Ezgo Valor, Owner'S Manual

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42
M
AINTENANCE
BATTERY CHARGING
The battery charger is designed to completely charge the battery set. If the batteries are severely deep cycled, some
automatic battery chargers contain an electronic module that will not activate and the battery charger will not operate.
Automatic chargers determine the correct length of charge to the battery set and turns off when the batteries are
charged. Always refer to the instructions of the charger used.
Do not overfill batteries. The charge cycle will expel electrolyte and cause component
damage.
Before charging, observe the following:
• The electrolyte level in all cells must be at the recommended level and above the plates.
• Charging must occur in an area with good ventilation to remove hydrogen gas that is produced during the charge
cycle. A minimum of five air replacements for each hour is recommended.
• The charger connector components must be in good condition and free from dirt and particles.
• The charger connector must be completely plugged into the vehicle receptacle.
• The charger connector and cord set must be protected from damage. The charger connector and cord set must be
used in an area where it is not possible for personnel to run over or trip over the cord set.
• The charger automatically turns off during the connect and disconnect cycle, so there is no electrical arc generated
at the DC plug and receptacle contacts.
AC Voltage
The battery charger output is directly related to the input voltage. If the vehicle receives an incomplete charge in a nor -
mally adequate time period, low AC voltage can be the cause. Consult an electrician if necessary.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Troubleshooting is done for two reasons:
• A battery that performs poorly and is outside of the manufacturers specification must be identified to replace it
within the terms of the manufacturer’s warranty. Different manufacturers have different requirements. Refer the bat -
tery manufacturer or the manufacturer’s representative for specified requirements.
• Find the reason a vehicle does not perform adequately. Performance problems can cause a vehicle to run slowly or
can not operate for the time needed.
A new battery must mature before it develops its maximum capacity. Maturing can take 100 or more charge and dis -
charge cycles. After the maturing phase, the older a battery gets, the lower the capacity. The only method to find the
capacity of a battery is a load test with a discharge machine. Refer to the discharge machine manufacturer instruc -
tions.
A hydrometer is used to identify a poorly performing battery in a set with a low specific gravity. When the particular cell
or cells that are the problem are identified, the battery can be removed and replaced. The battery can not be restored.
The individual battery should be replaced with a good battery of the same brand, type and approximate age.Hydrom -
eter
To prevent battery explosion, never insert
a metal thermometer into a battery. Use a
hydrometer with a built in thermometer
that is designed for testing batteries.
A hydrometer (P/N 50900G1) is used to test the state of charge of a
battery cell. This is performed by measuring the density of the elec -
trolyte, which is accomplished by measuring the specific gravity of
the electrolyte. The greater the concentration of sulfuric acid, the
more dense the electrolyte becomes. The higher the density, the
higher the state of charge.
Specific gravity is the measurement of a liquid that is compared to a
baseline. The baseline is water which is assigned a base number of
1.000. The concentration of sulfuric acid to water in a new golf car
battery is 1.280 which means that the electrolyte weighs 1.280
times the weight of the same volume of water. A fully charged bat -
tery will test at 1.275 - 1.280 while a discharged battery will read in
the 1.140 range.
Float Bulb Cylinder
Thermometer
Add to Float
Reading
Subtract
from Float
Reading
Weight