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how to repair a thunderbull golf cart battery charger

by Prof. Gillian Cruickshank Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Step 1: Tip the battery on its edge: Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. Clean the battery with your paintbrush dipped in a baking soda solution.

Full Answer

How do I charge my golf cart battery?

When you plug in your charger to your cart it will fully charge the batteries. Once fully charged, the charger goes into its "storage mode" feature so long as it is connected to the golf cart and the wall.

Should you fill your golf cart batteries by hand?

On the flip-side of the convenience, battery filling systems can get a bit costly to purchase and also to maintain. Whether you fill your golf cart batteries by hand, or using a filling system, always make sure you keep your water levels properly maintained. If you're looking for a new charger you can shop online with Golf Cart Garage!

Why won’t my 48 volt golf cart battery charger charge?

As a result, golf cart battery chargers for 48 volt Club Cars need a working OBC to get them to start charging. So, it is possible that your OBC is malfunctioning and it is not the golf cart charger. Again, this is only for 48 volt Club Car golf carts (Not for Yamaha or EZGO golf carts).

How does the OBC work on a golf cart battery charger?

When you plug the charger into your Club Car, the OBC will tell the battery charger when to start and stop charging based on the voltage levels in your batteries. As a result, golf cart battery chargers for 48 volt Club Cars need a working OBC to get them to start charging.

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Can you repair a golf cart charger?

Golf cart chargers are relatively simple to repair, and for most common failures, they can be easily and inexpensively fixed. Other, more significant failures - like a faulty circuit board or burned up transformer - can get a little more complicated and more expensive.

Why is my golf cart charger not working?

If your batteries aren't hooked up correctly, or the connections between them are weak or frayed, this can quickly lead to a loss of power and cause your charger to fail. Make sure you check each battery terminal for corrosion; any buildup will impede the flow of electricity, and could likewise cause problems.

How do I know if my golf cart battery charger is bad?

Bad Charger: IN GENERAL, if the charger kicks on, but doesn't charge fully or kicks off soon after, this is likely a charger issue. If the charger makes a loud clicking noise, this is likely a battery charger issue.

How do you troubleshoot a club battery charger?

1:523:54Golf Cart Charger Troubleshooting Guide | ASK DAVE | Golf Cart GarageYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight here chargers that have indicator lights may also present a fault code that's usually a redMoreRight here chargers that have indicator lights may also present a fault code that's usually a red flash. This can be interpreted by checking the fault code chart in your charger's owner manual.

How do you reset a golf cart charger?

Easily Reset the Club Car Golf Cart OBCKey switch to off.Set forward/reverse to neutral.Put tow/run switch to tow.Disconnect the negative battery terminal from the battery pack.Put the tow/run switch to run.Put forward/reverse switch to reverse.Put key switch to on.More items...

How do I know if my battery charger is working?

Running a test on your battery charger is an easy process.Plug in your charger to an electrical outlet. ... Turn on your voltmeter unit. ... Take a battery or battery pack that's compatible to your battery charger. ... Check the readout on the voltmeter and see where the pointer is indicating to.More items...

Can you leave golf cart charger plugged in all the time?

Manufacturers suggest leaving your golf cart plugged in all of the time while using an auto battery charger, as it will keep the batteries fully charged and always available. If batteries are not charged for prolonged storage, they may damage over time and deliver less capacity.

Why does my golf cart charger keep shutting off?

When your golf cart battery charger keeps turning on and off and doesn't provide a steady charge, there are a few different problems that may be to blame. These include poor water level in your batteries, a weak battery charge, poor connections, troubles with the cart, computer issues, and much more.

How do I know if my golf cart controller is bad?

X Common Symptoms of Controller FailureTop Speeds Not Appropriate for Your Cart. Golf carts are designed to reach pretty specific speeds and to not go over them or beneath them. ... Sudden and Unexpected Slowing. ... Shuttering or Shaky Driving. ... Stalling Out and Refusing to Start. ... Surges in Speed When Driving.

How do you test a golf cart charger?

Turn on the Charger – Once you have the voltmeter attached to your battery charger, turn on the charger to read the electrical output. Typically, the needle on the voltmeter will move from left to right – with right being higher – to gauge the amps produced. A reading of about 36 amps is typical for a battery charger.

How do you test a capacitor on a golf cart charger?

To check a capacitor use an ohm meter. Touch the red meter probe to one of the capacitor terminals & the black meter probe to the other capacitor terminal. Now reverse the probes such that they are now touching the opposite capacitor terminals. The meter should display a read out and then quickly return to no read out.

