Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

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pdclowr
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Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

I have a Freedom 959 electric scooter that won't charge, bought a new 36v charger but the scooter won't put a draw on it to start charging. While the charger is hooked up, it shows full charge and there is a steady voltage on the batteries so could it be the controller that isn't working right?

myocardia
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

Hi, if the pack voltage is in the neighborhood of 42-43V, that's fully charged., which would mean your problem(s) lies elsewhere. The controller is usually one of the first places to look, but don't forget the simple things like main fuses and bad/worn out throttle.

pdclowr
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

When the charger is plugged into the scooter it shows about 41 volts on the battery pack which is the same voltage that is coming out of the charger but when I take the charger off it sets around 24 volts and drops off after sitting over night to around 19 volts.

marylandbob
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

I really need more details about your system, but things to look at are: What type battery is it, how many, are connections all secure and clean, was the battery ever over-discharged or put away in a "DEAD" condition? Lead acid batteries sometimes SULFATE if left in a dischaged state, and then they will refuse to accept/hold a charge. Lithium batteries should never be discharged below a cell voltage of 2.5 or 3.0 volts depending on exact type. Have you measured individual cell/battery voltages? (If possible, measure while attempting charge, and again after 3 hours or more sitting time.)-Bob

Robert M. Curry

marylandbob
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

I have discovered that the normal freedom 959 battery is three 12 volt lead-acid batteries in series. Using a digital voltmeter, (available from radio shack and others) measure each battery separately. during charge, voltage should be between 11 and 14.5 volts at each battery, and voltages should be near the SAME at each battery. If big variations are seen, expect poor connections and/or defective battery. Connections may be cleaned by removing them, cleaning the metal with a wire brush, and using baking soda + water to neutralize corrosion. Dry everything afterwards, coat with a little grease, and re-assemble, making certain all connections are tight and secure.--Bob

Robert M. Curry

NeoScootersDotCom
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

I didn't see confirmation that the small buss fuse in the charging circuit is good. If this is the model I think it is, typically there is a small, black, twist-off cap on the side of the scooter deck that houses the buss fuse which protects the charging circuit. I have seen warranty cases where scooter will develop power with the charger connected but the batteries never charge. Scooters runs for a bit on the initial factory charge, but then never recharges. Sometimes this small fuse is located under the deck in a low end plastic fuse holder. Not to be confused with the larger, typically blade type fuse in the power circuit.

Harvey
www.neoscooters.com

myocardia
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

When the charger is plugged into the scooter it shows about 41 volts on the battery pack which is the same voltage that is coming out of the charger but when I take the charger off it sets around 24 volts and drops off after sitting over night to around 19 volts.

This means that your batteries are dead. There's nothing wrong with your charger. Luckily, batteries are cheap, and you can be riding again within an hour of the UPS man dropping the new ones off.

pdclowr
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Re: Freedom 959 Scooter won't charge

Thanks to everyone for their replies. All fuses are good. I just wasn't sure exactly how the circuitry worked on this scooter. As for the how it has been charged or the state it was left in, I don't know, I bought the scooter in this state for $30 and was told that the old charger was blowing the internal fuse (on the charger itself). I checked out the old charger and found the fuse gone so I replaced it plus found a burned resistor (replaced the 1K resistor), ohmed & Huntroned the unit and tested the output which was 0 vdc so I just bought a new charger. When I hooked up the new charger the charge light would not come on so I checked it on a friend's scooter and it did come on. I checked all wiring and connections and they are good, battery terminals are all soldered on except one so I cleaned both sides with wire brush and alcohol. I figured it was either the controller or battery pack, I have not checked each battery seperately but will when I get home.

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