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what amperage should a golf cart charger be reading

by Elinor Kunze Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The ammeter on a 36-volt charger should show at least 15+ amps when the charger is plugged into the golf car, even if the batteries have not been used for a short while. A 15+ amp reading shows that the charger is actually charging, not just humming (humming is NOT an indication that the charger actually works).

Full Answer

What voltage should a golf cart Charger be?

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.

How do you test a golf cart battery charger?

One of the most important things to know when testing a golf cart battery charger is how much charge it needs to have. This will determine what type of charger you need and the kind of voltage your system should set. There are wider varieties of chargers on the market, but all require a 12-volt power source for them to work properly.

What is amperage in an electric golf car?

It determines how far you can travel before having to fill up the tank. Well, Amperage in a golf cart is like the gas tank in your car. It will determine how far you can travel on a single charge in an electric Golf Car. The more amperage in a battery pack, the further you can drive before having to charge.

How often should I charge my electric golf cart?

You should charge your electric golf cart after every round. If you use your golf cart for other purposes, perhaps driving around your neighborhood or a resort, it’s a good idea to charge it up after 2-4 hours of use.

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Does the AMP matter on a golf cart charger?

Well, Amperage in a golf cart is like the gas tank in your car. It will determine how far you can travel on a single charge in an electric Golf Car. The more amperage in a battery pack, the further you can drive before having to charge.

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

The amps may drop down very quickly if the batteries are fully charged but the ammeter should show at least 15 amps to start off. If you know that the batteries need charging and the ammeter will NOT go above 15 amps, then you probably have a faulty charger and it must be repaired.

How many amps does a golf cart need?

On average, electric golf motors operate at 36 or 48 volts and draw between 50-70 amps of current while cruising at about 15 miles per hour.

How many amps should a battery charger show?

A basic charger usually charges at around 2 amps - and so needs 24 hours to deliver the 48 amps needed to fully charge a flat, 48 amp hour battery. But there is a wide range of chargers with different charge rates on the market - from 2 to 10 amps. The higher the charge output, the faster a flat battery is recharged.

What should a fully charged 48V golf cart read?

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.

What should a 48 volt battery read when fully charged?

2=42V for 36V battery fully charged, 13x4. 2=54.6V for 48V battery fully charged and 14x4.

How do I know if my golf cart charger is working properly?

Listen to the Battery Transformer – If fixing the wires didn't get your charger to start working properly again, you should turn it back on and listen to the humming of the battery charger. A humming sound indicates that the transformer is working, but no hum is a serious issue that may require transformer replacement.

How do you read an EZ GO battery charger?

1:564:02How 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.

How many amps are golf cart batteries?

The Five Most Common Golf Cart Battery PacksBattery System TypeVoltageAmps (Estimated)4-12 Volts48 Volts6006-8 Volts48 Volts1,0208-6 Volts48 Volts1,8006-12 Volts72 Volts9001 more row•Nov 3, 2020

What should a 12v battery read when fully charged?

about 12.6 to 12.8 voltsCheck the reading. A fully charged battery will typically display a voltmeter reading of about 12.6 to 12.8 volts. If your voltmeter is showing a voltage anywhere between 12.4 and 12.8, that means your battery is in good shape. Any voltage above 12.9 volts is a good indicator that your battery has excessive voltage.

What amp should I charge my 12v battery?

Most battery manufacturers recommend sizing the charger at about 25% of the battery capacity (ah = amp hour capacity). Thus, a 100 ah 12 volt battery would take about a 25 amp 12 volt charger (or less). Larger chargers may be used to decrease charge time, but may decrease battery life.

How much current is required to charge a 12v battery?

A 12-volt automotive battery, for instance, takes a while to charge. In fact, fast charging for this kind of battery is not recommended. 10 amps are the recommended current.

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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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

How many volts are in a golf cart battery?

Now that we understand the differences between Amperage and Voltage, we can begin to break this down so we can locate the differences between various battery packs. For standard golf carts, we will typically see a Six Eight Volt Battery System. This can be visually determined by locating six batteries with 8 cells per battery. A cell is distinguished by a battery cap that is used for watering the batteries. With batteries used in Golf Carts, each cell will represent 2 Volts. Let’s take a look at the 5 most common battery packs we see in the market:

How does amperage affect golf carts?

