Fill battery cells (aka water fill holes) with distilled water (not tap water) ¼ to ½ inch above the plates. With ¼ inch of water you’ll have to check your batteries more often, but at ½ inch you’ll likely have more acid accumulation on the tops of the batteries. Either level is acceptable; it’s really your call.
Full Answer
How to check the water level of a golf cart battery?
To check the golf cart battery water level, you should know what the right water level is. This can help you avoid underwatering or overwatering the batteries, both of which can cause damage to them as mentioned above. The general suggestion is to ensure that the water is above the battery plates by only a quarter to half an inch.
Can you fill a golf cart battery with water?
Batteries must be refilled only when they are completely charged. Refilling them when they are discharged can result in leakage of battery fluids after recharging. Ensure that you fill water in your golf cart batteries only after charging them. Add water so that the water level remains about half an inch above the top of the battery plates.
What should a 6 volt battery read on a golf cart?
On a 6-volt battery, you should have slightly over 6 volts, like 6.1 to 6.3. If you get a reading of something like 4.1, then one of the cells in this unit is bad or shorted. How To Test Golf Cart Batteries With A Hydrometer Specific gravity can be measured using a hydrometer.
How much water should be above the battery plate?
The general suggestion is to ensure that the water is above the battery plates by only a quarter to half an inch. Of course, you will have to check your water levels more often when it is quarter an inch above the battery plates than when it is half an inch. However, with half an inch, the battery tops are prone to more acid accumulation.
How do I check the water level in my golf cart batteries?
2:504:44How 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. Now each each cell of the battery is individual.
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.
How often should you put water in golf cart batteries?
about once every 30 daysAlways 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.
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 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).
When should I fill my battery with water?
While a battery should only be filled after it is completely charged, you should also check the water level before charging to make sure there is just enough water to cover any exposed plates. After charging, add enough water to bring the level to the bottom of the vent, about ¾ below the top of the cell.
How long do 8 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.
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 do you put water in an electric golf cart battery?
2:104:29How To Fill Golf Cart Batteries With Water | Golf Cart Garage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown the sides of the nozzle let in air so when the water reaches that point it stops fillingMoreDown the sides of the nozzle let in air so when the water reaches that point it stops filling automatically. Basically all you have to do is push down on the bottle. Until you hear the bubbling.
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.
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 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 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.
Can you add water to golf batteries?
Fortunately, adding water to your batteries is pretty easy and won’t take too much of your time. In this guide, we’ll provide some more information on the importance of water maintenance, before explaining how to add water to golf batteries. Contents [ show]
Can you refill a golf cart battery?
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.
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 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 to tell if battery life is nearing?
Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer several times to allow the thermometer to adjust to the temperature of electrolyte and note the reading. Observe also the electrolyte color. A gray or brown coloration shows that the end of your battery life is nearing.
What is a golf cart battery charger?
The battery charger is designed to bring a normally discharged battery back to full or nearly full charge in a given time.
What temperature should a battery be when charging?
This will also initiate the equalizing charge. The batteries should begin gassing and bubbling. Keep the battery temperature between 115 degrees and 125 degrees.
What is a Trojan T-105 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 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.
What happens if you discharge a battery below the charge limit?
If you discharge your battery below that state of charge, you risk freezing your batteries. Frozen batteries are typically permanently damaged. Best,
Why does my battery keep bubbling?
Gassing/bubbling is normal during the end phase of charging as the voltage is at the highest point. The gassing/bubbling mixes the electrolyte to ensure it is homogeneous throughout the battery. If the battery is bubbling when charging hasn’t recently occurred then it could be a short in one of the cells.
Can you remove electrolytes from a battery during winter?
Make sure to top off all 6 cells of each battery to the proper fill line using only distilled water. Our engineers do not recommend that you remove the electrolyte during the winter. However, they do recommend limiting your depth of discharge based on your ambient temperature.
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.
Why does my golf cart battery water boil?
This can be due to several reasons as given below. The charger used for your golf cart batteries is malfunctioning or is not working properly.
Why do you need to refill golf cart batteries?
This is one reason why you must always refill water in your golf cart batteries only when they are fully charged. Overfilling batteries with too much water can also result in boiling. Water from other sources may have been used instead of distilled water for refilling the batteries.
What are golf cart batteries made of?
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. When the batteries are discharged, the level of the water that contains these electrolytes goes down.
Why does my golf cart have a problem with water?
The biggest problem that your golf cart will face if the batteries run out of water is sulfation. This happens because a lack of water in the batteries exposes the battery plates to the air for a much longer period than usual. As a result, the plates begin to start drying out and it starts flaking.
Why is my battery water level low?
Some of the reasons for a low level are as follows. The battery was not filled to the required water level last time when it was refilled. The ideal water level is just below the battery vent and above the battery plate. The battery has not had distilled water poured into it for a long time.
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.