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how low can i let my golf cart batteries get before recharge

by Dr. Otis Bruen III Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Batteries should not be discharged below 80% of their rated capacity for the best battery life. Properly charging your batteries will help avoid excessive discharge.

Full Answer

How to charge a golf cart battery without overcharging it?

To save your battery from overcharging, you can use an automatic golf cart charger that will shut off once the batteries are fully charged. Some people prefer to use any charger that fits with a golf cart battery.

How long does a golf cart battery last on one charge?

Tip: It’s worth investing in an automatic charger and charging the batteries after every use. A new golf cart battery will last up to 25-50 miles on one charge. This means the battery will last about 1 hour of continuous golf cart usage if travelling at an average of 35 miles per hour.

How do you maintain your golf cart batteries?

You should always hook up your golf cart charger to your golf cart after use to keep the batteries in peak condition. Another good thing to have for your golf cart batteries is a watering system.

How many volt batteries do I need for my golf cart?

Because golf carts can have 6, 8, or 12 Volt batteries, you’ll want to pay attention to match that voltage on your charger if possible by setting it to the correct voltage or connecting it to the right number of batteries at a time to equal its voltage.

Should I charge my golf cart after every use?

Should you charge new golf cart batteries? Yes. New golf cart batteries should be charged every time they are used as this will extend their lifespan, help them retain their capacity for longer, and prevent discharge. It is vitally important to charge new golf cart batteries, even after their first use.

How long can a golf cart go without being charged?

Typically, an electric golf cart has between 45 and 90 minutes of full-power run time on a fully charged battery.

At what voltage should I charge my golf cart?

They require a minimal number of volts to begin charging. At least 20-25 volts across the set will be required for a 36 volt golf cart. At least 30-35 volts across the set will be required for a 48 volt golf cart.

When Should golf cart batteries be refilled?

You should aim to check the water level in your battery cells every at least once every two months to ensure that your battery isn't ask risk of being ruined due to low water levels. The best time to refill the water in your golf cart batteries is immediately after fully charging your golf cart.

How often do golf cart batteries need water?

The typical schedule is about once every 30 days, but this may vary by several days depending on your specific situation. When filling the batteries, add just enough water to bring it 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch shy of the indicator ring to prevent overfilling.

What is the best way to charge golf cart batteries?

6:057:14How to Charge Dead Golf Cart Batteries Manually - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo charge each individual battery for a half-hour. And then plug. In your old charger your regularMoreSo charge each individual battery for a half-hour. And then plug. In your old charger your regular golf car charger. And if it clicks on and starts to register voltage.

At what voltage should I charge my 48v golf cart?

The target voltage for a 48 volt charger for AGM or some flooded batteries is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 57.6 to 58.8 volts.

What should the battery voltage be on a 48 volt golf cart?

Healthy batteries will indicate about 50 to 52 volts on the voltmeter. Most battery packs hold around 48 volts.

How low can you run a 36 volt golf cart?

For example: a 36v battery pack will read 38.2v fully charged. Maximum drop under load should not be more than 6v below 38.2v equal to 32 volts or less.

How long should I charge my golf cart?

8 to 10 hoursCharge 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.

How often do you need to add water to a battery?

A battery should only be watered after it is completely charged. But, you should always check the water level before charging. Before charging, make sure there is just enough water to cover any exposed plates (rectangular metal parts visible when you look inside a battery).

Why do my golf cart batteries drain so fast?

The reason why your golf cart battery keeps losing charge or drains quickly, may be due to loose wires, corroded connectors or an insufficient amount of water in the battery. The battery connections may have become loose or the connectors are corroded.

How to choose a golf cart battery charger?

How to Choose the Best golf Cart Battery Charger. You must choose a battery charger according to the voltage of your cart to prevent the possibility of damage to your batteries. Check the charging receptacle of your golf cart and select your charger accordingly.

How to charge a deep cycle golf cart battery?

The following tips give an insight into the effective charging of a deep-cycle battery. Charge the deep-cycle battery fully between two consecutive uses of the golf cart. The battery must complete at least one full cycle before use. Check the water level periodically.

How many volts should a wet cell battery be charged to?

A typical wet-cell lead-acid battery should be charged to about 14+ volts. Some manufacturers allow their batteries to support a maximum charging voltage of 14.3 volts. A sealed battery like a gel battery must generally not be charged beyond 14.1 volts. You may want to check whether the manufacturer offers a variation.

How many volts does a golf cart charger have?

There are about 8 different types of charger plugs that you can find across various golf cart models. While some of plugs are exclusively for either 36 volts or 48 volts carts, others will work with both voltages.

What is the power of a golf cart generator?

The generator can charge the batteries that supply the power to an electric motor responsible for moving the cart. The 48 volts system in a golf cart usually features an onboard computer (OBC) that controls the battery pack charging process and restricts the charging when the cart is moving.

Why does my golf cart go into tow mode?

