Second Dead Battery

Posts: 127

I am getting ready to install the third battery in 2 months on my charger 250cc. They don't seem to be holding charge in the cooler weather. When you turn the key it barely cranks. It is a 12volt 9amp battery from Walmart. The larger amp batteries won't fit in the battery compartment. The temperature is getting cold here but still the other buggy I have starts fine (same battery). Is there anything that could be causing a short or draining the battery? Everything seems to be off.

Posts: 2584

If you have a digital multi-meter you can put it in series with the hot leg of the battery and see if there's any current draw through it... There shouldn't be. If there is you can start disconnecting things to find out where the draw is... I always start with the lights.

What voltage is across the battery when it's connected?
What's the voltage when it's disconnected?

If there's a difference you've got a stray drain somewhere...

Check your ground connections everywhere on the buggy. It may just be the fact that two parts of the buggy are at different potentials. This will drain the battery through the grounding circuit.

These can be hard to find...

Good Luck.

-

Chris Dierkens
TeamHog

Posts: 2641

have you tried using a battery tender? how long does the buggy sit between uses? Third battery eh? Do you have a charger? Or do you toss the battery once it is dead??? I would do exactly what the doctor ordered, get a multimeter out there and start tracing!!!!

John Very Happy

Posts: 1615

Electrical issues can be hard to trace.
A multi-meter is a must!
Something is draining the battery because they should last longer than a few days.
Could be a stator not recharging the battery, could be a short somewhere in the elec. box, a bad switch........
Just in case, Is the battery from Wally-World a sealed battery or did you have to add acid? It's best to let the battery "breath" for about 30 minutes after putting in the acid and before putting on the caps then, charge it.

Good luck! Smile

Posts: 4301

check all the switches, like Tom said something has a short and is draining the battery. try unpluging each switch one at a time with a good battery and let it set overnight and see if it has less voltage.

Posts: 127

I followed the directions that came with the battery from wal mart. When I charged it the battery was at 12.65volts. I let it set overnight on the bench and this morning it was at 12.40volts. I have now removed the caps (had to acid type battery) and am recharging for an hour at 2amps. I will see if it looses voltage again just sitting there. Is it normal for a new battery to fluctuate in voltage? How much should I expect with no drain? I want to make sure the battery is aok before I start trying to play detective with the buggy.

Posts: 1615

Posts: 1216

i would like to ask you guys a question is a 9 amp battery enough battery to handle a 250cc engine cranking amp wise specially during cold weather.i know the stock charging systems on are buggies don't put out charge to battery that fast and if he is not running it long enough at a time to keep the battery fully charged then when its cold and oil is stiff it don't have enough grunt to spin the engine.
i know i have 9amp battery in my 150 and it is no power house to spin this engine over when its cold.
my friends roketa or titan came with a 17amp battery.
i know it gets cold here to during winter to and you have to have a good cranking amp battery. i was just wondering if this was enough battery not trying to make him get another battery but curious
pud

Posts: 4301

I run 7amp batterys in mine, they do stay in a heated shop ( with a blankey on them Laughing

) I have a battery minder hooked to them during the winter and cranking has not been a problem. but cranking them twice a week and letting the engine run is the best thing so all the fluids get moved around

Posts: 1216

thanks bige if you keep taking your wifes blankets you might be sleeping in your buggy Laughing

i didn't keep a battery minder on mine last winter but i am this winter,don't have a heated garage but i got a 350 thousand btu
turbo heater that can warm things up pretty fast Laughing

pud