Where is the reset button on a Club Car golf cart?

Expose the motor (you'll probably need a screwdriver to remove the cover), and look for a red button. It is usually near the main power source, where most of the wires are connected. Once you've pressed the button to reset the motor, reassemble the cart, charge up the batteries, and give it a test run.

How to troubleshoot a golf cart battery charger?

If your batteries get too low, you could be stranded. To avoid this, you have to ensure that your battery charger is working correctly. If your battery charger ever fails, ...

Why is my golf cart not charging?

If your batteries are carrying a minimal load, and your charger will still not charge them, it may be because your golf cart’s onboard computer is confused about how much charge they are currently carrying.

Why does my charger fail?

If your batteries aren’t hooked up correctly, or the connections between them are weak or frayed, this can quickly lead to a loss of power and cause your charger to fail. Make sure you check each battery terminal for corrosion; any buildup will impede the flow of electricity, and could likewise cause problems.

How many volts does a battery charger need to charge?

When your charger can’t tell that your batteries are hooked up, it often won’t even turn on. A base charge of 25-30 volts is usually sufficient to wake up your charger and begin charging. To get around this problem, specific chargers offer modes that keep your batteries charged even when you’re not using them.

What to do if battery charger fails?

You can’t address every problem with a simple DIY repair, but a sound diagnosis can save hours of frustration. In many cases, the solution is simple, and you’ll be able to handle it with minimal expense.

Why won't my battery turn on?

Make Sure the Batteries have Some Charge. In the scenario that it doesn’t turn on, it might mean you waited too long to recharge them, and now the charge that they currently carry is too low for the charger to detect them. When your charger can’t tell that your batteries are hooked up, it often won’t even turn on.

What to do if battery is stuck at no charge?

However, if you’re stuck at no charge, a small, manual charger should provide each battery with enough juice to activate your regular charger.

How to change battery in golf cart?

Step 1. Open the battery compar tment. Since golf cart batteries are generally under the front seat this requires that the front seat be lifted out of the cart. On some cart models the front seat is hinged and the front of the seat is lifted straight up. Step 2.

What to do if battery won't take full charge?

Check the battery in the morning. If the battery still won't take a full charge, it likely cannot be saved. If the battery has taken a charge, replace the cell caps and use your cart normally.

How to clean a battery with baking soda?

Clean the battery with your paintbrush dipped in a baking soda solution as described in Step 2. Rinse your battery with plain water, making certain none of the water gets into any of the cells. Step 9. Mix 8 ounces of Epsom salts into 2 quarts of warm distilled water. Stir thoroughly.

How to get corrosion off batteries?

Wearing gloves and eye goggles for protection, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda into 1 quart of water. Stir well. Dip your paintbrush into this mixture and then liberally paint onto all areas where there is corrosion on the batteries, especially on and around the battery terminals.

How to check if battery charger is full?

If the battery charger indicates that the battery has taken a full charge, inspect the cells and add more distilled water to any cells in which the battery plates are exposed to the air and then replace the cell caps.

What to do if battery charger does not indicate full charge?

However, if the charger does not indicate that the battery has accepted a full charge, you need to take extra measures (see Step 8). Tip the battery on its edge and allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container.

How to clean a battery that has a cracked case?

Wipe all surfaces of your batteries with plain water until you have cleaned away all of the corrosion. Inspect the batteries for cracks or other defects. Remove and replace any batteries that have a cracked case, especially if it appears to be leaking battery acid into the battery compartment.

Why is my golf cart battery charger not working?

Bad connections will cause any battery charger to not function properly. After you've charged up your batteries and checked every connection and you are still having issues, it's probably safe to say you've got a golf cart battery charger problem and may need to service it or buy a new one.

How many volts does a golf cart battery need?

An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.

What is an OBC on a club car?

When you plug the charger into your Club Car, the OBC will tell the battery charger when to start and stop charging based on the voltage levels in your batteries.

What voltage do you need for a 36V golf cart?

You must match volts to volts. A 36V cart requires a 36 volt golf cart charger. A 48V cart requires a 48 volt golf cart charger. You can burn up your batteries if you do not charge with the proper voltage.

Why is my golf cart charging red?

Occasionally a red fault light on a golf cart charger can mean that the batteries do not have enough voltage in them to allow the charger to kick on (see Charging Dead Golf Cart Batteries above).

Why is my charger making a clicking noise?

If the charger makes a loud clicking noise, this is likely a battery charger issue.

How to keep a charger from getting hot?

But here are a few general tips to keep the charger from overheating: Make sure that your battery cable connections are correct, clean and tight.

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