how to read a golf cart charger

How to Read a Golf Cart Battery Charger: Easy Steps

• Get your own hydrometer. This tool has a needle that goes low, middle, and high. ...
• 50% DOD (depth of discharge), the battery bank is already at 75 ah. Charger replacement is needed.
• After charging, let batteries cool for at least 2 hours before using.
• After charging for 6 hours and seeing a 95% efficiency on the battery, add two hours more of charging.

Full Answer

What is the best battery charger for a golf cart?

Jun 15, 2021 · Your golf cart’s battery charger should read about 12.72 volts when fully charged. A good sign of battery functionality is how much voltage it has. To test this out, take your multimeter and connect one end to the positive terminal on your battery while you connect the other side to the ground.

How to check the generator on your golf cart?

How to Read a Golf Cart Battery Charger. To find out for sure whether your batteries are the culprit, you’ll need a Digital Voltage Tester to test and read each individual battery. You’ll want to completely charge your golf cart before testing. While the charger is …

How to jumpstart a golf cart?

Check your golf cart’s voltage and see if it is within the detection range of your charger. Get a voltmeter and read across your battery pack. It should read a couple voltages above the total pack. For instance, if you have a 48 volt battery pack, then the voltmeter should read 51ish across the whole pack, if it’s fully charged.

Why is my club car golf cart not charging?

May 07, 2022 · Learning how to test a golf cart battery charger and a lot more is going to come your way. So please continue reading until the end. Basic Ways on How to Test a Golf Cart Battery Charger Testing your golf cart battery charger, like any other form of diagnostic testing, is pretty simple. Let’s start with these three basic steps. We have ...

What should a golf cart battery charger read?

How do you know when golf cart is fully charged?

What should a battery charger read when fully charged?

What should the amp meter read on a golf cart charger?

How long should it take to charge a golf cart?

Should you charge golf cart after every use?

How do you tell if battery is fully charged?

What do the numbers on a battery charger mean?

How do I know if my battery is charging?

How many amps should my 48v golf cart charger show?

How many amps should a 36 volt charger put out?

What should a fully charged 48v golf cart read?

Find A New Golf Cart Battery Charger Or Batteries

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Troubleshoot An Old Golf Cart Battery Charger & Batteries

1. Why is my golf cart battery charger not working? 2. I manually charged my batteries, that did not work, now what? 3. Do I have a battery or a ch...

Golf Cart Charger Questions

1. How do I choose a replacement charger for my Powerdrive, Powerwise, etc.? 2. What's the difference between the Links & Summit charger? 3. How lo...

Golf Cart Battery Questions

1. Do I have 6v, 8v or 12v golf cart batteries? 2. Do I have a 36 volt or 48 volt golf cart? 3. How long do golf cart batteries last? 4. How can I...

How to charge a golf cart battery?

You just hook up the red wire (the positive) to the positive terminal on the first battery in the set, and then hook the black wire (the negative) to the negative terminal on the last battery in the set. So, positive to positive, negative to negative. Forget about the blue wire (for more on the blue wire read What's the Blue Wire? ). The ring terminals on the leads are universal and will fit on all batteries. Because all of the golf cart batteries are connected with battery cables, all batteries will be charged in series.

Where to put a charger on a golf cart?

The answer is, it depends. It's really where ever you are able to find space for a shoebox sized charger on your golf cart. Some find that they can fit the on-board charger under the seat. This will really depend on the cart's specific battery configuration (x4 12V's, x6 6V's, x6 8V's or x8 6V's). Others will put the onboard charger on the little cubby area below the rear seat (if they have one). The Lester Summit onboard chargers that we sell have the following dimensions: L 10.95" x W 7.3" x H 4.75" and are pre-drilled mounting holes on the sides. Here are links to each: 48V Onboard Charger and 36V Onboard Charger.

What voltage do you need for a 36V golf cart?

You must match volts to volts. A 36V cart requires a 36 volt golf cart charger. A 48V cart requires a 48 volt golf cart charger. You can burn up your batteries if you do not charge with the proper voltage.

Why is my golf cart battery red?

Every golf cart battery charger is different with respect to indicator lights, but in general the red light is a fault light that indicates something is wrong with the charging process. Occasionally a red fault light on a golf cart charger can mean that the batteries do not have enough voltage in them to allow the charger to kick on (see Charging Dead Golf Cart Batteries above). However, most of the time, especially with EZ-GO Powerwise chargers, this is the "red light of death" or an internal charger failure indicating that the charger needs to be serviced or replaced.

How many volts does a golf cart battery need?

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.

Why is my golf cart battery charger not working?

