How to charge a golf cart battery?
Connect the battery to a charging station and charge the battery fully so that each cell has a voltage rating of 2.3 volts. Always wear safety glasses, a face mask and gloves whenever you perform the above process. You have taken the golf cart for several long trips.
Why is the water level in my golf cart battery low?
The water level in the golf cart batteries is far below the desired level. Check the water levels of the batteries and top up the ones with low water levels. The golf cart is kept in a very cold area.
How do you clean the battery on a golf cart?
Open the battery compartment and take out the golf cart battery. Clean the battery using a paintbrush dipped in a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda and one quart of water. This helps to remove any corrosion present, especially around the terminals. Follow up with a rinse using plain water.
What kind of battery is in a 36 volt golf cart?
These batteries will make up either a 36 volt battery system or a 48 volt battery system. Examples: (6) six 6 volt batteries could be found in a 36 volt golf cart. Or (4) 12 volt batteries could be found in a 48 volt golf cart or even (6) 8 volt batteries could be found in a 48 volt system.
How far can you discharge a golf cart battery?
between 50-80 percent6) Do not discharge golf cart batteries beyond an 80% discharge. It is recommended that you discharge your golf cart batteries to between 50-80 percent, and not beyond 80 percent or to the point where your golf cart until the batteries are completely dead.
What happens if golf cart battery water is low?
If the water level in your golf cart battery is too low, the plates inside the battery will dry out and begin to flake off. When this happens, you will lose the ability to recharge your golf cart, and you will have to replace your battery altogether.
How long can a golf cart go without being charged?
Still, golf cart batteries should be recharged after four hours of use. Nobody likes to be stranded. It takes several hours to re-charge golf cart batteries that have gone completely dead. To lengthen the lifespan of batteries, make sure they are fully charged before each use.
What should the water level be in golf cart batteries?
According to most battery experts, your golf cart water should be about one-quarter inch below the top of the fill well. Another way to gauge this level is to make sure the water covers your battery cell plates but doesn't go too high above them.
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).
Can you overfill golf cart batteries with water?
Can you put too much distilled water in a battery? The answer to this question is yes. Too much distilled water in a battery is possible, but not probable. If there is too much distilled water in a battery, the electrolyte will evaporate and the battery might not be able to generate enough charge for use.
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 will a golf cart battery hold a charge?
Typically, an electric golf cart has between 45 and 90 minutes of full-power run time on a fully charged battery.
How often do you need to charge golf cart batteries?
4) To keep your golf car batteries at maximum capacity, use golf cart batteries often. Always remember to do a refresh charge every 45 to 60 days, and even more frequently in hotter climates.
What happens if a battery runs out of water?
What Happens If A Lead-Acid Battery Runs Out Of Water? If that happens, the lead plates will be exposed to the existing oxygen and hydrogen gas in the battery. This exposure will cause an exothermic reaction with the battery terminals, emitting huge amounts of heat. The heat will further evaporate the water.
How do you know when golf cart batteries are dying?
8 Signs You Need to Replace Your Golf Cart BatteriesCharge Times Are Out of Hand. Just like any rechargeable battery, the repeated cycles of draining and charging your battery can take a toll on it. ... No “Get Up and Go” ... You See Visual Signs. ... Driving Until They Die. ... People Are Always Running The Radio.
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.
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 many batteries are in a golf cart?
These batteries are configured within the golf cart’s frame rails and depending on the type of motor they are running you could see between (4) four and (8) eight batteries. These batteries will make up ...
How to tell what voltage a golf cart battery is?
Another quick way to determine what the voltage is of the batteries in your golf cart is to just count the caps on top of the battery. In some instances they will have a quick release car that covers all the cells filler holes. Either way count the caps or the holes that are being covered by one. (Each cell is 2 volts.)
How long do lithium batteries last?
Lithium batteries will last 10x as long as traditional lead acid batteries and have less than .01% discharge rates in static situations. (This is why they usually cost 10x as much.)
