A low water level in your golf cart battery will cause the plates inside to dry out and begin to flake off. The battery in your golf cart will be replaced completely if this happens. When Should I Fill My Battery With Distilled Water? When to Water a Battery After it has been fully charged, it is best to water it.
What happens if you put water in a golf cart battery?
Mar 31, 2022 · You should not use regular water (aka tap water) in golf cart batteries because the minerals and chemicals contained in it will cause problems with your golf cart batteries. What Happens If Golf Cart Batteries Run Out Of Water? If your golf cart battery water level gets too low, the plates will begin to dry out and flake off. Once this occurs, you won’t be able to recharge …
Why is my golf cart’s battery flaking?
When a battery is not watered, or watered, but not correctly, the plates will show corrosive discoloration on the areas exposed to the air. The pictures below show a couple of battery autopsy examples of what this discoloration looks like and also what can happen if a golf car is operated while water levels are low.
How to clean golf cart batteries?
The biggest problem that your golf cart will face if the batteries run out of water is sulfation. This happens because a lack of water in the batteries exposes the battery plates to the air for a much longer period than usual. As a result, the plates begin to start drying out and it starts flaking.
Why is the water level low when I recharge the battery?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps losing charge or drains quickly, may be due to loose wires, corroded connectors or an insufficient amount of water in the battery. The battery connections may have become loose or the connectors are corroded. In this case, tightening the connections or removing the corrosion can help.
What happens if battery water is low?
Underwatering is when you fail to refill the battery when it reaches a low electrolyte level. Each time you charge your battery, the battery cell will experience a further water loss. If the water level reaches as low as to expose the lead plates to oxygen and hydrogen gas in the battery, it can lead to sulfation.Oct 16, 2021
How do I know if my golf cart batteries need water?
2:174:44How to Fill Your Electric Golf Car Batteries | Golf Cart MaintenanceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStore the reason for distilled water it has no impurities in it however if you don't have distilledMoreStore the reason for distilled water it has no impurities in it however if you don't have distilled water some water is better than no water you can add it from your tap.
What happens if golf cart batteries run dry?
If you find dry cells in your cart, fill them back up with distilled water to cover the plates and then recharge the batteries. After the charge, top off the water. Use the cart and see how long it runs. run time may increase a bit over time, but you won't see much improvement after few charge cycles.
How often do you need to add water to golf cart batteries?
After charging your battery is when you want to add water. Adding water after charging prevents acid from spilling over. You'll want to add water to 1/2 inch from the top of the battery. 2) We recommend service once or twice a year.Oct 7, 2016
Can you add water to golf cart batteries?
When filling your battery, regular tap water isn't going to cut it. Your tap water contains minerals that are harmful to your battery and, even if the amounts are small, adding it consistently over a long period of time can slowly cause damage.Apr 27, 2017
Can you over water golf cart batteries?
Golf cart batteries produce electricity using electrolytes and water, which means you will need to occasionally add some more water. But be careful of the amount! Too much water can lead to the electrolytes overflowing. Too little water can cause sulfation, which damages the lead plates.Dec 16, 2020
How do you know when golf cart batteries are dying?
How to Know When Golf Cart Batteries Are Dying or Going BadCharging Issues. First, check to ensure that your golf cart was charged before you took it out. ... Battery Terminal Issues. ... Securely fastened. ... Power Doesn't Seem to Hold Long. ... Decreased Output / Power. ... Age / Warranty.Jun 19, 2020
Can you use bottled water instead of distilled water in a battery?
Bottled or Tap? Because tap water contains minerals and natural content that could corrode the battery, it's best to used bottled water. Use distilled or deionized water to fill your battery, as it doesn't contain the mineral content of tap water.
Do you add water to a battery before or after charging?
Water should always be added after fully charging the battery. Prior to charging, there should be enough water to cover the plates. If the battery has been discharged (partially or fully), the water level should also be above the plates.
What is the main cause of battery water loss?
