I've been offered a one year-old PowerBug Sport X trolley for £50 by a golfing acquaintance who also happens to be an equipment junky. (He's already ordered his new MotoCaddy) He bought it at the Scottish Golf Show last year for £200 (current MRP = £290). Only thing I'm concerned about is the battery - he says it's goosed and a new one is needed. Is it normal for trolley battery to pack in after a year ? Anyone else have a PowerBug ?

All relevant advice gratefully received.

I've had a powerbug sport (not sure if it's the X or not) for at least 3 years with the same 2 18hole batteries (which both do 27holes. Great trolley, folds up in seconds and been great since purchase.Doubt it was ever £290 though. I paid£199 for mine from Nev Bob.

Possibly just a duff battery but doubtful it's down to the trolley.

This is where they are made  Wizza   and where you can get a new battery from but don't get a 36 hole battery unless you always discharge it. I understand playing 18 holes all the time with a 36 hole battery affects how well it holds a charge, or the capacity. (although I'm no Electronics expert!)

Cheers, Topslice. Appreciate the info. This is the link I found. http://www.powerbug.co.uk/Product/Power+Bug+Sport+X

I've never had a leccywagon before so not 100% sure what to do. Our course is pretty short and not all that hilly but it seems too much of a bargain to miss.

Decisions, decisions..................

maurice,  For the battery to stay in top condition the battery needs to be worked hard and sometimes 18 holes just aint hard enough so the battery slowly deteriates(Topslice is on the right lines) and eventually(a year?) just cant get round. The cure is; every few rounds put the battery on a deep discharge and then an immediate full charge.  With a battery thats only a year old it is probably possible to rescue/rejuvinate it by doing this discharge cycle twice in quick succession.

Here's how to do it: Visit B&Q or similar and purchace domestic low voltage(12volt) 50watt Halogen lamp and connct to two core cable using terminal strip(chocolate block) and then connect other end to to batterey and leaveuntil voltage accross battery drops to about 4.5 volts and then disconnect lamp and connect charger and do full charge and then repeat. then take out and give it a go(If you aint got a voltmeter leave until lamp is pretty dim ie 1/4 the brightness you started with).  its defineatly worth a go and could save you £40.

By the way, you should be able to get 250/300 rounds out of a bog standard battery and more out of high quality or gel batteries

Many thanks Ian.

Christ, this battery malarkey is a bit technical for an old Luddite like myself.

Looks like I'm now a fully paid up member of the leccywagon brigade then.......... 

yeah, now I read it again Ive overdone it a bit, but it really is only ten minutes work to make the discharge circuit.   I keep seeing threads on batteries only lasting a short time and guys changing batteries every year at £40-£50 a pop.  I used to do it myself until I found out how to avoid it( I threw away a £50 Gel battery after 10 months).

  There were some quite informative and technical threads on the subject last year which is where I got my info from, but it seems to be a recurring theme