Begin by turning off the golf cart and place it in a neutral position. Open up the battery container and detach the connecting wires from the engine. Touch the negative probe of your digital multimeter to the negative ground or terminal of the battery.
Full Answer
How to test golf cart batteries?
How To Test Golf Cart Batteries With Load Testing. A load tester will give you more insight as to the health of your battery. By putting a dummy load on the battery, you can see how the battery performs when actually being used. The load tester hooks to the terminals of the battery and displays the voltage.
How to test a golf cart motor for a short?
How To Test Your Golf Cart Motor For A Short Begin by labeling the cables going to your electric motor and put a corresponding label on the motor itself if it does not already have one. Assuming that we’re using a multimeter and not just a continuity tester, set your tester to the continuity setting and if it doesn’t have one, set it for ohms.
How much does it cost to replace a golf cart battery?
Then the shocker – the cost associated with replacing your golf cart batteries with a quality battery. Heck even the cheapest of cheapest made in Mexico/Korea black boxes will cost you 90-100 bucks each for a 6 volt, 100-120 each for an 8 volt, and even more for 12 volt batteries.
How have golf carts evolved over the years?
Club Car Golf carts have evolved many times since 1975, and although the basic electrical design has stayed close to the same, there are small differences. These differences are important when...
How do you test a golf cart battery bank?
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.
Can you measure amount of battery left on a golf cart?
One of the most common ways to test your golf-cart battery is by using a load tester. Trojan Battery points out that looking at a battery's outside housing is only part of a solid test procedure. It's not good enough to know the battery's voltage reading with everything turned off.
What should a voltmeter read on a golf cart battery?
0:044:17Testing Golf Cart Batteries with a multimeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll right so here's how to test golf cart batteries with a common multimeter at any big-box. StoreMoreAll right so here's how to test golf cart batteries with a common multimeter at any big-box. Store look for a multimeter with DC voltage. All right so the common misconception with any kind of battery
How many volts should a fully charged 48 volt golf cart have?
The target voltage for a 48 volt charger for AGM or some flooded batteries is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 57.6 to 58.8 volts.
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?
A 6V battery is actually fully charged when it reads slightly over 6V on a multimeter. A 6 volt charger is typically designed to produce about 7 volts so that it can attain a full charge.
What could be draining my golf cart batteries?
Any lights, radio, or electric components in your cart should always be turned off when you stop using it. Leaving the radio or lights running on an idle golf cart can run down the battery incredibly quickly.
How do I use a multimeter to test a battery?
Connect the multimeter leads to the battery's terminals (red probe to the battery's positive terminal and black probe to the battery's negative terminal). Take the reading on the multimeter. If the reading shows a value greater than 7V for a 9V battery, the battery is still fit to use.
What should the specific gravity of a golf cart battery be?
between 1.275 and 1.280 specificYour ideal goal is something between 1.275 and 1.280 specific gravity. You can perform a test on each cell to learn its current charge range. For example, a reading of 1.200 to 1.219 indicates that the battery is only 25-50 percent charged. If it's at 1.140, then it's fully discharged.
How do you test a 48v golf cart battery?
0:426:18How to Test Golf Cart Batteries - Troubleshooting Batteries - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe battery voltage can be buy tested by probing with a simple voltmeter by pushing the probesMoreThe battery voltage can be buy tested by probing with a simple voltmeter by pushing the probes deeply into the lead not in not into the stainless steel put into the lead. So here I have the positive
How do you test a 48 volt golf cart charger?
Turn on the Charger – Once you have the voltmeter attached to your battery charger, turn on the charger to read the electrical output. Typically, the needle on the voltmeter will move from left to right – with right being higher – to gauge the amps produced. A reading of about 36 amps is typical for a battery charger.
Can you overcharge batteries in a golf cart?
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.