Your golf cart usually runs in tow mode when it does not have enough power to get moving on its own. One reason may be that the batteries are old and do not have the same power as new ones. If this happens with new batteries, the most likely reason is that they don’t have enough charge.

How long does it take for a 5 year old battery to charge?

On the other hand, a 5 year old battery may take up to 10 hours to fully charge. With a good charger, you should be able to get your cart on the move with a few hours of charging. The charging time depends on various factors and following the right steps can help you get the best out of your battery.

On Average, How Long Does It Take to Charge a Golf Cart Battery?

It takes on average 5-6 hours to fully charge a golf cart battery. Also, there are several factors affect a cart battery’s charging potential, so you must keep your battery in good condition and maintain it regularly.

How Long Does It Take to Fully Charge a 48v Golf Cart?

While battery charging time can change depending on the condition of your battery, it should take around 6 hours to fully charge a 48-volt golf cart battery.

How Long Does a Golf Cart Battery Last on One Charge?

In most instances, a golf cart will be capable of traveling between 25 – 40 miles before requiring a charge. In golf terms, that’s more than enough time to complete a couple of rounds of 18 hole golf.

Should You Charge Golf Cart Batteries Every Day?

It’s not necessary to charge your golf cart batteries every day unless, of course, you ride it every day. It’s a good idea to install an automatic charger that turns itself off once the battery is fully charged.

How Can I Make My Golf Cart Batteries Last Longer?

There are three main ways to ensure your golf cart batteries last longer. This includes ensuring you are following the correct charging technique, avoiding inferior charging products, and finally making sure you adhere to a simple battery maintenance schedule.

Should I Charge My Golf Cart in Tow or Run?

99 times out of 100, you should charge your golf cart in run. Tow should only be used if you’re not using your cart for an extended period of time or if you plan to take out the battery for whatever reason.

Should I Leave My Golf Cart Plugged in All the Time?

Overall, you should not leave your golf cart plugged in all the time. This is because your golf cart battery doesn’t need to be constantly connected to power to operate at full capacity.

How to save a golf cart battery from overcharging?

To save your battery from overcharging, you can use an automatic golf cart charger that will shut off once the batteries are fully charged.

What affects battery life of golf cart?

One of the most important things that affect battery life is your purchasing power. Do not buy a charger simply based on lowest cost. Consider the quality of the golf cart charger before buying.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

Golf cart batteries generally last for 4 to 5 years. After 4 to 5 years, if you find your batteries not working correctly, it may be time to replace them with new batteries. For a new set of batteries, browse through our wide selection here: https://www.golfcartgarage.com/golf-cart-batteries/. #Batteries. #Troubleshooting.

Why is water important for batteries?

Add water when the batteries are completely charged. It's important to add water at the right time and in the right amount for optimal performance.

Can you leave a golf cart inactive?

Leaving the golf cart inactive for an extended period reduces battery life. Using the batteries in a partial state of charge or storing the discharged batteries may damage them badly.

Can changing batteries affect the battery?

However, improperly changing the batteries can surely affect the batteries. The wrong charger can break down the internal battery cells, so make sure to use the charger designed for your batteries.

Can you drive a golf cart on a steep hill?

Driving your golf cart forcefully on the steep hill could leave you stuck and damage your batteries.

How to keep golf cart batteries charged?

Another good thing to have for your golf cart batteries is a watering system. Make sure you check the water level in your golf cart batteries monthly to make sure they are still saturated. ( always do this after your batteries are fully charged because if you check them and fill them before you charge them 100% you could over fill them and acid will leak out the top of the batteries while they charge and get all over your cart and in the garage or where ever you store the golf cart. Which is not good because battery acid will eat away at your concrete floor in the garage. Checkout Pete’s great deals on a new One point golf cart watering system to avoid over filling them and making a mess or getting battery acid on your cart, clothes or garage floor and do it with ease. ( In minutes – not an hour or more… weekends are meant to be spent with the family or watching the game not in the garage filling batteries… so get yours today!)

What to do if your golf cart battery hasn't taken a full charge?

If the battery has taken a charge, replace the cell caps and use your golf cart for a long ride and see how long the charge lasts.

How to clean a battery with acid?

Step 1: Tip the battery on its edge: Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. Clean the battery with your paintbrush dipped in a baking soda solution. Rinse your battery with plain water, making certain none of the water gets into any of the cells.

Can you replace a golf cart battery?

If the ride and power is short lived it is still likely you will need to replace your golf cart battery. It is also quite possible that your golf cart battery charger is not charging properly. You will need a volt meter to check the power output of your battery charger.

How many batteries does a golf cart have?

Because golf carts can have 6, 8, or 12 Volt batteries, you’ll want to pay attention to match that voltage on your charger if possible by setting it to the correct voltage or connecting it to the right number of batteries at a time to equal its voltage.

What happens if your cart battery isn't hooked up?

If your cart's batteries aren’t hooked up in the correct way, or there's a weak connection between them, it can lead to a loss of power and cause your charger to fail.

Why is my golf cart charger not turning on?