It determines how far you can travel before having to fill up the tank. Well, Amperage in a golf cart is like the gas tank in your car. It will determine how far you can travel on a single charge in an electric Golf Car. The more amperage in a battery pack, the further you can drive before having to charge. Click here to learn how ...

What is the relationship between horsepower and MPG?

To get a better idea of what amperage is like in a car, let us discuss the relationship between Horsepower and MPG. Horsepower within a car determines the acceleration and power of your car . If there is no fuel in the car though, then the vehicle is not going to go anywhere. That is the importance of MPG and also how big your gas tank is in your ...

Why is it important to know the difference between golf cart batteries?

The reason understanding their differences is so important is due to the large expense of replacement batteries. By knowing their differences ahead of time, you will be able to decipher which battery pack is suitable for you when making your golf cart purchase.

Is voltage in a golf cart battery similar to horsepower?

Therefore, Voltage in a battery pack inside of an electric vehicle has to do with power. It does not have to do with fuel. Therefore, voltage in a battery pack within a golf cart will be comparable to the horsepower in a car.

What should my golf cart charger read when fully charged?

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.

How will you test a Golf cart battery charger: step by step guide?

Usually, the charger doesn’t take up the charge if the product is not original. But, the automated chargers require minimum voltage.If you are using a charger, it will have some indicator that indicates when the battery has been charged up or discharged. Read this and understand what needs to be done so that your golf cart can have an efficient charging process.

Why are the Golf cart battery chargers essential?

It is also needed for the Golf Cart Battery Reconditioning. They not only make sure that your batteries are always charged and ready to go, but they also protect the life of your batteries by automatically shutting off when it is time for them to cool down and rest.

How to fix club car charging problems?

This is a problem which you need to fix. First, check the voltage output. If you find it is weak, follow the below steps:

What are the varieties of Golf cart batteries?

Lead-acid batteries are by far the cheapest option on this list, but it doesn’t last nearly as long as most other options.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

Instead, they are typically only used when necessary, and the average lifespan for an AGM battery is between two to five years depending upon how often they’re being charged, but that can vary from model to model.

What are the symptoms of a bad solenoid on a golf cart?

Following are the issues you will get in your golf cart with the bad solenoid.

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.

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 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 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 to test a diode?

Test the diodes. Diodes are a one-way gate and will pass dc voltage in one direction. Connect your continuity tester leads on 1 and 3 shown in the illustration above…then reverse the leads. You should get continuity one way but not the other. Repeat this procedure on 2 and 3.

What is a good capacitor?

Good Capacitor#N#The ohmmeter is first set to read resistance (in ohms) and the capacitor leads are disconnected from the transformer. In a good capacitor, when the ohmmeter leads are connected to the capacitor terminals (4 and 5), the meter needle jumps to the middle of the scale and rapidly moves to higher resistance.

How many volts does a golf cart charger have?

There are about 8 different types of charger plugs that you can find across various golf cart models. While some of plugs are exclusively for either 36 volts or 48 volts carts, others will work with both voltages.

How to choose a golf cart battery charger?

How to Choose the Best golf Cart Battery Charger. You must choose a battery charger according to the voltage of your cart to prevent the possibility of damage to your batteries. Check the charging receptacle of your golf cart and select your charger accordingly.

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Golf Cart Battery?

A new golf cart battery that is fully discharged will take 2-4 hours to completely charge. On the other hand, a 5 year old battery may take up to 10 hours to fully charge.

How to turn off golf cart battery?

Turn the ignition key of the golf cart to the OFF position. Although there is no battery draw when the key is left on, doing this is considered to be a safe practice.

What is the power of a golf cart generator?

The generator can charge the batteries that supply the power to an electric motor responsible for moving the cart. The 48 volts system in a golf cart usually features an onboard computer (OBC) that controls the battery pack charging process and restricts the charging when the cart is moving.

How to keep golf cart from accumulating?

Keep the golf cart where there is good ventilation to prevent gases from accumulating during the charging process.

Why does my golf cart go into tow mode?

Your golf cart usually runs in tow mode when it does not have enough power to get moving on its own. One reason may be that the batteries are old and do not have the same power as new ones. If this happens with new batteries, the most likely reason is that they don’t have enough charge.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 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).

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 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.

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.

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