it in before I even get off the cart. Plugging in is easier than putting on a seatbelt and it becomes second nature just to plug it in every time...Even after "a number" of beers
lead-acid and lithium batteries don't have charge memory problems. Only Nickel Cadmium batteries do.