Battery Tenders, Battery Life Savers, etc.

[George Bieniaszek]

Hi Everyone!!

I have a 2010 EZGO RXV Electric with 4-12 volt batteries.

After 2.5 years and 4500 miles, I am seeing the range of my cart going down. I realize that soon I will have to replace them but looking to buy a little extra time.

I am a part-timer here and my cart usually sits for 4-6 weeks at a time 2 times during the year and for 1 three month period during the summer.

Has anyone had any experience with Battery Trnders, Battery Life Savers, or any other Battery Desulfators to extend the life of your batteries.

I read some of the company hype on how they prolong the life of cart batteries and how they can rejuvenate and rid the lead sulfate buildup in older batteries.

Just looking for opinions and some real world experience on these products!!

Appreciate all your comments!!! :)

[Bogie Shooter]

This is always a topic of discussion at the 19th hole! I have yet to hear of someone who thought these items actually worked. The question of how to measure their effectivness always comes up.

[jimbo2012]

Leave it outside with a solar roof panel, that will get you about 6+ years.

Or put a small solar panel outside to trickle charge the cart in the garage, less than $100

When the batteries are maintained at a decent charge they last a lot longer

[GolfCart]

here is my take on tenders, if your trying to fix bad batteries good luck, if you use it from the start on new batteries then maybe. using some sort of maintenance charger for batteries that are sitting idol that length of time is best. the stock chargers stay off for something like 16 days then turn back on this is great if the pack is new, older batteries are getting lower every day and could use a pick me up. Just don't expect them to become new again.

[ajbrown]

FWIW, I have installed Battery Minders for each of my two carts to maintain the pack during times I am away. I bought mine to keep the batteries fully charged which prevents sulfation. I also feel that the risk of fire with the BM is less than my unattended bulk chargers.

I have no direct evidence that the BM will reverse battery sulfation and it is not the main reason I bought them. If the Battery Minder happens to reverse the sulfation process while maintaining the packs it will be a bonus for me.

[jimbo2012]

Alan according to BM they claim they do, here (http://batteryminders.com/store.php?spawner=nav&&app=golf)

It is worth considering to extend the useful life of a battery pack.

[ajbrown]

Alan according to BM they claim they do, here (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?p=513336#post513336)

It is worth considering to extend the useful life of a battery pack.

Is that link right?

[jimbo2012]

ooops, try now please

[CarGuys]

This is always a topic of discussion at the 19th hole! I have yet to hear of someone who thought these items actually worked. The question of how to measure their effectivness always comes up.

They work when installed properly and instructions followed. But I am to exhausted to get into another debate with those that think they don't Sometimes I just give up!

Right AJ!

[k2at]

I use a 1 amp battery tender on my motorcycle when i am away for any period of time and the battery in my cycle is over 7 years old with no problems whatever. The one amp keeps the battery up to full charge at all times and shuts down when not needed. I think it would be the same concept with the cart battery tenders.

[GolfCart]

The charger uses float technology which keeps your batteries up to peak charge.
In addition you can run both your regular charger and the Battery Minder at the same time an gain two additional amps of charging capability.

I would like you to explain these two statements above, if it uses float technology (which means it regulates the charge voltage @ arround 50 volts) how does it add 2 amps, when the cart charger is above this voltage, Bulk chargers are designed to charge @ around 2.36 to 2.6 volts per cell well above 50vdc (they can reach as high as 63 vdc). You can't have it both ways ????

[GolfCart]

Very good explanation!! that is very different from the first description, do these units use pulse technology or is it just straight voltage.

Now would a 48 volt Wall Wart be better than nothing maintaining the batteries at around 50 vdc.

[GolfCart]

Because the Battery Minder is equipped with an at the battery temperature sensor, it will sense temperature rises above the 75 degree mark at which time the Battery Minder reduces its current output by 1/3 amp.

A.J. This is something you were talking about on your setup, looks like it's not a room temp sensor 'per se' its a battery in the room temp sensor.