As the battery is recharged and electricity flows through the water, it is converted into its original gasses of hydrogen and oxygen. This gassing creates water loss and is the direct reason you need to replenish the water in the battery from time to time.
How do I know if my golf cart batteries need water?
When you are checking the water level in the cells of your battery, you want to make sure that the plates in the battery are covered with water, and that the water level is at the correct level when the battery is fully charged.
What type of water should I add to my golf cart battery?
Every major battery manufacturer recommends that distilled water be added to flooded lead acid batteries. There are a couple of acceptable alternatives, such as de-ionized (demineralized) water, or reverse osmosis water. But the recommendation is distilled water.
How much distilled water do you put in a golf cart battery?
The actual amount of water you may have to add will vary based upon the current level of water in your golf car batteries, but the end result is that you should add as much as necessary to achieve a water level approximately 1/8 – 1/4th of an inch below the bottom of the vent well when fully charged. See diagram above.
Can you put too much water in golf cart batteries?
You can add too much water to your golf cart battery cell. This should be avoided at all costs. You do NOT want to fill your golf cart battery to the cap. This will result in battery acid spilling out of the top of your battery, causing a mess and losing electrolyte and resulting in your battery losing capacity.
Can you use bottled water instead of distilled water in a battery?
Most bottled water has minerals added for taste. You should not use bottled water to fill your golf cart battery. Minerals will be attracted to and accumulate on the plates inside the battery and significantly reduce their capacity and life.
Should I charge golf cart batteries after adding water?
Your golf car should be fully charged before adding water to your batteries, but if you want to charge the golf cart batteries after adding water you can. Your charger may initiate an equalization charge which may cause your batteries to bubble and gas, so you may want to prevent or stop the equalization after charging for an hour or so.
What happens when golf cart batteries are low on water?
Trojan will periodically request that dealers or golf car distributors send them batteries that are being processed for warranty due to failure so they can perform a “battery autopsy” to determine the cause of failure. Sometimes a battery failure is due to a manufacturing defect, but many times they discover the failure is due to poor maintenance.
Why does my golf cart water evaporate?
This happens during the summer or in places with higher temperatures. When a golf cart is exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period of time, the water inside the battery tends to evaporate. As the water continues to evaporate, the water level becomes lower and lower.
Why do you need to refill a golf cart battery?
These components submerge the plates in order to produce energy. When the battery is discharged, the water level that contains electrolytes becomes lower.
Why do you need to refill a battery with water?
The idea behind refilling your battery with water is to prevent the plates from getting exposed. When you refill, make sure the water level is above the plates. You might also be wondering what level is right so you don’t overfill it. In your battery, you can use the plastic vent as your gauge. Make sure the level is slightly below the bottom ...
What happens when a battery is discharged?
When the battery is discharged, the water level that contains electrolytes becomes lower. This is normal as the water gets back to its normal level after recharging. The critical condition is when the water level becomes lower even if the battery is not discharged. This happens during the summer or in places with higher temperatures.
Can you refill a battery in its full state?
Only refill a battery in its full state. This is because refilling it in its discharged state can cause the battery fluid to leak after recharging. On the other hand, not all types of water can be used to refill a battery as only distilled water should be used.
Can you recharge a golf cart battery?
This condition is called sulfation, and when this happens, you can no longer recharge the battery. To avoid this, you should refill the water in your golf cart battery regularly.
Can a Trojan 6 volt battery go bad?
Every battery can go bad, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Trojan 6 volt, 12 volt, or any other brand. The truth is that there is still no such thing as a perfect battery. The most common problem with the Trojan 6 volt is gassing, which is caused by an imbalance spread of the amount of electrolytes and acid.
Why do you need to refill golf cart batteries?
This is one reason why you must always refill water in your golf cart batteries only when they are fully charged. Overfilling batteries with too much water can also result in boiling. Water from other sources may have been used instead of distilled water for refilling the batteries.
Why does my golf cart battery water boil?
