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how to check the water in golf cart battery

by Julie Mayer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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  1. Water level checkout in the battery. Check the water level of a golf cart battery by looking at the water level at the bottom of the storm.
  2. Add water to a battery in a golf cart. It’s possible to add water to golf cart batteries. We know if the battery cap is removable. ...
  3. Water level indicator. There is an indicator on the battery. If there is no water in the storm, the indicator will read drained.
  4. Fill golf cart batteries. You need to fill the battery with distilled water. To fill the battery, first, remove the battery cover.
  5. Advice on refilling water. Fill your golf cart batteries only with distilled water. Never use tap water for this purpose. This water should be hot.
  6. Tips for a refill. Do not pour the water directly onto the battery plates. ...

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. It should just cover them up without making them disappear.

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 I check the water level in my golf cart battery?

3:054:44How to Fill Your Electric Golf Car Batteries | Golf Cart MaintenanceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe proper water level is at the bottom edge of that gauge you want it to be a little gap betweenMoreThe proper water level is at the bottom edge of that gauge you want it to be a little gap between the below the bottom of that gauge in that battery.

Are golf cart batteries supposed to be full of water?

Overwatering and under watering can both be detrimental to your battery. Before attempting to fill your battery, it should be completely charged. Only add water to a discharged battery if the battery plates are exposed, in this instance only add water to cover the plates.

What happens when golf cart batteries are low on water?

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 do I know if my battery needs water?

Some batteries have a clear battery indicator “eye” on the top that glows green if the water level is good and fully charged, and goes dark if the battery needs fluid or is discharged. If it's yellow, it usually means that the battery fluid level is low, or the battery is defective.

How often do I need to put water in my golf cart batteries?

Always fill the batteries after charging. 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.

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).

What happens if you put too much water in golf cart batteries?

Golf cart batteries produce electricity using electrolytes and water, which means you will need to occasionally add some more water. But be careful of the amount! Too much water can lead to the electrolytes overflowing. Too little water can cause sulfation, which damages the lead plates.

What is the main cause of battery water loss?

As the battery is recharged and electricity flows through the water, it is converted into its original gasses of hydrogen and oxygen. This gassing creates water loss and is the direct reason you need to replenish the water in the battery from time to time.

What happens if you overfill a battery with water?

The answer is yes and the results are messy and potentially toxic and corrosive. The only time you add water to a lead acid battery is when it is fully charged. The reason for this is when a battery is fully charged the plates are thicker and the there is less space between them.

Can you use bottled water instead of distilled water in a battery?

Car batteries are designed to use only water-based solutions and not tap water. Tap water contains minerals that can corrode the battery if used in its replacement. It is better to use distilled or demineralized water for car batteries. It is a common misconception that all batteries are filled with distilled water.

How do you put water in a battery?

0:531:52How To Correctly Add Water to Car Battery -Jonny DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBack on make sure they're good and tight just snap them down with the back gear screwdriver. LikeMoreBack on make sure they're good and tight just snap them down with the back gear screwdriver. Like that. And that's it guys that's how you add water to your battery.

How To Add Water To Golf Cart Batteries?

The first thing to be aware of is that you should not necessarily refill your golf cart battery every time the water level is low. When a battery is discharged, the water level will be low by design. If you refill it, and then charge the battery, it will overflow. This will leak battery acid everywhere, which will then cause corrosion. Never add water to a battery when it is discharged.

What Happens If Golf Cart Batteries Run Out Of Water?

When the batteries are discharged, they will consume the electrolytes, causing the water levels to drop. This water evaporation is a normal part of deep-cycle battery functionality, and when you recharge the battery, the water quantity is usually restored to its optimal amount.

What to do with golf cart batteries in 2021?

June 1, 2021. by Nick Lomas. In terms of maintenance, the most important thing you can do for your golf cart battery is to ensure that its water levels are good. Without enough water, your batteries will eventually dry out and suffer irreversible damage. Fortunately, adding water to your batteries is pretty easy and won’t take too much of your time.

Why do you need to refill a battery with water?

You are only required to refill your battery with water in order to maintain the chemical makeup of the battery. However, accidents can happen, and a battery may be tipped or dropped, causing the acid to spill out. If this happens, you will need to replace the sulfuric acid that has been lost.

Why do batteries dry out?

The heat causes the water to evaporate, diminishing your batteries’ access to the crucial electrolytes. When the water levels are low, the battery plates will be exposed to the air for longer than they should be, which will cause them to dry out and flake off. This results in a condition called sulfation.

Why do you need distilled water for batteries?

Instead, you must use distilled water. This is because distilled water is essentially pure water, free of any contaminants that will harm your battery. Now for the process.

What happens when you recharge a battery?

