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how do i check golf cart 36 volt charger

by Mr. Gonzalo Rath Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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You’ll need a multimeter that can measure volts and amperes, along with an alligator clip for the probes on your meter. It would be helpful if you also got your charger turn on. Whether it is 6 volt. 8 volt or 36 amps, the chargers must be in good condition.

Turn on the Charger – Once you have the voltmeter attached to your battery charger, turn on the charger to read the electrical output. Typically, the needle on the voltmeter will move from left to right – with right being higher – to gauge the amps produced. A reading of about 36 amps is typical for a battery charger.

Full Answer

What should the voltage be on a golf cart battery charger?

Your golf cart’s battery charger should read about 12.72 volts when fully charged. A good sign of battery functionality is how much voltage it has. To test this out, take your multimeter and connect one end to the positive terminal on your battery while you connect the other side to the ground.

How to test golf cart batteries?

How To Test Golf Cart Batteries With Load Testing. A load tester will give you more insight as to the health of your battery. By putting a dummy load on the battery, you can see how the battery performs when actually being used. The load tester hooks to the terminals of the battery and displays the voltage.

What is the difference between a 36v and 48V golf cart Charger?

A 36V cart requires a 36 volt golf cart charger. A 48V cart requires a 48 volt golf cart charger. You can burn up your batteries if you do not charge with the proper voltage. Check out our 36V vs. 48V Guide for more information. Can I swap out plugs on my 36V or 48V charger? Answer is, it depends.

How do I know if my golf cart charger is charging?

New style chargers will have a blinking light showing charger status, old style golf cart chargers will have an amperage meter (Needle swing gauge style) If the charger is in fact charging you will see this needle swing to the opposite side of the gauge and the charger usually very noisy will start humming away as it charges.

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How do I know if my golf cart battery charger is bad?

Bad Charger: IN GENERAL, if the charger kicks on, but doesn't charge fully or kicks off soon after, this is likely a charger issue. If the charger makes a loud clicking noise, this is likely a battery charger issue.

How do I know if my club car charger is working?

If the Club Car's computer is working correctly, the relay should make a “click” sound when you plug in your charger. If it does not, then you could easily have a blown fuse. If you check the fuse and it is okay, then you could also have a damaged relay, although this is rare.

How do I test my EZ Go charger?

Use your voltmeter to test the positive end of the charger handle. Press the other end to the negative line coming in (near the fuse). This is just one last check to be sure, since often the handle of the E-Z-Go Powerwise Charger is where people tend to have issues.

How do I know if my golf cart is charging?

1:564:02How Do I Read My Golf Cart Charger? | ASK DAVE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOff if you're using a more modern style charger like this one you'll find led indicator lights toMoreOff if you're using a more modern style charger like this one you'll find led indicator lights to show that charging is in progress depending on the make.

How do I reset my club battery charger?

Easily Reset the Club Car Golf Cart OBCKey switch to off.Set forward/reverse to neutral.Put tow/run switch to tow.Disconnect the negative battery terminal from the battery pack.Put the tow/run switch to run.Put forward/reverse switch to reverse.Put key switch to on.More items...

How do you trick a golf cart charger to charge a dead battery?

1:233:46Reviving Dead 6v & 8v Golf Cart Batteries FAQ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what I'm going to do is I'm going to hook my positive to the battery one positive. And since thisMoreSo what I'm going to do is I'm going to hook my positive to the battery one positive. And since this is this negative we make this battery six volt I jump to the corresponding.

Why is my EZGO charger not working?

Some reasons why an EZGO RXV golf cart will not charge could be because of a dirty charging port, loose or broken wire, a blown-out fuse or a problem with the auxiliary contact. Clean the charging port so that it's free of dust and dirt accumulation. Sometimes, dust and dirt can prevent proper charging.

How do I test a battery charger with a multimeter?

Connect the positive and negative test probes of a multimeter tool to the corresponding contact points on the charger. The device will then give you a reading displaying the voltage being put out by the charger.