Do golf carts come with batteries?
Almost all golf carts come from the manufacturer with cheap batteries. Or at least cheap reliable chemistry. Batteries can be very expensive depending on the chemistry and anatomy of the specific battery in question.
How to tell if a golf cart battery is bad?
Symptoms of a failing battery or batteries could include the following: 1 You may notice the battery power and range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf after charging back to the advertised voltage using a full trickle charge cycle. 2 A “Shutter” feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake rapidly. 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. Use a volt meter to measure each battery individually to isolate individual battery health. 3 On electric golf carts, the cart refusing to move at all on a charged set of batteries could be the speed controller not engaging, a faulty maintenance switch, or when the voltage falls below a preset value. 4 A deep cycle battery charge time takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had a battery bank installed. As the battery bank ages, it will not hold a charge as well as it used to. The automatic charger has no way to know this and will continue to charge the battery bank trying to get to a full charge – meaning it will take a longer charge time for the batteries than normal.
What does it mean when your cart is low on charge?
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.
How to clean battery terminals?
Clean the battery terminals posts using 2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a 1 quart of water. A Wire scratch brush does the job nicely (it looks like a metal bristle toothbrush). Do not allow any of the baking soda water to enter the battery. Rinse the battery thoroughly and air dry or use a paper towel.
How long does a deep cycle battery last?
Battery charging is performed when you are parked for the day. With proper maintenance, a deep cycle battery only lasts a set number of years before the plates get corroded over and are no longer efficient. Some cart batteries are not too far gone and can be rejuvenated using Epsom salts.
How many volts should a 6 volt battery charge?
If you do not have a hydrometer, use a multimeter instead. Measure across the terminals on each individual battery. On 6-volt batteries, you should have a battery charge of slightly over 6 volts, like 6.1 to 6.3. If you get a reading of something like 4.1, then one of the battery cells in this unit is bad or shorted.
What to do if battery is cracked?
If a battery is cracked and leaking acid, it should be replaced. With the cell caps removed, check the water level and ensure the battery plates in each battery cell are covered and not exposed. Add distilled water to any that are low. Replace the battery caps. Step 4.
What color is a fully charged battery?
Observe also the electrolyte color. A gray or brown coloration shows that the end of your battery life is nearing. If you do not have a hydrometer, use a multimeter instead.
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 often should you charge golf cart batteries?
Golf cart batteries should be kept fully charged at all times – this means hooking them up to a charger as soon as you are finished using the cart. Regular charging will prevent damage to the battery and give it longer-lasting life.
Should golf cart batteries be charged after every use?
Yes. Charging your golf cart batteries after every use – even if you’ve only spent five minutes driving – is crucial for maximising their lifespan. Leaving batteries in a prolonged state of low charge can decrease their capacity over time and wear them out quicker.
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.
Should your golf cart be turned on when charging?
No. You should turn your golf cart off when charging its batteries. Trying to charge a golf cart while it is running is a pointless exercise, as the battery will be draining while you’re trying to charge it. A golf cart should only be turned on once its batteries are fully charged.
Should golf carts be plugged in all the time?
No, you should not leave your golf cart plugged in all the time. While automatic battery chargers are designed to shut-off once at full capacity, leaving a battery connected to power for long periods leaves it susceptible to damage should the electrical circuit be overloaded.
Should golf cart batteries make noise when charging?
If your golf cart uses a standard 12 volt flooded lead acid battery, then it is quite normal to hear a bubbling sound when it’s charging. However, if your cart uses a sealed battery (such as a gel or AGM battery), then a hissing or bubbling sound may indicate damage.
How long should golf cart batteries last?
If you play golf twice a week – and use your golf cart for each round – you can expect a standard, brand-new battery to last just under 10 years before needing to be replaced. If you charge your battery correctly after use, you can maximise its shelf life.