This can be due to several reasons as given below. The charger used for your golf cart batteries is malfunctioning or is not working properly.
What are golf cart batteries made of?
Golf cart batteries consist of sulfuric acid and several other electrolytes. The battery plates must be submerged in them so that the required energy is produced to get the cart in motion. When the batteries are discharged, the level of the water that contains these electrolytes goes down.
How to add water to golf cart batteries?
To add water to golf cart batteries, you need to fill the battery cells with distilled water. Fill the water above the battery plates by 1/4 – 1/2 an inch, but below the level of the vents.
Why does my golf cart have a problem with water?
The biggest problem that your golf cart will face if the batteries run out of water is sulfation. This happens because a lack of water in the batteries exposes the battery plates to the air for a much longer period than usual. As a result, the plates begin to start drying out and it starts flaking.
Why is my battery water level low?
Some of the reasons for a low level are as follows. The battery was not filled to the required water level last time when it was refilled. The ideal water level is just below the battery vent and above the battery plate. The battery has not had distilled water poured into it for a long time.
Why is distilled water bad for batteries?
This is because distilled water is the purest form of water and is free of contaminants, minerals, or chemicals that can hamper the chemical process that takes place inside the batteries. The presence of contaminants, minerals, or chemicals in the water can damage the batteries.
How to charge a 6 volt battery overnight?
Connect the battery to a three-phase charger that can charge 6 volts batteries and let it charge overnight. Check the charger status in the morning. If it indicates a full charge, check the battery cells once again and add some more distilled water to the cells with exposed battery plates.
How to check if a golf cart battery is dead?
There are four methods of checking whether your golf cart battery is dead. Use a multimeter to check the voltage of each battery in your golf cart. Use a hydrometer to check the gravity of the electrolytes in the batteries. Use the Load Testing method.
Why does my golf cart battery keep going dead?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps going dead may be due to loose connections, incorrect battery wiring, or having a faulty voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is at fault and tends to affect the starter solenoid.
Why does my golf cart battery drain so quickly?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps losing charge or drains quickly, may be due to loose wires, corroded connectors or an insufficient amount of water in the battery. The battery connections may have become loose or the connectors are corroded.
How many amp hours does a golf cart battery last?
A bigger voltage drop is a sure sign of a failing or faulty battery. A golf cart battery comes with a specific amp hour rating at 20 hours. This is usually mentioned in the battery information sticker.
How to check the specific gravity of a golf cart battery?
Using a Hydrometer. You can use a hydrometer with a thermometer to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte in the golf cart batteries. If this value lies between 1.1 and 1.2, you must consider recharging the battery. Alternatively, if the value is between 1.225 and 1.265, you can continue testing your battery.
How much sulfuric acid is in a battery?
It’s worth keeping in mind that the sulfuric acid to water concentration for a fully charged battery is 1.28 while it’s 1.145 for a discharged battery. It’s highly recommended that you wear a pair of safety gloves and safety glasses when you use a hydrometer. Pour the electrolyte into the hydrometer.
Should golf cart batteries be charged?
Another common issue is golf cart owners who think that golf cart batteries should only be charged when they've become very low. If you drive your golf cart that day? Charge the battery. Letting golf cart batteries run down until near-empty or totally dead will damage them over time just as much as overcharging them.
Can you drive a golf cart up steep hills?
Forcing your golf cart up very steep hills or to go longer distances than it is made for will run the battery down and could leave you stranded. Just keep a careful eye on distance traveled and consider using a truck or trailer when transporting your golf cart longer distances.
Can you use an automatic battery charger when it is fully charged?
It's important to make sure you're using an automatic battery charger that will stop being active as soon as the battery is fully charged. We've had clients come in with what they felt were "bad" batteries, only to have to explain to them that the battery had simply been damaged by being overcharged too many times.
Can you turn off the radio on a golf cart?
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. In the case of a gasoline-powered golf cart, you may end up having to jump-start the cart to get it working again if this happens.