How many volts should a 36 volt charger put out?

The target voltage for a 36 volt charger for AGM or some flooded batteries is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 43.2 to 44.1 volts.

How do I know if my battery charger is working?

Running a test on your battery charger is an easy process.Plug in your charger to an electrical outlet. ... Turn on your voltmeter unit. ... Take a battery or battery pack that's compatible to your battery charger. ... Check the readout on the voltmeter and see where the pointer is indicating to.More items...

How long does it take to charge a 36 volt golf cart?

Charge your batteries for 8 to 10 hours with the proper style of golf cart battery charger. The best practice is to charge overnight after you are done using your cart for the day. Even if you only used the cart for 5 minutes, you'll want to give the golf cart batteries a good charge.

What do the lights on a club car charger mean?

Excel System vehicles with the ERIC Charging system feature a dash mounted charge indicator light below the steering column that serves two functions: 1) Battery low state of charge warning, and 2) Charging confirmation.

What do you do if your golf cart won't charge?

Golf Cart Won't ChargeCheck our outlet to make sure that you're getting power to your electrical outlet.Check the water level in your batteries, using distilled water to refill only. ... Check for corrosion or any loose cables on the batteries.Check the condition of your charger's cables (AC and DC cables).More items...

How do I know if my golf cart controller is bad?

X Common Symptoms of Controller FailureTop Speeds Not Appropriate for Your Cart. Golf carts are designed to reach pretty specific speeds and to not go over them or beneath them. ... Sudden and Unexpected Slowing. ... Shuttering or Shaky Driving. ... Stalling Out and Refusing to Start. ... Surges in Speed When Driving.

Should I leave my golf cart plugged in all the time?

Manufacturers suggest leaving your golf cart plugged in all of the time while using an auto battery charger, as it will keep the batteries fully charged and always available. If batteries are not charged for prolonged storage, they may damage over time and deliver less capacity.

Where is the reset button on a Club Car golf cart?

Identify your main battery supply (usually the largest battery) on your motor. Check around this supply for a small red button that may or may not be labeled “Reset”. Press and hold this button for a few moments and then release it to reset the motor.

Find A New Golf Cart Battery Charger Or Batteries

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How to test a 36-volt golf cart battery charger?

Here, we’ll tell you all about the process of testing your battery reconditioning charger!

How will you test a Golf cart battery charger: step by step guide?

Usually, the charger doesn’t take up the charge if the product is not original. But, the automated chargers require minimum voltage.If you are using a charger, it will have some indicator that indicates when the battery has been charged up or discharged. Read this and understand what needs to be done so that your golf cart can have an efficient charging process.

Why are the Golf cart battery chargers essential?

It is also needed for the Golf Cart Battery Reconditioning. They not only make sure that your batteries are always charged and ready to go, but they also protect the life of your batteries by automatically shutting off when it is time for them to cool down and rest.

How to fix club car charging problems?

This is a problem which you need to fix. First, check the voltage output. If you find it is weak, follow the below steps:

What are the varieties of Golf cart batteries?

Lead-acid batteries are by far the cheapest option on this list, but it doesn’t last nearly as long as most other options.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

Instead, they are typically only used when necessary, and the average lifespan for an AGM battery is between two to five years depending upon how often they’re being charged, but that can vary from model to model.

What are the symptoms of a bad solenoid on a golf cart?

Following are the issues you will get in your golf cart with the bad solenoid.

How many volts does a 36 volt golf cart have?

So now that we know where to check voltage and test. What is the answer? Jot down or remember whatever number you get. 36 volt golf carts when fully charge will reflect 37-38 volts… and 48 volt systems will reflect roughly 49-51 volts. All batteries hold slightly more voltage than advertised on case when fully charged so when combined the numbers are always slightly higher. So no need to be alarmed.

How to check if a golf cart battery is fully charged?

