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.
How do I know if my golf cart charger is charging?
New style chargers will have a blinking light showing charger status, old style golf cart chargers will have an amperage meter (Needle swing gauge style) If the charger is in fact charging you will see this needle swing to the opposite side of the gauge and the charger usually very noisy will start humming away as it charges.
How to tell if a golf cart battery is going 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. Or lastly… Another way to see how your batteries are holding up is to test the voltage of the golf cart batteries.
Why does it take so long to charge my golf cart?
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. Most Golf Carts can travel at least 7 miles or more on a single charge.
Do electric golf carts need to be charged?
Remember, it’s a good idea to charge your cart after every round of golf because consistently allowing the charge to get too low can damage your batteries. The method used for charging your electric golf cart will vary depending on its particular make and model. However, the following steps can be applied to most carts:
How long does it take to fully charge a golf cart?
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.
How do I know when my EZ Go golf cart is fully charged?
When the LED displays long red flashes, the battery is fully charged. Remove the charging plug from the cart.
How can you tell how much a golf cart is charged?
Turn on the battery charge to see if any power is getting to the battery. You can check the amount of power the battery charger is generating by conecting a voltmeter to the negative and positive clamps of the charger. On the voltmeter is a needle moves from left to right to demonstrate amps present.
What do the lights on a golf cart charger mean?
The blinking LED lights indicate different status of charge: Short green flash = less than 80% charged. Long green flash = more than 80% charged. Solid green light = 100% charged. Red flash = fault code, charging error.
Can you overcharge 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.
Should I leave 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 many volts should a fully charged 36 volt golf cart have?
The target voltage for a 36 volt charger for AGM or some flooded batteries is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 43.2 to 44.1 volts.
What should a fully charged 6 volt golf cart battery read?
Healthy batteries will indicate about 50 to 52 volts on the voltmeter. Most battery packs hold around 48 volts. Keep in mind that the high number doesn't mean that the batteries are instantly good. This measured value doesn't take the load or cart's power consumption into consideration.
How often do I charge my golf cart batteries?
Still, golf cart batteries should be recharged after four hours of use. Nobody likes to be stranded. It takes several hours to re-charge golf cart batteries that have gone completely dead. To lengthen the lifespan of batteries, make sure they are fully charged before each use.
What does a green light mean on a battery charger?
When the charger is plugged into the vehicle and into the wall the red light indicates that the battery pack is charging, and the green light indicates that the charger is plugged into the wall.
What does blue light mean on battery?
A blue light means that it is too cold to charge the battery.
What does a blinking yellow light mean on a battery charger?
Flashing GREEN and 25% YELLOW LEDs indicates the battery is less than 10.5 volts and the charger is in low power safety mode. Full charging will begin once the battery reaches 10.5 volts.
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Why won't my golf cart battery charge?
Putting too much or too little water in your golf cart batteries can be detrimental to the battery’s lifespan. Too much water and you can flood or overflow the acid tanks inside the battery as you charge it. Too little water and you’ll find the battery won’t charge as there is not enough water to allow the electrolysis charging process inside of the battery to take place.
Why is it bad to leave a golf cart plugged in?
Leaving your cart plugged in for too long can increase electricity consumption, which will inevitably cost you more money the longer you charge your cart. So when not in use, it’s wiser to avoid overcharging your golf cart to the extent that you are overloading the battery’s voltage.
How to prevent golf cart batteries from overcharging?
My best advice to prevent overcharging your golf cart batteries is to set a timer while you charge the battery. You will also want to ensure that you check the battery’s heat and charge at regular intervals to ensure the battery doesn’t overheat and hasn’t finished charging too soon.
How long does it take for a GPS golf cart to charge?
It also has the capability of being fully charged in approximately five hours. As it was designed for multiple golf games, the battery will take you up and down the straights of the course and help you improve your golfing game.
How to ensure electric golf cart longevity?
One other way to ensure the longevity of your electric golf cart is not to overwork its battery when out on the course. Stick to pathways and flat terrain as much as possible and don’t over-rev or work the cart as you move up and down the course’s undulation s.
How many volts does a golf cart battery have?
A standard golf cart battery will have between 38 and 46 volts of power. The higher the voltage, the longer the golf cart’s battery will last, and the more power you’ll get out of that cart – that depends on the speed you’re using on the golf cart and how you use that cart over its terrain.
