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what does the battery gauge on the golf cart mean

by Kenya Weimann Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The white area labeled CHG indicates that your battery is charged. The red zone to the right of CHG indicates that your battery is overcharged. Green zone indicates that your battery is sufficiently charged and is good to go.

Full Answer

Which golf cart battery is best?

What are the Advantages of Lithium Batteries for Golf Carts?

  • Constant power – Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries operate at full power throughout discharge, even when they are at less than 5%. ...
  • Lightweight – Lithium batteries are 50-60% lighter than their lead-acid equivalents. ...
  • Fast charging – Lithium batteries can be fully charged within 1-3 hours. ...

More items...

How do you fill the battery in a golf cart?

Step-by-step Guide

  • Step 1. – Insert pump into jug of distilled water! ...
  • Step 3. – Once hand pump bulb is primed remove the dust cover from the end of the fill line on your battery watering system.
  • Step 4. – Squeezing the golf cart battery watering system hand pump with firm steady pressure to pump water into the battery cells.
  • Step 5. ...
  • Step 6. ...

What size battery for a golf cart?

  • Incredibly fast 2-3 hour charge up times (vs. ...
  • They live longer (3x - 5x longer) than traditional golf cart batteries
  • They weigh less (reduce battery weight of your cart by 300lbs = more efficient cart)
  • Require No maintenance (no adding water, cleaning corrosion, or checking acid levels)

More items...

How to test your golf cart battery?

Testing parameters follow these steps, including:

  • Connecting the entire battery bank to the meter
  • Applying a 75-amp load to the batteries
  • Waiting for a digital response in minutes

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What does the battery light on a golf cart mean?

The warning light on an electric golf cart is the battery light. True to its name, this light gets illuminated to warn you of a low battery or low batteries. It serves as a signal for you that it's time for battery recharge.

How do I know if my golf cart battery is low?

Here are six signs to look for when batteries need replacing.Charge Times Are Out of Hand. ... No “Get Up and Go” ... You See Visual Signs. ... Driving Until They Die. ... People Are Always Running The Radio. ... Golf Cart Batteries Can Be Sensitive.

What gauge should golf cart battery cables be?

Most cart manufacturers use 6 AWG cables. The finest cables we have found so far are made by MaxiLink.com, which are super flexible and made for extreme duty electric vehicle use.

What should a golf cart battery read on a voltmeter?

0:044:17Testing Golf Cart Batteries with a multimeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey should read about four point eight one. Let me look at it 8 volt because the eight folds.MoreThey should read about four point eight one. Let me look at it 8 volt because the eight folds.

How do I know when 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.

How do you read a golf cart battery meter?

To Read a 36 Volt Golf Cart Battery Meter There are four zones in the display area of this meter. The zones are (from left to right)- red, white, green, and red zones. The white area labeled CHG indicates that your battery is charged. The red zone to the right of CHG indicates that your battery is overcharged.

What gauge is battery cable?

Ideally, a 6 gauge cable is the best option for a 12-volt power supply. This automotive wire can sustain a maximum of 60 volts and is ideal for 12-volt electrical systems. More importantly, it meets all requirements of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) specification J-1127.

How are golf cart batteries wired?

The main positive lead for the battery bank coming from the frame of the cart will connect to the positive terminal of the first battery in the bank. Then, connect a cable from the negative terminal of the first battery to the positive terminal of the subsequent battery in the bank.

What is #6 wire?

6 AWG wire is on the larger end of the spectrum in terms of common use, and is appropriate for roughly 55 amps and an absolute maximum of 60 amps. The heavier the gauge, the higher the amps that are appropriate for the wire in question.

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.

What should 36v golf cart batteries read?

For example: a 36v battery pack will read 38.2v fully charged. Maximum drop under load should not be more than 6v below 38.2v equal to 32 volts or less.

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 does a golf cart battery meter tell you?

Golf cart battery meters tell you when to recharge your batteries, so you do not end up draining them completely. There are two types of golf cart battery meters – Analog and Digital (usually LED). The analog meter uses voltage to move its needle to indicate the level of charge.

What type of battery meters are used in golf carts?

Generally, there are two types of battery meters that go into a golf cart-Analog and Digital (usually LED).

How many volts does a golf cart battery need?

If your golf cart battery won’t hold a charge at all, and you see the meter flashing, this is cause for concern. EzyGo golf carts generally need at least 24 volts in the battery bank; otherwise the charger won’t even start. If you’re using a 12 volt charger, you’ll need to charge 2 batteries at a time to get the 24 volts of power.

How to reset battery meter?

Reset the battery meter. Unhook power to the battery meter for 10 minutes. This will reset the battery meter. If the meter sis still showing a “full status”, continue on to step 2.

Why is my Ezygo charger flashing red?

This could be due to a defective battery charger.#N#First make sure the connections are clean and attached tightly to the battery. You’ll then want to isolate each battery and check the voltage of each.

What does a digital meter do?