Bad connections will cause any battery charger to not function properly. After you've charged up your batteries and checked every connection and you are still having issues, it's probably safe to say you've got a golf cart battery charger problem and may need to service it or buy a new one.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

If golf cart batteries are properly maintained they generally will last for around 5-6 years.

How to check if a golf cart battery charger is working?

The first thing to check is the timing mechanism. Your golf cart battery charger will either have a manual, mechanical timer, or an automatic electric timer. If it is a manual timer, it’s pretty easy to test. Turn the timer on and check for power coming from the timer.

How to check golf cart battery?

Like any other form of diagnostic testing, testing your golf cart battery charger is done in the basic series of steps: 1 Confirm the issue 2 Isolate the issue 3 Repair the issue.

How to check if a diode is bad?

To check for continuity, completely remove the diode from the machine and use your ohmmeter to check for resistance in the same way you checked the cable, then switch the direction you’re testing in. If both are continuous or neither are, then you have a bad diode. You may have to replace both if one is failed.

Why is my charger always on?

The other possible problem is that your timer has failed and is leaving your charger always on. To check for this, have the timer turned off and check for power. If you’re still receiving power, replace your timer.

Why won't my golf cart charge?

Some golf cart battery chargers won’t charge a golf cart if it has fallen below a certain voltage. Check your golf cart’s voltage and see if it is within the detection range of your charger. Get a voltmeter and read across your battery pack. It should read a couple voltages above the total pack.

What should the voltmeter read on a golf cart?

For instance, if you have a 48 volt battery pack, then the voltmeter should read 51ish across the whole pack, if it’s fully charged. This is also part of the maintenance you want to do on your golf cart. Another common issue is worn out batteries.

When to unplug golf cart battery charger?

A good rule is to only have the power on when you are testing it, and to completely unplug the golf cart battery charger when you’re disconnecting things or digging into any circuitry. It may take a little extra time to do those things, but your safety should be your number one concern.

How to test golf cart battery charger?

How to test a golf cart battery charger? Assure that the golf cart battery charger is actually running and that you have volta ge at the battery charger plug by using a multimeter or voltage tester. Let’s go over some of the simple basics and get that battery charger operating the way it should. Step 1.

What is a golf cart?

Golf carts are also known as golf cars. The term "cart", in its purest sense, refers to a vehicle that does not travel under its own power. Golf cars, however, are most commonly referred to as golf... Continue Reading.

How to connect continuity tester to power cord?

Unplug the charger and connect continuity tester leads to both blades of the power cord (8 and 9) and then twist the timer know to “on”. There should be continuity at this point.

How to check battery voltage?

Take your voltage tester and measure the output voltage of all the batteries together. See if they measure the voltage required to actuate your charger (If you have the manual for your battery charger, the minimum voltage should be listed there.) if the batteries do not equal the minimum voltage and above, then you’ve found the problem. What do you do at this point?

How many volts does a battery charger need?

Did you know that most modern battery chargers will not even begin to charge batteries if the batteries original charge is not high enough? The automatic battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the batteries to even begin working, say somewhere around 20 to 35 volts total.

How long does it take for a battery charger to turn on?

With an automatic battery charger, the batteries must be hooked up before the charger will even turn on. allow 3 to 4 seconds for the time delay And if there is no click and a transformer hum, then we need to make sure that there is a proper connection between the battery charger and the batteries.

What to do if your car battery is too low?

If the batteries are too low, charge them individually with a regular old car battery charger, usually the12-volt variety. 12-Volt Automotive Battery Charger. You can either charge them to full capacity or just high enough to meet the minimum voltage required.

What golf carts require different chargers?

This will depend on the golf cart model you own. For example, popular brands like Club Car, Yamaha, and E-Z-Go might require different chargers for their respective carts.

Where is the charging port on a golf cart?

For example, some carts will have the charging port located on the exterior of the cart near the fwd/rev controls. For others, the port will be located underneath the seat.

What happens if you run a cart until the battery is dead?

If you frequently run your cart until the battery is nearly dead, it will damage the battery and can significantly shorten its lifespan.

What does a red light on a battery charger mean?

Others have indicator lights to let you know. For example, a red light might mean that the battery still needs to be charged while a green light usually indicates it is fully charged.

How long does it take to charge an electric golf cart?

It can take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours to fully charge your electric golf cart. This is assuming the battery is nearly discharged. The exact time it will take depends on the age of your batteries and the type of charger you use. Generally, you can expect older batteries to take longer to charge (5+ hours).

Can you charge a golf cart with a generator?

Most people choose to use a simple wall outlet from their home. If your golf cart is usually stored somewhere where this is not an option, you can also use a generator. ***Make sure you charge your cart in a well-ventilated area.