How long does it take to charge a golf buggy?
Depending on what type of cart you are using, on average, it can take around eight to ten hours to charge up a golf buggy.
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.
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 .
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 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 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).
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.
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.
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.
Where is the charger fuse on a golf cart?
Now you should look for the charger fuses on the back fender in your golf cart. In case if you notice any battery charger fuse is swollen, that indicates the battery does not receive any charge from the charger.
How many amps can a golf cart battery use?
If you find excessive right needles, then tell maximum amps of the battery. Generally, a golf cart battery can enter a maximum of 36 amps on a voltmeter.
How to check battery charge power?
You need to connect with a voltmeter to the negative & positive clamps of your cart charger to observe the battery charging amount. You will find a needle moving from left to right on the voltmeter to represent the overall amps presence.
What does it mean when your battery is brown?
Now take out the caps from the battery terminals. Then check the liquid carefully. The brown or gray liquid indicates your battery needs replacement & it does not hold any charge.
Do you need to check your golf cart cables?
The majority of people forget to check the cable connection. It is mandatory to check your golf cart cables. You need to switch the ignition to auxiliary. After that, if the charger remains off, then there must be a connection issue between the battery & charger of your golf cart.
Can a golf cart battery charger charge?
In general, the charger contains a single wire ground connection. And it fixes to the engine house metal frame of the cart. If you have a disconnected ground wir e, that can hamper the battery charging. As a result, the charger won’t be able to charge the goofy cart battery.
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 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 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.
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.
What to wear when driving a golf cart?
Long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and protective eyewear are a must. I would even have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case. There are different types of batteries used in newer style golf carts (Absorbed Glass Mat, Lithium, Gel) that require different testing procedures.
Is a golf cart battery a storage device?
It sounds like a dumb question, but many incorrectly assume that a golf cart battery is a storage device. In fact, a battery produces electricity through a chemical reaction. A brief description of a lead-acid battery is a container with two dissimilar metals immersed in acid to produce a chemical reaction.
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.
How does a Lester golf cart battery charger work?
The Lester Electric Golf Cart Battery Charger you purchased is a transformer style charger that is designed to apply amperage and voltage for a length of time that replaces the energy used from last discharge. This is fairly old technology but very effective to charge your golf cart batteries. Depending on the battery chargers output (Amperage), the batteries size (Capacity), and DOD (depth of discharge), all this will determine the amount of time required to fully charge the battery bank in question. In the process as they reach maximum capacity the more electricity that is forced into the batteries the more it excites the electrolyte and gets electrons moving in the battery itself… (That is the boiling sound you hear)
Why is the Ah rating of a new battery 80%?
any new battery pulled off the line at the manufacture will only test out at about 80% advertised Ah rating because the lead hasn’t been cured (still too soft). Something that is really impossible for the manufacturer to do in house because of the process involved.
Why are AGM batteries so picky?
AGM and Gel style batteries are even more picky than traditional lead acid batteries because they like more voltage and amperage to complete the same process. Hopefully this was helpful and insightful to ease your worries about your golf cart batteries and the golf cart battery charger.
Why do Trojan batteries get hit harder?
So no worries as the charger is just doing its thing… Trojan batteries actually like to get hit harder ( More Amperage applied) than others thru the bulk phase and finishing phase of a charge cycle because the lead plates are thicker than most competitors.
How high does a 48V battery run?
No worries … I have seen 48v systems run as high as 58-60v when charging, but it is normal to see voltages around 50v-52v when sitting static for several days after a fresh charge cycle. Most common size lead acid batteries will be from .6 volts to .8 volts over advertised voltage on battery when fully charged. Always good to re-charge cart at the end of the day, never let it sit 1/2 -3/4 charged. re-charge then store when not in use.
Why do lead acid batteries make noise?
Make no mistake lead acid batteries will always make noise in the charge process and finishing phase because of the specific chemistry and design that make a lead acid battery. It is also an important part to insure good battery health as well.
Can you charge Trojan golf cart batteries?
No Worries – You should be fine with the factory setting…These golf cart chargers come pre set for lead acid batteries and your Trojan batteries are well within the settings range. It sounds like the batteries were over filled. Always check the level of the electrolyte after batteries are fully charged and only fill each cell about 1/4 – 3/8 inch above the batteries plates… which leaves about equal distance to the bottom of the cell cap tube.
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.
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 ...
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 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.
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.
