What happens if the battery in a golf cart dies?
If your batteries start to quit on you, the golf cart won’t move, or will drastically decrease in range. With a gas motor, the battery is what starts the motor and keeps it running by providing electricity to the spark plugs. Without it, your motor won’t crank.
How do I know if my golf cart battery is 6 volt?
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 much does a golf cart battery weigh?
A lead acid battery can weigh as much as 130 pounds and averages around 65 pounds. A lithium-ion battery averages 28 pounds. Less weight means your cart will be able to haul more weight at a greater speed. And, they are capable of holding a single full charge for a year instead of losing a charge slowly over time.
Is it important to replace all 6 golf cart batteries at once?
One of the most common questions we receive from our clients requiring service on their golf cart batteries is why it’s important to replace all six golf cart batteries at once, even if it’s only two or three that have gone bad.
Will a golf cart work with one bad battery?
Let's discuss in detail. When it comes to changing the golf cart batteries, technically, you can change just one at a time. However, this is not advisable as it can cause permanent damage to each battery. When a battery has gone bad, you should change all of the batteries.
How do you fix a dead cell in a golf cart battery?
How to Repair Golf Cart Batteries: A Simple GuideOpen the Battery Compartment. ... Clean Corrosion Off the Battery. ... Wash the Paintbrush and Dip Into Water. ... Inspect the Battery. ... Remove Plastic Caps. ... Charge the Battery. ... Check the Charge. ... Drain the Battery Acid.More items...
How do I know if one of my golf cart batteries is bad?
8 Signs You Need to Replace Your Golf Cart BatteriesCharge Times Are Out of Hand. Just like any rechargeable battery, the repeated cycles of draining and charging your battery can take a toll on it. ... No “Get Up and Go” ... You See Visual Signs. ... Driving Until They Die. ... People Are Always Running The Radio.
Can you mix new golf cart batteries with old ones?
Generally, mixing old and new batteries is not recommended due to possible issues with performance and safety. No matter what type of battery you use and the brand manufacturer, all batteries will eventually lose their electrical capacity as they age.
How do I know if my battery has a bad cell?
If your battery is:Reading 0 volts, chances are the battery experienced a short circuit.Cannot reach higher than 10.5 volts when being charged, then the battery has a dead cell.Fully charged (according to the battery charger) but the voltage is 12.4 or less, the battery is sulfated.
Can you fix a battery with a dead cell?
Remove the battery's cover, then remove the cell caps underneath using the flathead screwdriver. Now, slowly and carefully empty the cells into a bucket, adding baking soda to neutralize the acid. Pour your cleaning solution into the cells, then put the cell caps and battery cover back on.
How do I know when I need new golf cart batteries?
4 Signs You Need to Replace Your Golf Cart Batteries It takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had them installed. ... Your Golf Cart loses power very quickly. ... Your Golf Cart does not accelerate as fast as it used to. ... The batteries are leaking acid and are beginning to bulge.
How do I know if my golf cart solenoid is bad?
If your golf cart fails to turn on when you turn the key on, this is the most obvious sign of solenoid failure. The solenoid clicks a little with the ignition system in regular operation; in most cases, a failing solenoid will not snap.
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 is the average life of golf cart batteries?
That all being said, properly maintained battery packs in fleet carts tend to last about 4-6 years while private owners tend to get about 6-10 years out of their battery packs. Other major factors include the type of options on the cart that may increase the draw from the battery pack.
How do you refresh golf cart batteries?
Step 1: Tip the battery on its edge: Allow approximately half the battery acid to run out of each cell and into a plastic container. ... Step 2: Mix 8 ounces of Epsom salts into 2 quarts of warm distilled water: Stir thoroughly. ... Step 3: Put the battery or batteries on a charger.
Are Trojan golf cart batteries the best?
There are many great deep cycle lead acid battery brands, such as US Battery, Interstate Battery, Powertron, Duracell, Deka and many others, but almost everyone will agree Trojan batteries are the best. Trojan batteries provide superior performance, long lifespans and have been proven to withstand the test of time.
How to tell if golf cart battery is bad?
1. Charging Issues. First, check to ensure that your golf cart was charged before you took it out.
How to check if golf cart is charging?