With a basic digital volt meter we check system voltage first. Whatever the operating voltage is of your golf cart you should check current voltage levels to know if the cart is in fact fully charged , partially charged or completed dead. You will usually find the batteries to your golf cart under the front seat which opens or folds out towards the golf cart steering wheel on most Club Cars, Ezgo and Yamaha golf carts.

How to wire golf cart batteries?

No mater how many golf cart batteries you have it will always work the same. To wire multiple batteries in a series you would just connect each batteries positive terminal to the next batteries negative terminal. Then continue this process for however many batteries to intend to connect together. After you have done so you will always have two terminals left over. One will be positive and one will be negative. Those terminals will reflect the new operating voltage of said battery bank. For example as shown in image above – most golf carts these days operate on 36 volt or 48 volts. Which can be achieved in a few ways depending on the batteries used. Whether 6 volt, 8 volt or 12 volt batteries. All of which will have different capacity and or range limitations. Simply put the more batteries you have the larger your so called gas tank will be – or the longer run time and range possible.

What happens if my golf cart is not charging?

If you do not have any voltage in the batteries you will need to get some back into the battery bank before the golf cart charger will charge again .

What voltage do golf cart batteries work on?

All golf cart battery chargers usually operate on 110VAC but some have the ability to operate on multiple voltages for other power grids like in Europe vs US. 110/230VAC would reflect this feature on charger. Good DC side connection. This is the wire or cord with a connector that you would plug into the golf cart.

What is the third pin on a golf cart?

Then the third pin is usually a low voltage signal for a lock-out feature on these newer style golf carts. This is so the user cannot drive off with a golf cart “If the charger is still plugged in”.

What does the green circle on a golf cart mean?

Note – The green circles in image above indicate positive and negative most battery terminals to check voltage on your golf cart. These images cover all the basic golf cart battery configurations. If not hopefully you will now better understand how to determine which terminals to test in your application.

Where is my User’s Manual for my golf cart battery charger?

Our manufacturer does not provide owner’s manuals. Here are the links to the Lester charger manuals (they are also linked to on our product pages):

Where on the golf cart do I install a Lester on-board battery charger?

Some find that they can fit the on-board charger under the seat. This will really depend on the cart's specific battery configuration (x4 12V's, x6 6V's, x6 8V's or x8 6V's). Others will put the onboard charger on the little cubby area below the rear seat (if they have one). The Lester Summit onboard chargers that we sell have the following dimensions: L 10.95" x W 7.3" x H 4.75" and are pre-drilled mounting holes on the sides. Here are links to each: 48V Onboard Charger and 36V Onboard Charger.

How Do I Troubleshoot My Golf Cart Battery Charger if It Isn't Working?

Just so you know, this situation happens EVERYDAY. The first question we always ask is, how long has it been since you've charged your batteries? We ask this because often times if it has been a while (a couple weeks or more), or if you just got brand new batteries, or if your batteries have been really run down recently, it is possible that the batteries may not have enough voltage in them for the charger to start working. An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.

What are some symptoms of a bad golf cart battery charger vs. bad batteries?

Bad Batteries: IN GENERAL, if the charger doesn't kick on or show any signs of life when you plug it into your cart, this is most likely a battery/connection issue. Learn more about the signs of a bad golf cart battery.

Will the golf cart charger automatically stop charging once the batteries are fully charged?

Yes. All automatic chargers are designed to charge your batteries until they are fully charged and then stop charging. So you do not need to manually shut off the charger or worry about overcharging your batteries. All Lester chargers are made with a number of internal safety mechanisms that ensure that they will never overcharge batteries.

What if I charge my batteries until my battery charger stops charging, but my golf cart won’t drive very far?

You probably need to test your batteries and likely will need to get new golf cart batteries.

How long does it take to charge a golf cart?

It depends on three factors, 1) the quality of your batteries, 2) how discharged your batteries are and 3) the quality of your charger. If you have 5 year old batteries that are very discharged and you have a lightweight 2-5 amp charger, it may take a very long time (10 hours or more). If you have brand new batteries, they are 20-30% discharged and you've got a heavy-duty charger, it can be pretty quick (1-3 hours). Again, it depends on all of the above factors, so it really could vary quite a bit.

