Charging 120-volts

[GarageBuilt]

Ok guys... I need to charge a 120-volt battery pack...All my chargers are 36-volts... The close that I can get to 120- volts is 144-volts... That’s taking 4- 36-volt chargers in series for 2 72-volt or one 144-volt charger... Can I charge a 120- volt battery pack with a 144-volt charger...

 

[HotRodCarts]

I would say no to using a 144 volt charger on a 120 volt pack. It may work but it's going to be hard on the batteries.
I've never worked with that much voltage on a golf cart so see what others have to say about it...

 

[MrWicked]

this weekend im useing 2 36 volt chargers and 1 48 volt charger to charge our 120 volt pack

 

[MrWicked]

or you can use 3 36volt chargers and 1 12 volt charger to charge your 120 volt pack

 

[TDAWG]

If your battery pack is a straight series 120 volt pack then you could use 3 EZ-GO chargers to charge 108 volts of it, and then a single 12 volt charger for the last battery. The only problem with this is if you try to use the Odyssey charger on the single 12 volt battery, you will need to disconnect that battery from the series every time you need to charge that one battery. As long as the single 12 volt battery is the last one in the series, shouldnt be that much trouble.

 

[MrWicked]

tim is that only with the odyssy charger only???? or with all 12v chargers and why???

 

[TDAWG]

Its only with the Odyssey chargers like GB has. Because they are not transformer chargers and they have 3 banks, they will charge 3 batteries at a time but only if they are not connected in series.

 

[GarageBuilt]

Tim.. Do the 3 36-volt chargers have to be in series.. If not then how would I hook up the chargers & 1 12-volt charger...

 

[MrWicked]

answer your phone ronnie

 

[TDAWG]

No, you will not need to series the chargers. You could if you wanted to but it would not be necessary. You can charge 3 36 volt banks seperately or if you series the chargers you would be charging a 108 volt bank. If you charge 3 36 volt banks seperatly then you dont even have to bypass the relays in the chargers. If you series the chargers then you would have to bypass the relays. The left over 12 volt battery then could be charged with a regular 12 volt charger.

I fell the best way to accomplish this is to do what Wicked suggested and use 2 36 volt chargers and 1 48 volt charger. I was just trying to make a suggestion based on what you might have laying around your shop. If you have a 48 volt charger, then this way would be easy.

 

[GarageBuilt]

Thanks alot guys.. Tim I’m going to do the 3 36-volt plus 1 12-volt. That works for me.. I will have to pick up a 48-volt charger. Thanks..

 

[GarageBuilt]

Going to the strip to night.... Hope to have a little fun...

 

[HotRodCarts]

Good luck GB. We'll be waiting for pics and results.

 

[TDAWG]

 

[GarageBuilt]

Welded shut the F/R contactor. And over heated the controller..

 

[GarageBuilt]

Went back Sunday night after working on it all day Saturday... Made one pass.... Again the controller heated up & shut down.... I was told pulling 1400 amps & 200-volts that I have to run the cooling system on the controller..... But did make it to the 100 ft mark before the controller lost power & shut down..

 

[MrWicked]

thats not fun

 

[HotRodCarts]

Trial an error GB, that's what it's all about. You'll get it worked out...

 

[GarageBuilt]

knowing that your cart will hook up & drive off straight... There is only really 2-3 guys that are good with this high voltage stuff... The rest of us have to learn the hard way.... I will never be a Chris or a Nate. But learning from them guys sure makes it fun... Thanks for all your help Friday night Chris!!!! And thanks to TDAWG for the lesson on charging the batteries... Up till now I have always broke down my pack..