how to keep new golf cart batteries charged

Golf Cart Battery Charging Maintenance

• Charge the batteries continuously for 8 to 10 hours, preferably overnight, using a compatible charger. This ensures that...
• New batteries must be charged fully before use and need at least 20 to 50 cycles before a full charge. Hence, use the...
• Follow the steps given in the above section to keep the terminals and tops of your...

Full Answer

How long do the batteries last on a golf cart?

• Charge after every use: Golf cart batteries are not like cell phones, they need to be charged after every use, even short drives.
• Water Regularly: Use only distilled water. ...
• Keep terminals and connections clean: A wire brush or terminal cleaner will do the trick. ...

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How to recondition golf cart battery in 10 Easy Steps?

STEP 1 Before preparing your battery for reconditioning, you need to wear your protective gear: apron, gloves, mask, and goggles. Likewise, make a weak baking soda and water solution on the side to neutralize any sudden spills and splashes. STEP 2 You need to remove the corrosion in the battery terminal.

How to refurbish a golf cart battery step by step?

Step-by-Step Guide: Golf Cart Battery Reconditioning

• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Apron
• Distilled water
• Epsom salt
• Bucket
• Baking soda
• Flathead screw
• Wrench
• Battery Reconditioning Chargers

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How to revive golf cart batteries?

How to Revive Dead Golf Cart Batteries · Open the battery compartment and take out the golf cart battery. · Clean the battery using a paintbrush dipped in a solution. A golf cart battery, also called a deep-cycle battery, is a 12-volt battery with six 2-volt cells. A deep-cycle battery contains lead acid.

Do brand new golf cart batteries need to be charged?

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. Basically, new batteries love to be charged.

Should you leave golf cart plugged in when not in use?

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 long do I charge new golf cart batteries?

Charge 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.

Do you have to break in new golf cart batteries?

In fact, by the time installation of the new battery is complete, its charge will most likely be hovering between 70 - 75%. Golf cart batteries often have what is called a "break-in period" when you first bring them home, in which following a few simple steps can up their overall lifespan.

How often should I add water to my golf cart batteries?

DO: You have to get your timing right. After charging your battery is when you want to add water. Adding water after charging prevents acid from spilling over. ... We recommend service once or twice a year. Always use distilled water so you don't add additional minerals into your battery.

Can you overcharge your golf cart batteries?

Overcharging your golf cart batteries may damage them. It is best to use an automatic charger that turns itself off when a battery is fully charged. Some older models lack this important feature. If you must use a manual charger, don't forget to turn it off.

How do I know if my golf cart is fully charged?

1:574:02How Do I Read My Golf Cart Charger? | ASK DAVE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMost will flash or blink during charging and present a solid green light when finished.MoreMost will flash or blink during charging and present a solid green light when finished.

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.

Can you use a trickle charger on golf cart batteries?

If you tend to use the golf cart during the warmer months and store it during the winter, pick a trickle charger to make the battery last longer. These chargers connect to the battery over weeks or months at a time. They provide enough power to the battery to keep it charged but without harming the internal components.

Is it OK to just replace one golf cart battery?

Let's discuss in detail. When it comes to changing the golf cart batteries, technically, you can change just one at a time. However, this is not advisable as it can cause permanent damage to each battery. When a battery has gone bad, you should change all of the batteries.

How do you keep golf cart batteries charged in the winter?

Find an Indoor Storage Area The best place to store any golf-cart batteries is by looking for a cool and dry area. It shouldn't be cold, such as an exposed area to the elements, but cool. Cool temperatures will slow the battery's discharge rate. You want a slow discharge so that the battery maintains its charge.

Can you leave an electric golf cart outside in the winter?

Golf carts can be stored outside for shorter and even longer periods. But one thing comes under consideration while keeping them outside and without any protection, i.e., they can quickly wear out. Golf carts left outside for weeks can cause severe exterior and surface damage and even sometimes become immovable.

How do I keep my golf cart batteries from dying or corroding?

To ensure long-lasting life for your golf cart batteries, make sure you: keep them fully charged at all times; keep the water level in your battery cells at an optimum level; and keep the terminal connections on your battery clean. Doing these three things will prevent your battery from corroding or dying.

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 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 many volts does a golf cart battery use?

Most modern-day golf cart batteries come in either 6, 8 or 12 volts (the voltage being the force needed to create an electrical current, indicating the strength of the battery).

What type of lead acid is used in golf cart batteries?

Golf cart batteries do come in different types and models – including Flooded Lead Acid; Gel Lead Acid; and AGM Lead Acid – so it’s important to seek clarification if you’re uncertain about which replacement to buy.

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 to save batteries from damage?

Avoid direct heat exposures such as radiators to save your batteries from damage.

How to keep plates safe?

Keep the Plates Safe: Save the plates from open air. Open air could damage the plates.

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 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 charge a golf cart battery?

Attach the battery to a 3-phase charger, ensuring that the charger’s positive lead is attached to the battery’s red or positive pole and negative lead is joined with the negative pole. It’s also prudent to charge the battery after every time the golf cart is used.

What is the best way to protect a golf cart battery?

In order to prevent this, coat its wire lugs, terminals, nuts, and bolts with any quality non-hardening sealant. A thin layer of pure Vaseline or petroleum jelly on the battery’s terminals also provides extra protection. Finally, sealing any exposed wires at the terminal lugs with submersible rubber tape also extends the battery life. These products can typically be found at your local auto parts store.

What type of battery does a golf cart use?

