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how to check if the batteries on a golf cart are good

by Mr. Tillman Lang Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Part of a video titled How to Test Golf Cart Batteries - Troubleshooting ... - YouTube
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Full Answer

How do you test a golf cart battery?

  • Wear protective eyewear and work in a well-ventilated area when performing this test. ...
  • A hydrometer kind of looks like a turkey baster with a little measuring float in the middle of the tube. ...
  • In a golf cart battery, a hydrometer will measure the charge of the battery by measuring the weight of the water. ...

What is the best battery charger for a golf cart?

PROS:

  • This product is designed in a fully automatic manner so that it can easily charge a golf cart battery.
  • This is great for golf carts – and can be used for many other different batteries, which may be important to some consumers.
  • This charger was designed with reverse polarity protection.
  • There is a power on, power off, and fully charged indication.

More items...

How to properly charge a golf cart battery?

When to Charge Golf Cart Batteries:

  1. Charge your golf cart batteries before they get empty.
  2. The cart batteries could get damage permanently if you left them without any charge for a few weeks or a month; because of the self-discharge ability of the cart ...
  3. You should keep charging the batteries even when the golf cart is in rest. ...

More items...

How do you fill the battery in a golf cart?

Step-by-step Guide

  • Step 1. – Insert pump into jug of distilled water! ...
  • Step 3. – Once hand pump bulb is primed remove the dust cover from the end of the fill line on your battery watering system.
  • Step 4. – Squeezing the golf cart battery watering system hand pump with firm steady pressure to pump water into the battery cells.
  • Step 5. ...
  • Step 6. ...

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How do you test a 48 volt golf cart battery?

Touch the voltmeter's negative probe to the battery's ground or negative terminal. Repeat this step with the positive side. Healthy batteries will indicate about 50 to 52 volts on the voltmeter. Most battery packs hold around 48 volts.

How do I test golf cart load batteries?

1:044:07How to Load Test Golf Cart Batteries - DIY Golf Cart FAQ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPut it in forward turn the key switch on and depress the accelerator. It would depress acceleratedMorePut it in forward turn the key switch on and depress the accelerator. It would depress accelerated by 80%. And 36.4 is our load value of the battery pain if you want to know about each battery.

How long do batteries usually last in a golf cart?

That all being said, properly maintained battery packs in fleet carts tend to last about 4-6 years while private owners tend to get about 6-10 years out of their battery packs. Other major factors include the type of options on the cart that may increase the draw from the battery pack.

How many volts should a fully charged 48 volt golf cart have?

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.

How do I know if my golf cart batteries are bad?

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.

How do you test a 12 volt golf cart battery?

1:404:17Testing Golf Cart Batteries with a multimeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere's one coming off the golf cart missed a positive I've seen the okay it's a red wire. So that'sMoreHere's one coming off the golf cart missed a positive I've seen the okay it's a red wire. So that's that's a good indication that it is the positive side the other big wire is coming off of this

Should you charge your 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 much does it cost to replace golf cart batteries?

Average Price of Golf Cart Batteries The average price of a golf cart battery replacement is going to be in the $800 to $1,500 range. Depending on the type of battery, it could even be in the $2,000 ballpark because powerful golf carts like a 72V need more expensive batteries installed.

Should I keep 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.

How do I test my golf cart batteries with a multimeter?

1:244:08Golf Cart Power Testing | ASK DAVE | Golf Cart Garage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPositive and the black lead to the negative terminal on the last battery. Or test each batteryMorePositive and the black lead to the negative terminal on the last battery. Or test each battery individually. This will give us surface charge readings meaning the charge the batteries.

How long do 48 volt golf cart batteries last?

between five and ten yearsWhen you take care of your golf cart's battery, you can expect it to last anywhere between five and ten years.

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.

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.

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 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.

Why would my battery go bad?

As mentioned earlier, the electrolyte level must be kept at optimum levels or damage can be done to the plates inside. Incorrectly watering is the major cause of problems in batteries.

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.

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.

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 to tell if golf cart battery is bad?

Signs That Your Golf Cart Battery Is Going Bad. Sometimes, batteries can fail completely out of the blue. But more often than not, a battery will exhibit warning signs that it may be approaching failure. These tend to develop slowly, over time. And if you catch them early, you can easily prevent the damage from becoming too great.

How to tell if a battery is bad?

Visible Wear and Tear. More often than not, the signs of a failing battery walk hand-in-hand with visible evidence of wear and tear. Upon a simple inspection of your battery, you could quickly determine whether or not there is a problem. First, you should check to see if the battery has bulged and bulked up.

How does a load tester work?

You will be able to see the voltage of your battery as it is put under a load. It works by generating heat through the resistance of electrical current.

How many points should a battery read?

Take a reading of each cell, and adjust the reading to the temperature as necessary. Compare the readings of each cell. A healthy, fully charged battery should read between 12.60 to 12.74. Each of your readings should be within 50 points (0.050) of each other.

How to tell if battery is deteriorating?

One of the most obvious signs of a battery deteriorating is when its charge depletes faster than normal. This could be either when you are using it, or when it is parked away for the night.

What test is used to test a battery?

Hydrometer Test. If the voltmeter has shown that your batteries are fine in terms of voltage, then that’s great! Now we need to test the chemistry of your batteries. A hydrometer test will provide a more accurate means of testing the condition of your battery. To conduct this test, you’ll need:

Is it a good idea to test a battery?