This is because golf cart chargers get commands to turn on and off by receiving voltage back from the cart when plugged in. So, if your batteries have been run down all the way or left without charging for a long while, your charger may not activate when plugged in.

Can you charge a battery one at a time?

Ideally, your charger will match your batteries individual voltage and you can charge them one at a time, just like so. There is no need to disconnect battery cables, you’ll simply be sending low amp voltage into one battery at a time. Some owners may have to do some math here.

Why is a golf cart important?

It is the most essential type of equipment for golf. It helps to take away the golfers with their all playing instruments from one place to another in the green side of the golf courses. So this golf cart should be kept well charging while driving in the golf courses. Otherwise, the golfer can face trouble riding with this golf cart.

What is the most important part of a golf cart?

A battery is the most important part of any golf cart. If the battery will not fit well or will not charge up properly a golfer cannot ride this golf cart comfortably. So people should take proper care of this golf cart battery. All of the new golf cart batteries are good enough to drive for a long time. But day by day the battery of the golf cart ...

Can a golf cart battery be damaged?

So the battery can fully damage. It also increases the cost of the battery will be damaged fully. Overcharging the golf cart battery also affects the golf cart too. People also need more electricity while overcharging the golf battery. So we see that many problems will happen while overcharging the golf cart battery.

Can overcharging a golf cart cause damage?

Overcharging may damage your golf cart battery. It ruins the lifespan of the cart battery. The battery cannot give enough power to start the engine properly. Sometimes for overcharging batteries may heat up exceed level. So the battery can fully damage. It also increases the cost of the battery will be damaged fully.

Can you overcharge a golf cart battery?

People cannot overcharge a golf cart battery. This is seriously damaged the battery. This affects the worst impact on the golf cart battery. People think that overcharging a battery is helpful to hold more charges in the battery, maybe it will run for a long time with this battery.

Do you turn the lights on a golf cart when you stop driving?

Do not turn the Lights after they have Stopped Driving: They should avoid turning lights or radios of the golf cart when it is keeping on idle time. Leaving LED indicators light or radio also running on any idle golf cart it will affect the battery. The battery can run down quickly.

Can you charge a golf cart with an automatic charger?

Using this automatic charger they can avoid overcharging easily. So try to use an automatic charger while charging a golf cart battery. Otherwise, they should aware to check the battery while charging with a normal charger. If it is charged fully then they should disconnect the charger line as soon as possible.

Can you turn off the radio on a golf cart?

Any lights, radio, or electric components in your cart should always be turned off when you stop using it. Leaving the radio or lights running on an idle golf cart can run down the battery incredibly quickly. In the case of a gasoline-powered golf cart, you may end up having to jump-start the cart to get it working again if this happens.

Can you use an automatic battery charger when it is fully charged?

It's important to make sure you're using an automatic battery charger that will stop being active as soon as the battery is fully charged. We've had clients come in with what they felt were "bad" batteries, only to have to explain to them that the battery had simply been damaged by being overcharged too many times.

Can you drive a golf cart up steep hills?

Forcing your golf cart up very steep hills or to go longer distances than it is made for will run the battery down and could leave you stranded. Just keep a careful eye on distance traveled and consider using a truck or trailer when transporting your golf cart longer distances.

Should golf cart batteries be charged?

Another common issue is golf cart owners who think that golf cart batteries should only be charged when they've become very low. If you drive your golf cart that day? Charge the battery. Letting golf cart batteries run down until near-empty or totally dead will damage them over time just as much as overcharging them.

How to charge a golf cart battery?

Fill all of the battery cells to the proper levels. Remove the battery tops and use distilled water to raise the water levels in the battery cells to cover the plates. Electrolyte levels in your golf cart batteries are critical, especially when cold weather hits and you need to maintain a full charge to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. ...

How do batteries self discharge?

Batteries need to be dry and cleaned of any corrosion and dirt. Batteries can self-discharge by a small trickle of current slowly discharging your batteries through conductive debris.

How to clean battery terminals?

Clean the battery terminals posts using 2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a 1 quart of water. Use a wire scratch brush to remove the larger deposits. Keep any of the baking soda water from entering the battery. Rinse the battery thoroughly dry with a paper towel. 2.

How to revive a frozen battery?

First, bring the battery inside and thaw it out, then hook it to an automotive charger that is equipped with clamps to put on the terminals. Set the charger on the lowest charge rate setting and charge the battery for around an hour.

What is a tow/run switch on a golf cart?

The Tow/Run switch is only installed on a golf car with a separately excited motor that produces regenerative braking. This uses a small amount of power even when the key is off and can take a full charge If your cart has this switch, Set it to “Tow” and set the parking brake.

What happens to electrolytes in cold weather?

Electrolyte expansion during cold weather can crack the battery case, causing complete battery failure. At a 40% state of charge, the electrolyte will freeze. As the state of charge in a battery decreases, the electrolyte solution gets to be more and more like water.

Can you store golf cart batteries in cold weather?

Also, note that golf cart batteries will take longer to charge in colder temperatures than they will in warm weather.

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