Can you leave a golf cart plugged in?

However, if you have an older charger or one that doesn’t automatically shut off, leaving it plugged in after the cart is fully charged may damage the battery.

How to check if a golf cart battery is fully charged?

With a basic digital volt meter we check system voltage first. Whatever the operating voltage is of your golf cart you should check current voltage levels to know if the cart is in fact fully charged , partially charged or completed dead. You will usually find the batteries to your golf cart under the front seat which opens or folds out towards the golf cart steering wheel on most Club Cars, Ezgo and Yamaha golf carts.

How to wire golf cart batteries?

No mater how many golf cart batteries you have it will always work the same. To wire multiple batteries in a series you would just connect each batteries positive terminal to the next batteries negative terminal. Then continue this process for however many batteries to intend to connect together. After you have done so you will always have two terminals left over. One will be positive and one will be negative. Those terminals will reflect the new operating voltage of said battery bank. For example as shown in image above – most golf carts these days operate on 36 volt or 48 volts. Which can be achieved in a few ways depending on the batteries used. Whether 6 volt, 8 volt or 12 volt batteries. All of which will have different capacity and or range limitations. Simply put the more batteries you have the larger your so called gas tank will be – or the longer run time and range possible.

How many volts does a 36 volt golf cart have?

So now that we know where to check voltage and test. What is the answer? Jot down or remember whatever number you get. 36 volt golf carts when fully charge will reflect 37-38 volts… and 48 volt systems will reflect roughly 49-51 volts. All batteries hold slightly more voltage than advertised on case when fully charged so when combined the numbers are always slightly higher. So no need to be alarmed.

What happens if my golf cart is not charging?

If you do not have any voltage in the batteries you will need to get some back into the battery bank before the golf cart charger will charge again .

What voltage do golf cart batteries work on?

All golf cart battery chargers usually operate on 110VAC but some have the ability to operate on multiple voltages for other power grids like in Europe vs US. 110/230VAC would reflect this feature on charger. Good DC side connection. This is the wire or cord with a connector that you would plug into the golf cart.

What is the third pin on a golf cart?

Then the third pin is usually a low voltage signal for a lock-out feature on these newer style golf carts. This is so the user cannot drive off with a golf cart “If the charger is still plugged in”.

What does the green circle on a golf cart mean?

Note – The green circles in image above indicate positive and negative most battery terminals to check voltage on your golf cart. These images cover all the basic golf cart battery configurations. If not hopefully you will now better understand how to determine which terminals to test in your application.

How to troubleshoot a golf cart battery charger?

If your batteries get too low, you could be stranded. To avoid this, you have to ensure that your battery charger is working correctly. If your battery charger ever fails, ...

Why is my golf cart not charging?

If your batteries are carrying a minimal load, and your charger will still not charge them, it may be because your golf cart’s onboard computer is confused about how much charge they are currently carrying.

Why does my charger fail?

If your batteries aren’t hooked up correctly, or the connections between them are weak or frayed, this can quickly lead to a loss of power and cause your charger to fail. Make sure you check each battery terminal for corrosion; any buildup will impede the flow of electricity, and could likewise cause problems.

What to do if battery charger fails?

You can’t address every problem with a simple DIY repair, but a sound diagnosis can save hours of frustration. In many cases, the solution is simple, and you’ll be able to handle it with minimal expense.

Do golf carts need batteries?

If you find that your golf cart won’t go very far on a full charge, then you probably need new batteries. Test them to make sure that the power on them is low; if indeed it is, then you need new batteries.

Can a club car monitor battery charge?

Only the club car can monitor the charge of your batteries, but it bears mention because these computers can fail, thus requiring a replacement. If the Club Car’s computer is working correctly, the relay should make a “click” sound when you plug in your charger. If it does not, then you could easily have a blown fuse.

Can you charge a battery when you are not using it?

To get around this problem, specific chargers offer modes that keep your batteries charged even when you’re not using them. This is useful if you go out of town and you want to avoid coming home to dead batteries. However, if you’re stuck at no charge, a small, manual charger should provide each battery with enough juice to activate your regular charger.

How long does it take for a golf cart to charge?

Charging will normally take about 6-10 hours depending on age of the batteries and how much you used it since the last charge. Rule of thumb: When you are through with the cart for the day, put it on the charger and let it do it's thing. Golf cart batteries do not like to sit around partially charged.

How many amps does a battery charger need?

Now turn the timer all the way clockwise to the start position. Charging should start and the amp meter needle should go to about 18-20 amps. The charger will charge the batteries completely and will automatically shut off when finished.