If your battery is showing signs that it might be on the way out, then it’s a good idea to test it, so that you can know for sure. Even if your battery isn’t suffering from any obvious symptoms, it is still worth testing it in order to determine its health and performance.

How to test golf cart battery?

To test the quality and power of a golf cart battery, you’ll need a voltmeter, a load tester, and a hydrometer. The voltmeter will connect to the terminals at the top of the battery to read its voltage. The load tester uses the same terminals to pump the battery full of current and assess how the it handles high levels of amperage.

How many volts does a golf cart battery use?

If it still doesn’t work, you need to replace the battery. Almost every golf cart uses multiple smaller batteries to achieve a total power of 36 or 48 volts. You probably have a series of 4 volt, 8 volt, or 12 volt batteries that combine to reach 36-48 volts. Test each battery separately.

How to keep golf cart batteries from arcing?

1. Stay safe by putting on protective eyewear, gloves, and clearing your area. Golf cart batteries can arc, spark, or emit dangerous gasses while you’re testing them. Stay safe by putting on protective eyewear and wearing gloves to keep any gases from condensing on your skin.

What is load tester in golf cart?

A load tester assesses how the voltage in a battery is effected when there’s a lot of current running through the battery. It’s possible that your golf cart battery’s voltage is fine when it’s not being used but has a ton of resistance or struggles to handle high currents, causing the battery to die.

How to tell if battery is capable of achieving voltage?

A drop between 1-2 volts is to be expected when performing a load test. If the voltage drops more than 3-4 volts though, it’s a sign that the battery is capable of achieving the necessary voltage but won’t maintain that voltage when a current is passing through it. If this is the case, replace your battery.

What is the CCA of a battery?

CCA refers to the battery’s maximum power output when it’s 0 °F (−18 °C) outside. It’s a universal measurement for calculating the power of a battery.

What to wear when load testing a battery?

Wear protective eyewear and thick gloves when load testing a battery. Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid harmful fumes.

How to tell if golf cart battery is bad?

1. Charging Issues. First, check to ensure that your golf cart was charged before you took it out.

How to check if golf cart is charging?

First, check to ensure that your golf cart was charged before you took it out. Plug it back into the charger and follow the instructions. Just in case the charger is the issue, check that the battery charger is turned on. There should be an indicator light to show that it is charging the batteries. In the morning, disconnect ...

What hole does a golf cart stop dead?

It’s a real hassle if your golf cart stops dead and you’re only at the 15 th hole of play. Not only is this an embarrassing event, but it’s a major pain to have to arrange for the cart to be towed back to the parking lot.

How to check if a battery is sealed?

Inspect the batteries to see if they are sealed lead-acid batteries or if there are caps on the top of the batteries . If there are caps (lids) present – then open them and check that the cells inside are adequately covered with the clear fluid. This fluid is the acid – so be careful not to splash it near your eyes or on clothing. It will burn.

Why won't my cart fire up?

But more often than not, your cart suddenly refused to fire up and go due to a dead or bad battery.

Can you top up golf cart batteries?

Only top up your golf cart batteries using distilled water. Also, it is common for golf carts to be powered by multiple batteries. If this is the case, you will notice how several individual batteries have been “daisy-chained” together to form one large battery. 4.

Can you top up a golf cart battery with distilled water?

You need to leave enough room for expansion, so the acid should only be filled to just above the lead cells inside. Only top up your golf cart batteries using distilled water. Also, it is common for golf carts to be powered by multiple batteries.

How many volts does a golf cart battery have?

Now, just because a battery pack displays 48 volts or more after a full charge does not mean they’re good. The real test would be to test them after they have been used for a few miles. The reason is that a deep cycle golf cart battery will not exhibit signs of needing replacement until after they are fully discharged.

How far can a golf cart go on a single charge?

Most Golf Carts can travel at least 7 miles or more on a single charge. However, if you are used to playing golf with no battery charge issues, but then one day you start to notice you can barely finish nine holes without having to limp home, then this could very easily be a sign of weak batteries.

How many volts does a battery pack have?

Typically, a charged battery pack will have 2-3 volts higher on a charger than its rated voltage. For example, a 48 volt system will have 51 to 52 volts after a full charge. We can test this by using a Volt Meter. Now, just because a battery pack displays 48 volts or more after a full charge does not mean they’re good.

Why is my electric golf cart not going fast?

3) Your Golf Cart does not accelerate as fast as it used to. Electric Golf Carts are known for being fast and having acceleration power. However, the day you start to feel your electric golf cart being slower to reach top speed is typically a sign of your batteries needing to be replaced. Also, another sign may be that it has trouble climbing hills ...

What happens if a battery goes bad?

Batteries that are going bad will expand and have bulges on the battery cases themselves. Also, batteries will be prone to leaking acid out of the case when they are on their last leg.

Do batteries hold a charge?

As the batteries age, they will not hold a charge as well as they used to. Unfortunately the charger will not know that, so the charger will continue to charge the batteries thinking they will eventually get to a full charge which means it will take longer to charge the batteries than normal.

Can batteries leak acid?

Also, batteries will be prone to leaking acid out of the case when they are on their last leg. RELATED: Symptoms of a Bad Solenoid on a Golf Cart.

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