What should the specific gravity of a golf cart battery be?
between 1.275 and 1.280 specificYour ideal goal is something between 1.275 and 1.280 specific gravity. You can perform a test on each cell to learn its current charge range. For example, a reading of 1.200 to 1.219 indicates that the battery is only 25-50 percent charged. If it's at 1.140, then it's fully discharged.
How do you test a battery with a hydrometer?
Insert the Hydrometer Press on the bulb that acts as a syringe. You should see fluid filling the hydrometer. Continue to squeeze the bulb until the battery electrolyte solution fills the device to the maximum level. This device tests each cell by measuring the specific gravity of the fluid.
How to check if electric golf cart is running?
It sounds absurd, but if your electric golf cart is not running, the very first thing I would check is the reset button on the side of the motor, if your cart is so equipped. Check around the outside of the motor and see if you can find a small button to press. This is usually a safeguard against overheating.
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... link to Club Car DS Wiring Diagrams 1981 To 2002.
What is wrong with my electric golf cart?
Electric golf carts are usually trouble-free and do their job efficiently and with no fuss, but sometimes you suspect your golf cart is experiencing a problem. If the speed seems to be off, or your cart gives off a burning wire smell, your golf cart motor might have a problem. Using a multimeter, a jumper wire, and a 12-24 volt power source, ...
When did golf carts start having separate excited motors?
In 1999, some golf cart manufacturers started offering Separately Excited Motors. Sepex (Regenerative) Motor carts have a toggle switch F&R device as opposed to the lever-action. In addition to this identifier, they have a tow/run or tow/maintenance switch which cuts power to the controller. Most of the modern-day carts are equipped ...
Why is it important to test a motor before replacing a controller?
This is an important test to do on your motor before replacing the controller because a short could damage the new controller irreparably. Please note that this test will not find a short in the armature. Note that continuity testing is not directional, so it doesn’t matter if the red and black are reversed.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
What is the baseline for measuring gravity?
Plain water is the baseline for measurement and has a gravity of 1.000. A fully charged battery will have a concentration of sulfuric acid to water of 1.280, while a discharged battery will test out at about 1.145.
Identify These Common Problems with Golf Cart Batteries
So, let’s say you currently have a malfunctioning golf cart? What should you do?
How to Test Your Golf Cart Batteries?
One of the common causes of battery failure in golf carts is charging for too long or not charging enough. When you overcharge, you’re making for too much heat that is more likely to dry out the battery.
Final Thoughts
How to check golf cart batteries is another concern that troubles many people. Testing and checking a battery charger is relatively easy. Doing basic tests such as running on the battery charge to determine if the battery is receiving charge may work very well.
Series vs. Parallel
Two simple statements govern the rules for series versus parallel battery bank wiring. In a series circuit, the current through each of the batteries is the same. Also, the voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the same.
36V Battery Bank
If connected properly in a series circuit as shown, you should be able to test across the battery bank main positive and main negative terminals with a voltmeter and get a reading equal to the sum of each battery. In this example, your reading should equal 36 volts (6×6 = 36).
48V Battery Bank
A 48 volt golf cart battery bank wired in a series circuit is also very common in this industry. However, there are several combinations of individual battery voltages which can provide 48 volts. These combinations include the following:
Charger Diode Types
In the most general terms, a diode, whether in a golf cart charger or any other application, is a one way gate for electricity. It is direction sensitive and only allows power to flow one way through it. They are generally installed as protection against polarity reversal. Golf cart charger diodes do just that, protect against polarity reversal.
Testing
An easy preliminary way to test your golf cart charger diodes without opening the charger is to test at the battery bank. Locate your main positive and main negative lead to your battery bank. They should be the only posts that are not connected to another battery in series.
Internal Testing
To adequately test a diode, you must remove the transformer wires from them, as this can skew your results. With your multi-meter set to the diode function, or just simple continuity, press one probe to the end of the diode where the wire was and the other probe to the portion near the heat sink. Record your reading, and then reverse the probes.
