Why is my golf cart charger turning off before batteries are fully charged?

For some weird reason, my golf cart charger keeps turning off before the batteries are fully charged. I’ve tried different things, even replaced a battery, but the issue persists. Anyone else faced this? What’s the fix?

Response

I totally get your frustration. I had the same issue and was about to lose it. But guess what? Checking the voltage of each battery did the trick for me.

Solutions that worked for users

Solution	Users Who Found Success	Personal Experience	Estimated Cost (USD)	Time Needed (Minutes)
Check the Voltage of the Batteries	2	Checked voltage, issue fixed	$0	10-15
Check and Tighten Connections	1	Tightened connections	$0	10-15
Check the Charger Relay	1	Checked relay, it worked	$0	10-15

Symptoms

• Charger turns off before batteries are fully charged
• Charger turns off after just a few minutes
• Charger turns on and off intermittently, like it’s possessed

Possible Causes

• Low battery voltage
• Loose or corroded connections
• Faulty charger relay or circuit board
• Bad capacitor in the charger

Solutions that Worked

1. Check the Voltage of the Batteries
   • What I Did: Checked the voltage of each battery individually.
   • Outcome: The charger recognized the batteries and continued to charge.
   • Personal Experience: After checking the voltage, the charger worked like a charm.
   • Estimated Cost: $0
   • Time Needed: 10-15 minutes
   Steps:
   1. Turn off the charger and disconnect it from the cart.
   2. Use a multimeter set to DC voltage to check each battery.
   3. Record the voltage readings for each battery.
   4. Compare the readings to the standard voltage levels for your battery type.
   Expert Tip: Always start with the basics. A low voltage could be the reason the charger is shutting off early. Also, make sure your multimeter is calibrated for accurate readings.
2. Check and Tighten Connections
   • What I Did: Checked and tightened all connections, including the battery terminals.
   • Outcome: The charger continued to work but still shut off early.
   • Personal Experience: Tightening the connections improved the situation but didn’t completely solve the problem.
   • Estimated Cost: $0
   • Time Needed: 10-15 minutes
   Steps:
   1. Turn off the charger and disconnect it.
   2. Inspect all connections on the charger and the cart for corrosion or looseness.
   3. Use a wrench to tighten any loose connections.
   4. Clean corroded terminals with a wire brush.
   Handy Tip: Corroded terminals can impede the flow of electricity. A wire brush or terminal cleaner can be a lifesaver.
3. Check the Charger Relay
   • What I Did: Opened the charger casing and located the relay.
   • Outcome: The charger continued to work properly.
   • Personal Experience: After checking the relay, the charger worked fine.
   • Estimated Cost: $0
   • Time Needed: 10-15 minutes
   Steps:
   1. Unplug the charger from the electrical outlet.
   2. Open the charger casing carefully.
   3. Locate the relay; it’s usually a small box-like component.
   4. Use a multimeter to check for continuity in the relay.
   5. If the relay is faulty, consider replacing it.
   Expert Tip: A faulty relay can often cause the charger to shut off prematurely. Make sure to check this component if you’re facing issues. Also, always unplug the charger before opening it to avoid electrical shock.

Extra Info:

Sometimes, a bad capacitor in the charger can cause it to shut off early. If you’ve tried all the above steps and the issue persists, consider checking the capacitor. You’ll need a multimeter capable of measuring capacitance for this.

Golf Cart Models Where This Worked

• 2000 PDS with Powerwise charger
• 2009 EZGO RXV
• 2012 EZGO RXV
• Cushman GC400