Most golf carts run on lead-acid batteries ( although this is changing ), much like other normal vehicles do. However, the difference is that a battery for a golf cart is usually of 6, 8, or 12 volt deep-cycle lead acid battery, whereas a normal vehicle uses a 12-volt starter or ignition battery. Moreover, the battery for a cart does not recharge ...

How to keep a battery charged while stored?

If you’re going to store your battery for a long time, use a trickle charger to keep charging it while it’s being stored. Using a solar charger also works and prolongs the battery’s life. For a good trickle charger , we recommend a Battery MINDer produced by VDC Electronics.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

Cheaper batteries have much shorter life spans compared to quality golf cart batteries that cost more. The latter may last up to 10 years if maintained properly. So, you end up gaining in the long run even if your initial investment is high. Also, be on the lookout for tax cuts from time to time.

Why is it important to keep a battery charged for longer than its rated reserve?

That’s why you need to ensure that the battery is never discharged for more than seventy percent of its rated reserve capacity. This is because the longer it takes to recharge, the more it creates heat and destroys itself gradually by eroding its plates.

How to maintain a battery?

1. Always Use Distilled Water. Battery maintenance is best done in a well-ventilated area on a plain and level surface. After removing the battery cells’ plastic caps, top off each cell’s reservoirs with distilled water. Never use plain or tap water. Also, never allow the cell’s fluid level to dip below its plates.

How many holes does a golf cart use?

Believe it or not, a golf cart can use quite a bit of juice for 18 holes of golf.

How to clean battery terminals?

The best way to clean battery terminals is to use water, baking soda, and a small wire brush. This can help to keep corrosion from building up. Remember to use eye protection, since the battery acid is toxic, you won’t want that getting in your eyes.

Can you put a golf cart on a charger?

Auto shut-off batteries are great for the daily golf cart user. The golf cart can be put on the charger, even if you haven’t discharged the battery all the way. This way, anytime you need your cart, you know you’ll be fully charged, and you don’t have to worry about overcharging the battery.

Can a golf cart battery be overcharged?

Overcharged batteries can cause just as many problems as undercharged batteries. If you purchased a battery charger from one of the major golf cart manufacturers, chances are, you already have a high quality charger.

Do golf cart batteries run better?

Your golf cart wants to do exactly what it was built for, riding around! Your batteries are going to run better when you use them regularly . Charging after use is also a great way to keep your battery running optimally.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

While batteries for golf carts will last years if cared for properly, eventually they will need to be replaced. We like to advise our customers on the best ways to care for their batteries to ensure they last as long as possible. We've put together a few pieces of critical information you need to know in order to properly care for your golf cart's battery.

How often should I water my golf cart battery?

You'll want to check at least once every over month to ensure the water level is at appropriate levels, and fill to about 1/4" to 1/2" above the metal plates. Some gurgling or bubbling is normal during the charging stage.

Do golf cart batteries come fully charged?

New Batteries Don't Always Come Fully Charged. In fact, by the time installation of the new battery is complete, its charge will most likely be hovering between 70 - 75%. Golf cart batteries often have what is called a "break-in period" when you first bring them home, in which following a few simple steps can up their overall lifespan.

Can you run water down the battery?

Whatever you do, don't let the water level run all the way down. This will cause your battery to overheat and may even start a fire!

Can you charge a golf cart battery too low?

As we mentioned in an earlier post, letting the charge on your batteries run too low, or going too long between recharges, can cause serious long-term damage and lead to you needing to replace your battery long before its natural lifespan would have run out. It's important to make sure you charge your golf cart's battery every time you've finished using it. Any extended use could wear the charge down quickly and leave you stranded at best or with a nonfunctioning battery at worst.

How Do I Troubleshoot My Golf Cart Battery Charger if It Isn't Working?

Just so you know, this situation happens EVERYDAY. The first question we always ask is, how long has it been since you've charged your batteries? We ask this because often times if it has been a while (a couple weeks or more), or if you just got brand new batteries, or if your batteries have been really run down recently, it is possible that the batteries may not have enough voltage in them for the charger to start working. An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.

What if I charge my batteries until my battery charger stops charging, but my golf cart won’t drive very far?

You probably need to test your batteries and likely will need to get new golf cart batteries.

What are some symptoms of a bad golf cart battery charger vs. bad batteries?

Bad Batteries: IN GENERAL, if the charger doesn't kick on or show any signs of life when you plug it into your cart, this is most likely a battery/connection issue. Learn more about the signs of a bad golf cart battery.

Will the golf cart charger automatically stop charging once the batteries are fully charged?

Yes. All automatic chargers are designed to charge your batteries until they are fully charged and then stop charging. So you do not need to manually shut off the charger or worry about overcharging your batteries. All Lester chargers are made with a number of internal safety mechanisms that ensure that they will never overcharge batteries.

How long does it take to charge a golf cart?

It depends on three factors, 1) the quality of your batteries, 2) how discharged your batteries are and 3) the quality of your charger. If you have 5 year old batteries that are very discharged and you have a lightweight 2-5 amp charger, it may take a very long time (10 hours or more). If you have brand new batteries, they are 20-30% discharged and you've got a heavy-duty charger, it can be pretty quick (1-3 hours). Again, it depends on all of the above factors, so it really could vary quite a bit.

Should I charge the golf cart after each use?

Yes. It is healthy for the batteries to be fully charged at all times. So, you should charge your golf cart every night. Automatic golf cart chargers will shut off once the batteries are fully charged, so there isn't a concern that they will be over charged.

Where is my User’s Manual for my golf cart battery charger?

Our manufacturer does not provide owner’s manuals. Here are the links to the Lester charger manuals (they are also linked to on our product pages):

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.