A digital meter uses LED to display the state of charge. A series of lights are shown on the display indicating the level of charge. More bars or lights indicate more charge while fewer bars or lights indicate a lower level of charge.

Who installs golf cart battery meter?

Installing a golf cart battery meter should always be performed by a professional.

How to install a golf cart battery meter?

Steps to install a golf cart battery meter are: Select and obtain your battery gauge meter. Once you have the meter of your choice, select the mounting location. Disconnect the positive terminal on the battery bank. Prepare the opening if you are mounting in the dash. Run the wires from the meter location to the battery terminal points.

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 the C terminal on a battery meter?

Typical battery meters come with either two or three contacts on the back. One of these is a common or a “C” signal terminal and the other two are the positive terminal and the negative terminal (See illustration below). the “C” provides power to the meter to operate and doesn’t involve measurement input voltage at all. It is best to wire this terminal to the Power contact on the ignition switch. This will allow the key to switch the meter on and off when the cart is in use.

What is a battery meter?

A battery meter (or battery gauge) is a device you add to your electric golf cart to read the state of charge level for your battery bank. They come in either analog or digital, square or round, surface or in-dash mount. Battery meters indicate the voltage level of your battery bank and inform you when it is time to recharge.

How many wires are needed for a battery meter?

LED and digital style battery meters only come with about 6 to 12 in of wire pigtails, so you will need to add extra wire to reach the terminals necessary to power the meter.

How does a battery meter work?

Battery meters indicate the voltage level of your battery bank and inform you when it is time to recharge. They act as a battery charge indicator as well and give a visual confirmation that the batteries are charging. The input voltage comes directly from the battery bank through the signal wires, and in the case of analog meters, move the needle from empty on the far left too full on the far right. The digital meters will give you a number or a moving bar display a partial charge to a full charge.

Where do the positive and negative wires go on a switch?

Watch closely to make sure the positive wires go to positive terminals, and negative wires go to the negative terminal or ground. A lug connector crimped on the terminating end of the wire makes a professional connection on the switch and battery connection terminals.

How to tell if a golf cart battery is 6 volts?

A 6 volt golf cart battery can be identified by seeing batteries with 3 cell caps on top of the battery indicating 2 volts per cell. Generally speaking, a single 6 volt battery will have the highest amperage capacity and will allow for the greatest range in an 8-6 volt battery system.

How to tell 12 volt golf cart battery?

A 12 volt battery can be identified by seeing batteries with 6 cell caps on top of the battery indicating 2 volts per cell. A single 12 volt golf cart battery will have the least amperage capacity and is commonly used in 72 volt battery systems which are not terribly common among golf carts. EZGO golf cart batteries are known to be use 4-12 volt battery systems in some of their golf cart models.

How much are batteries for a golf cart?

Pricing varies from pack to pack. The general consensus for golf cart battery replacement ranges from $600 on the low end to $1600 on the high end. If you are buying batteries in the lower end of the price range, then they are most likely cheap golf cart batteries that will not last as long (you really do get what you pay for when it comes to batteries). Some packs cost as much as $2500 when you start dealing with 72 Volt systems and sealed for lithium batteries. But, for the typical lead acid battery pack, $900 to $1500 is about the norm. This price range is assuming you are working with a local golf cart dealer.

How to know when golf cart batteries are dying?

When your batteries are starting to die, there will be a few signs to look out for. If you have been taking care of your batteries as we have taught you , then you should be happy with the years of use you have gotten from them.

How powerful is a golf cart battery?

Let’s take a close look at Voltage in a battery pack. For comparison, we like to take a look at cars since we are familiar with horsepower and miles per gallon (MPG). Therefore, voltage in a battery pack inside of an electric golf cart 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. With this knowledge in place, we can determine a 72 volt system can be more powerful than a 48 volt system, and a 48 volt system can be more powerful than a 36 volt system. If you took notice, we said that it “can” be more powerful. The reason for this is due large in part to the controller inside the vehicle. A controller determines how much amperage is delivered from the batteries to the controller.

Why are golf cart batteries so expensive?

Simply put, Golf Cart Batteries are expensive because you aren’t visiting the gas station every week. When you purchase them, you are essentially pre-paying for fuel. Yes, you still have to charge the vehicle, however the electricity cost usually breaks down to pennies per mile. In some studies, it was shown a golf cart costs less than $.02 per mile to operate in terms of electricity cost. Buying higher quality batteries versus cheaper ones will be better in the long run and will actually cost you less since you are replacing them less frequently.

What to do when buying an electric golf cart?

If you are in the market to purchase an electric golf cart, then the simplest thing to do first and foremost is considering the age of your golf cart batteries. This is important due to many consumers being misled as to the age of the batteries in the cart they are purchasing. At times, a consumer will be told by a private party or dealer ...

How many holes does a golf battery pack play?

In other words, a battery pack with a 60-minute discharge rating will usually run two rounds (36 holes) of golf before the pack needs to be re-charged. A pack that is rated at 15 minutes would normally play a 9-hole round; a 105-minute pack would play 3 18’s and a 9 before it would need to be re-charged, etc.