[jimbo2012]

Now would a 48 volt Wall Wart be better than nothing maintaining the batteries at around 50 vdc.

Because the Battery Minder is equipped with an at the battery temperature sensor, it will sense temperature rises above the 75 degree mark at which time the Battery Minder reduces its current output by 1/3 amp.

A.J. This is something you were talking about on your setup, looks like it's not a room temp sensor 'per se' its a battery in the room temp sensor.

The float charge on a a 48V pac is about 53 volts, please correct me if I'm wrong.

There are temp sensors that just measure room or ait temp which may be what these have, not sure, but the best type is those that are placed on the side of a battery.

[GolfCart]

The float charge on a a 48V pac is about 53 volts, please correct me if I'm wrong.

There are temp sensors that just measure room or ait temp which may be what these have, not sure, but the best type is those that are placed on the side of a battery.

jimbo2012
fully charged batteries are 51.something so anything around this voltage is better than nothing. I would think 49 to 53 would work, mostly you just don't want them to discharge.

75 is this degree F or C?
if F seams low to me unless its a air conditioned room??

[jimbo2012]

jimbo2012
fully charged batteries are 51.something so anything around this voltage is better than nothing. I would think 49 to 53 would work, mostly you just don't want them to discharge.

75 is this degree F or C?
if F seams low to me unless its a air conditioned room??

Not sure if 49 is enough, my guess is no. If not you will sulfate the pack.

It is 75 deg F, you don't want batteries to exceed 125 charging.

Why not look for one with a higher rating

[mrdills]

I have been using the BM for over 9 months now and I have found it is working for me. The first thing is I use much less water that I have used in the past and my batteries are over 2 1/2 years old and they still are in very good shape. I have been using the BM instead of the bulk charger on smaller ranges like 15 miles or less. The biggest advantage is I can go away for a month without having the balk charge plug in and I know it is desulfation the batteries, and keeping them like new. I would never go away for a period of time and leave my bulk charger on.

[ajbrown]

Because the Battery Minder is equipped with an at the battery temperature sensor, it will sense temperature rises above the 75 degree mark at which time the Battery Minder reduces its current output by 1/3 amp.

A.J. This is something you were talking about on your setup, looks like it's not a room temp sensor 'per se' its a battery in the room temp sensor.

There are two connectors that came with the BM for temperature sensing. One has a ring connector which can be attached to any battery terminal (+ or -) and one does not connect to anything, simply measuring ambient temp. You use one or the other; I used the one that does not connect to anything as it is easier for me. IMO this is 'close' enough for it's purpose.

Here is some general info I saw regarding float voltages some time ago, not specific to the BM...

Float voltage for Lead-Acid batteries should be about 2.15 to 2.23 volts per cell, or about 12.9-13.4 volts for a 12 volt battery. At higher temperatures (over 85 degrees F) this should be reduced to about 2.10 volts per cell.


Deep Cycle Battery FAQ (http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm)

Last time I looked at my pack with BM attached in 'maint mode' for two days, the pack was at 52.6. I did notice that the individual voltages varied from battery to battery. The lowest was at 6.51 (2.17/cell) and the highest was at 6.75 (2.25/cell). I suspect this difference is telling me something, but it is not clear what and I have not had time to further investigate.

[GolfCart]

There are two connectors that came with the BM for temperature sensing. One has a ring connector which can be attached to any battery terminal (+ or -) and one does not connect to anything, simply measuring ambient temp. You use one or the other; I used the one that does not connect to anything as it is easier for me. IMO this is 'close' enough for it's purpose.

Here is some general info I saw regarding float voltages some time ago, not specific to the BM...



Deep Cycle Battery FAQ (http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm)

Last time I looked at my pack with BM attached in 'maint mode' for two days, the pack was at 52.6. I did notice that the individual voltages varied from battery to battery. The lowest was at 6.51 (2.17/cell) and the highest was at 6.75 (2.25/cell). I suspect this difference is telling me something, but it is not clear what and I have not had time to further investigate.

May not hurt to equalize the pack someday using a auto charger on the low ones