Charger Diode Types

In the most general terms, a diode, whether in a golf cart charger or any other application, is a one way gate for electricity. It is direction sensitive and only allows power to flow one way through it. They are generally installed as protection against polarity reversal. Golf cart charger diodes do just that, protect against polarity reversal.

Testing

An easy preliminary way to test your golf cart charger diodes without opening the charger is to test at the battery bank. Locate your main positive and main negative lead to your battery bank. They should be the only posts that are not connected to another battery in series.

Internal Testing

To adequately test a diode, you must remove the transformer wires from them, as this can skew your results. With your multi-meter set to the diode function, or just simple continuity, press one probe to the end of the diode where the wire was and the other probe to the portion near the heat sink. Record your reading, and then reverse the probes.

How many volts does a golf cart have?

There is a major difference between 36 volt up to 48 volt systems, impacting both performance and potential upkeep and maintenance costs. Hint: some batteries are much more expensive ...

What is the amperage of a golf cart?

Golf Cart Battery Amps. Amperage can be considered akin to the fuel in a gas-powered engine. Similar to a tank of gas, the amount of amperage will dictate how far you can drive your cart on a single electric charge.

What does the owner manual on a golf cart tell you?

If uncertain, referring to your golf cart’s owner manual will provide guidance as to the type of battery your make and model was made to handle. As always, if you have questions or need further assistance, our talented and highly trained staff is standing by to assist and make sure you get just what you need to enjoy the trails or links worry-free.

What does voltage mean in a battery pack?

Voltage represents how much power your system will be delivered, resulting in increased ability to tow, carry more weight, and accelerate faster.

Does a golf cart battery need to be recharged?

In this regard, a higher voltage (although more powerful) often comes at a cost. That cost is that it can burn through more amps faster, draining the golf cart battery quicker, and requiring you to recharge more frequently.

How to tell if your golf cart is low voltage?

You may notice the range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf. A “Shutter” is when the cart feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake in a rapid staccato. This is a classic sign of low voltage.

How many amps does a golf cart battery take to recharge?

To recharge, the batteries will require 90 ampere-hours + 20% to make up for any charge deficiency.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace The Batteries In A Golf Cart?

The cost of replacing the battery pack typically runs from $800 to $1500 depending on the number of batteries needed and the brand you go with.

What Is The Best Golf Cart Battery?

Trojan T-105 batteries are the best-known premium battery and have nearly 100 years of manufacturing experience. Trojan Battery Company was founded in 1925 and developed the golf cart battery for the Autoette in 1952. The distinctive maroon color of the T-105 makes it easy to distinguish from its competitors.

How to tell if your golf cart battery is bad?

Symptoms of a failing battery or batteries could include the following: 1 You may notice the range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf. 2 A “Shutter” is when the cart feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake in a rapid staccato. This is a classic sign of low voltage. If this is experienced, your cart may be low on charge, the charger may not be functioning properly or you may have a battery issue. 3 On electric golf carts, the cart refusing to move at all on a charged set of batteries could be the controller not engaging when the voltage falls below a preset value. 4 It takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had them installed. As the batteries age, they will not hold a charge as well as they used to. The charger has no way to know this and will continue to charge the batteries trying to get to a full charge – meaning it will take longer to charge the batteries than normal.

When do golf cart batteries discharge?

The state of charge or discharge golf batteries are in at the end of the day depends upon the type of play and the number of holes the golf cart was used for. The battery charger is designed to bring a normally discharged battery back to full or nearly full charge in a given time. When charging, allow enough time for a complete charge cycle.

What to wear when driving a golf cart?

Long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and protective eyewear are a must. I would even have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case. There are different types of batteries used in newer style golf carts (Absorbed Glass Mat, Lithium, Gel) that require different testing procedures.

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