This water evaporation is a normal part of deep-cycle battery functionality, and when you recharge the battery, the water quantity is usually restored to its optimal amount. However, after a number of charge cycles, or if the cart has not been used for a while, you might notice that the water levels are low even when the battery is not discharged.

How to add water to golf cart batteries?

To add water to golf cart batteries, you need to fill the battery cells with distilled water. Fill the water above the battery plates by 1/4 – 1/2 an inch, but below the level of the vents.

What Happens if Golf Cart Batteries Run Out of Water?

Golf cart batteries consist of sulfuric acid and several other electrolytes. The battery plates must be submerged in them so that the required energy is produced to get the cart in motion.

Why is my golf cart battery low?

Golf Cart Battery Low on Water. There are a few reasons why your golf cart battery may go low on water. Whatever may be the reason, you should make sure that the battery is once again topped up with water to the desired level. Some of the reasons for a low level are as follows.

What happens when batteries are discharged?

When the batteries are discharged, the level of the water that contains these electrolytes goes down. This is quite normal and there is nothing to worry about. The water quantity is usually restored to the optimum level automatically when the batteries are charged correctly.

Why is distilled water bad for batteries?

This is because distilled water is the purest form of water and is free of contaminants, minerals, or chemicals that can hamper the chemical process that takes place inside the batteries. The presence of contaminants, minerals, or chemicals in the water can damage the batteries.

Why do you need to allow water to go below the top of the battery plate?

Allow the water level to go below the top of the battery plates as it can reduce battery efficiency.

What happens if you put half an inch on a battery top?

However, with half an inch, the battery tops are prone to more acid accumulation. You will have to periodically watch out for this.

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.

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.

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 do I know if my golf cart batteries need water?

When you are checking the water level in the cells of your battery, you want to make sure that the plates in the battery are covered with water, and that the water level is at the correct level when the battery is fully charged.

What type of water should I add to my golf cart battery?

Every major battery manufacturer recommends that distilled water be added to flooded lead acid batteries. There are a couple of acceptable alternatives, such as de-ionized (demineralized) water, or reverse osmosis water. But the recommendation is distilled water.

How much distilled water do you put in a golf cart battery?

The actual amount of water you may have to add will vary based upon the current level of water in your golf car batteries, but the end result is that you should add as much as necessary to achieve a water level approximately 1/8 – 1/4th of an inch below the bottom of the vent well when fully charged. See diagram above.

What happens when golf cart batteries are low on water?

Trojan will periodically request that dealers or golf car distributors send them batteries that are being processed for warranty due to failure so they can perform a “battery autopsy” to determine the cause of failure. Sometimes a battery failure is due to a manufacturing defect, but many times they discover the failure is due to poor maintenance.

Can you use bottled water instead of distilled water in a battery?

Most bottled water has minerals added for taste. You should not use bottled water to fill your golf cart battery. Minerals will be attracted to and accumulate on the plates inside the battery and significantly reduce their capacity and life.

Should I charge golf cart batteries after adding water?

Your golf car should be fully charged before adding water to your batteries, but if you want to charge the golf cart batteries after adding water you can. Your charger may initiate an equalization charge which may cause your batteries to bubble and gas, so you may want to prevent or stop the equalization after charging for an hour or so.

How many volts should a golf cart battery be?

For example – On a full charge a good set of golf cart batteries will allow you to surely play a few rounds of golf. Using a 48 volt Club Car for example you can play a round of golf with a new set of fully charged batteries and after round is complete the cart will still be above the 48 volt threshold on the battery banks capacity. One because the start / stop load not very demanding vs all out start stops continuously without letting the golf cart or batteries catch their breath per se… Though this is also because a fully charged 48 volt cart with say 6x 8 volt batteries will be around 51 volts not 48 volts.

Why is my golf cart battery undercharging?

Undercharging: Undercharging caused by using a cheap golf cart battery charging system ( One that does not apply enough amperage in the charging cycle) can cause lead sulfate to gradually build up and crystallize on the plates greatly reducing the. battery’s capacity and ability to be recharged.

What can reduce battery life?

Improper Maintenance: Low electrolytic fluid and corrosion on battery connections can greatly reduce battery life and performance.

What is the specific gravity of a battery?

If the specific gravity measures between 1.100 and 1.220, the battery must be. recharged. If the specific gravity is between 1.225 and 1.265, the battery is ok to test. If the hydrometer has a temperature correction chart, be sure to adjust the reading for the battery’s temperature.

What happens if you loosen a battery?

Incorrect Installation: Loose battery hold-downs cause excessive vibration, which can result in damage to the plates and internals of the battery. Especially important with new batteries as the lead has not cured yet and is very soft.

Do you need a volt meter before a load test?

Check voltage before each test with Digital Volt Meter or If you purchase the Load tester Pete recommends it has a volt meter on it to help facilitate a proper test.

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