Eco smart battery questions

[Riverrat333]

Hello everyone ...
New to the forum and glad to find it.

I have has an ecosmart metro scooter which I've rode to and back from work (2 miles each) for over 6 months.
That is until my power supply cord broke and the scooter lie dormant for 2 months.
I finally aquired a compatible charger (not the original make)
and it charges my bike but I have no where near the range I originally had.
I now only have about a 2 mile range

Questions:
1 - have my batteries gone due to sitting long?
Is that a possibility?
...or perhaps the new charger isn't doing the job the original did.
I notice the power supply light goes green much quicker than the original

2 - do you think that if I purchased the exact charger (came w scooter) it would help?
I believe the original had a component that kept the bike from overcharging when left plugged in?

3 - I'm thinking I should replace the 3 batteries and in a self debate if I should go ahead and up grade (think it's a 48 volt system when upgraded with 6 batteries?) so I'd have a longer range than ever.
Which would be very cool

All thoughts and advice are greatly appreciated and looking forward to to this and many more discussions.

After my first ... I'm sold on electric bikes and scooters.

Thanks
Riverrat333

 

[amberwolf]

It's highly likely that it uses SLA batteries; it's pretty common with this general style of scooter. If it's "36v" there are probably 3x 12v lead batteries in there. It could be 18v with 3x 6v lead batteries. Usually adding more batteries to a system like this doesn't increase it's voltage, just it's Ah (or Wh), for more range.

Either way, if it is SLA, then these things don't handle being left uncharged for any length of time (unlike lithium, etc, which do better when they *arent'* left charged). Usually you want to recharge them immediately after use, and make sure they stay topped off when not using them for a while.

It's most likely (if they are SLA) that the sitting uncharged for a long time has damaged them. Even when maintained well, they often don't last more than a year or so anyway (though they can).

As for whether the original charger is better or not, it depends on how much of the charger is inside the scooter and how much is in the actual charger. Usually it's all inside the charger itself for SLA, and that means it needs to be an SLA type of charger (not just the right voltage and current), to properly charge them without eventual damage.

As long as the new charger is the right kind, voltage, and current for the batteries that are in there, it shouldn't matter if it is teh same model/brand as the original.

If it's not, it could cause you problems (different ones depending on what about it is different from what the batteries need).

 

[JackFlorey]

1 - have my batteries gone due to sitting long?

If they were stored dead or at a low state of charge- yes.

2 - do you think that if I purchased the exact charger (came w scooter) it would help?

Is the new charger charging to the correct voltage? (measure with a meter) If it is then a new one won't help.

3 - I'm thinking I should replace the 3 batteries and in a self debate if I should go ahead and up grade (think it's a 48 volt system when upgraded with 6 batteries?) so I'd have a longer range than ever.

Sure. Or consider going to li-ion or LFP. There are plenty of small 36V solutions that will work.

 

[Riverrat333]

Thanks for the input.
A lil above my knowledge of such but I'm thinking after reading your reply that the batteries went bad from sitting dormant to long.

As far as the type of battery ... the scooter uses 3 12V 7.5AH with F2 terminal AGM Batteries. I'm taking it those are different from SLA?

I think I'm just going to try replacing the batteries and go from there.

Your input has been invaluable.
Thanks so much

RR

 

[Riverrat333]

Also after a re-read I'm thinking the 36 volt replacement charger I purchased should be working fine.
However, is there a danger of over charging the new batteries I will be getting?

Just wanna make sure I don't get myself in this situation again.
Thank for the great advice.
I really appreciate it and now have a definite idea what the problem most likely is.

 

[amberwolf]

Also after a re-read I'm thinking the 36 volt replacement charger I purchased should be working fine.
However, is there a danger of over charging the new batteries I will be getting?

If the charger is not meant for SLA and/or is not the right voltage (too high), then it could be possible. Overcharging SLA / AGM causes heating that makes electrolyte outgas unreplaceably, which means the cells lose capability and capacity (worse the longer it happens each time, and the more times it happens).

To find out what voltage your charger should be, to avoid problems, you'd need to look at the label on the side of the actual batteries you get / have, but typical full charge voltage for each one is usually either 13.6v or 14.4v. Three in series for "36v" is a full voltage of 40.8 or 43.2v. So your charger max voltage should match whichever one your batteries are marked.

A charger for other battery types will be a different voltage, that might be enough different to cause problems, or might not.

A lil above my knowledge of such but I'm thinking after reading your reply that the batteries went bad from sitting dormant to long.

Probably. It's very common.

As far as the type of battery ... the scooter uses 3 12V 7.5AH with F2 terminal AGM Batteries. I'm taking it those are different from SLA?

Slightly, but not essentially. Same limitations/etc apply.

 

[Riverrat333]

Thank you very much amberwolf ...your information has been more than helpful.
I will be getting into battery department later today and will definitely check out what is written on them in reference to your post.
Thank to all who have replied.
I just wanna make sure I'm purchasing the right batteries and so forth to cure my troubles.
Need at least the original range I once had.
Very inciteful everyone