How many minutes of discharge time is a golf round?

The industry standard is that 30 minutes of discharge time = 1 normal, 2-person, 18-hole round of golf.

How many holes can you rent a golf car in one day?

The “30-minute rule” for one 2 person 18-hole round is an average, but it is used by golf courses to judge whether a golf car can be rented twice in one day, and by golf car manufacturers for warranty replacement purposes.

Can a golf car run below the cut off point?

Modern golf cars with electronic speed controllers will normally not allow the car to run below its cut-off point. If voltage in the battery pack drops below its cut-off point the controller will normally shut the car down until the voltage comes back up above the cut-off point.

What is a golf cart battery light?

A golf cart’s battery light is undoubtedly an indispensable accessory of any battery-operated golf cart. This light notifies you when your golf cart battery or batteries are low on charge. It saves you the hassle of worrying whether you would be stranded because of a drained battery.

What happens if your golf cart battery is low?

Weak Battery Voltage. One or more of your golf cart batteries are likely to have a low voltage. This can stop the batteries from being able to pick up charge. Check the voltage of each battery separately. When you find a battery with a low charge, try charging it to its full voltage using a smaller auto charger.

Why Won’t My Golf Cart Lights Work?

There are different types of lights on your golf cart. The reason why one light doesn’t work may not be the same reason for another faulty light . However, in general terms, a few reasons why golf cart lights tend to fail are given below:

Why does my golf cart light flash red?

The light, usually red, starts flashing when the battery has got less than 10 percent charge left, in an electric golf cart or less than 10 percent fuel in a gasoline-powered golf cart. The golf cart has several other warning lights. For example, there is a warning light to indicate if there is any problem with the engine of your cart.

Why is my battery light flashing?

One reason why your battery light is flashing could be because the batteries are not getting a full charge from the charger. The flashing indicates that the charging is less than 90 percent.

What is the warning light on a golf cart?

The warning light on an electric golf cart is the battery light . True to its name, this light gets illuminated to warn you of a low battery or low batteries. It serves as a signal for you that it’s time for battery recharge.

What happens if battery pack voltage is low?

If the battery pack voltage is very low, the OBC will not be able to activate the charger.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 ...

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.

What is the difference between 2 AWG and 4 AWG?

For example, a 2 AWG cable is larger than a 4 AWG which is larger than a 6 AWG. Most cart manufacturers use 6 AWG cables.

Do gas carts need cables?

So that answer is no, the originally installed cables are plenty sufficient in size. For those of us who have the more plentiful, battery powered carts, the answer is somewhat more complicated.

Can you use battery powered carts?

For those of us who have the more plentiful, battery powered carts, the answer is somewhat more complicated. The short answer for us is, yes and no, depending upon what we expect from the cart or if modifications to the motor or controller have been made. If the cart is absolutely bone stock ...

Do you need bigger cables for drag racing?

They are less drastic at partial throttle, where the current draw is significantly less. If you want to do the drag racing, burnouts, wheelies and such with your cart though, you will need the bigger cables to supply the required massive inrush of current to the motor.

Where is the battery gauge on a car?

Whether you drive a modern car or an old school car, you will see a battery gauge on the car dashboard. Before you run your car, you should read the battery gauge. There is no way to ignore the battery gauge reading. You should treat a battery gauge like your car battery and take care of it.

How to read battery gauge?

In order to read the battery gauge in your car, you need to check the voltmeter of your vehicle. The voltmeter on your car’s dashboard will show you the current stage of your car battery. As you know, a car needs above 12 volts to start the engine and a normal car battery 12.6 volts.

What does it mean when your car battery is below zero?

If you read below zero on the ammeter, this negative figure means your car battery can’t charge properly and can’t work properly. This also means your car battery is going to be dead. On the flip side, if the ammeter reading is more than zero on the gauge while you are driving the car, this means your car battery’s operating is completely ok, and your car battery is fully charged. This is how to read an ammeter.

How many volts should a car battery be?

Whenever you want to read the battery gauge in any vehicle, one thing you should remember is that every automobile battery should measure at 12.6 volts or above. This battery measurement is not only for cars or trucks but also for every vehicle out there.

How to tell if car battery is fully charged?

After that, you need to check the voltmeter on your car; if your battery gauge reads 12.5, that means your car battery is fully charged.

Why is battery gauge reading important?

So, read them again and try to understand them properly. The vehicle gets the power from the battery to start the engine, and the battery gauge will tell you how your vehicle’s battery works; this is the job of your car battery gauge. So, car battery gauge reading is important as a car battery because you won’t know the car battery condition without a car battery gauge reading.

What is a gauge on a car?

You should know what a gauge means on a car; gauges are the diagnostic tools that display information about a car’s various systems. You will see many types of gauges on your vehicle dashboards like Speedometer gauge, fuel gauge, temperature gauges, and many more. It depends on what type of car it is. And one of them is a battery indicator or voltmeter.

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