First, check to ensure that your golf cart was charged before you took it out. Plug it back into the charger and follow the instructions. Just in case the charger is the issue, check that the battery charger is turned on. There should be an indicator light to show that it is charging the batteries. In the morning, disconnect ...
What hole does a golf cart stop dead?
It’s a real hassle if your golf cart stops dead and you’re only at the 15 th hole of play. Not only is this an embarrassing event, but it’s a major pain to have to arrange for the cart to be towed back to the parking lot.
How to check if a battery is sealed?
Inspect the batteries to see if they are sealed lead-acid batteries or if there are caps on the top of the batteries . If there are caps (lids) present – then open them and check that the cells inside are adequately covered with the clear fluid. This fluid is the acid – so be careful not to splash it near your eyes or on clothing. It will burn.
Why won't my cart fire up?
But more often than not, your cart suddenly refused to fire up and go due to a dead or bad battery.
Can you top up golf cart batteries?
Only top up your golf cart batteries using distilled water. Also, it is common for golf carts to be powered by multiple batteries. If this is the case, you will notice how several individual batteries have been “daisy-chained” together to form one large battery. 4.
Can you top up a golf cart battery with distilled water?
You need to leave enough room for expansion, so the acid should only be filled to just above the lead cells inside. Only top up your golf cart batteries using distilled water. Also, it is common for golf carts to be powered by multiple batteries.
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 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 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 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 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 ...
What happens if your golf cart battery fails?
Obviously, for electric golf carts, the battery is what provides power to your motor. If your batteries start to quit on you, the golf cart won’t move, or will drastically decrease in range. With a gas motor, the battery is what starts the motor and keeps it running by providing electricity to the spark plugs. Without it, your motor won’t crank.
Why is my golf cart battery failing?
The most common thing that leads to early golf cart battery failure is corrosion. The problem goes deeper, too. It will ruin your cables, terminals, and even cause damage to battery trays and tie downs. Replacing a whole battery cable can be costly and difficult, so it’s best to avoid that problem.
How to clean corroded battery posts?
Undo the terminals from the battery posts and soak the corroded area in the cleaner or baking soda solution for about 5 or so minutes, then put on some gloves, grab your wire brush, and keep scrubbing until it’s all gone. Repeat as necessary, then rinse with a lot of water.
How to protect battery terminals from corrosion?
Connect the terminals back to the post and then use your coating solution somewhat liberally to protect the area from future corrosion. You can use any store bought battery protection product you like, or just petroleum jelly, dielectric grease, or even bearing grease. As long as it will stay there and keep the metals insulated from the atmosphere.
How to clean a battery with corrosion?
First, you’ll want to clean off all of the corrosion. You’ll need corrosion cleaner and a stiff wire brush. You can get any type of battery cleaner in a store to perform this job, or you can use hot water and baking soda in a pinch.
Why is my battery puddled?
If your battery gets dirty, muddy, grimy, or anything else, make sure to clean that off too. These things can cause extra resistance in your electrical system, putting an unnecessary drain on your battery and shortening its life.
How long do batteries last?
All joking aside, every battery is different, but most properly maintained batteries will last about 4 to 6 years depending on usage, charge cycle, and a bunch of uncontrollable variables. Lead acid batteries will require a lot of maintenance to do so, however.
Why do golf cart batteries release more power?
During the first time you run the vehicle after you install the three batteries, the newer batteries will release more power, because there’s a lot less resistance on them. The older ones, meanwhile, do not release as much power, because they are dealing with a lot more resistance due to their age and general wear. This means there’s a significant imbalance in your system—the newer batteries actually get depleted before the older ones, meaning the golf cart will reach its voltage cutoff point much sooner. It is likely, for example, that the voltages on the new batteries will be 5.25 volts each (meaning they’re fully discharged), while the older batteries will be higher in voltage because they’ve built up much greater resistance and did not release much energy. They did not effectively stop the new batteries from releasing all their juice.
Why do golf cart batteries work?
The reason for this is simple—golf cart batteries, unlike batteries for many other types of vehicles, work in conjunction as a team. As these batteries start to age, they develop more resistance to charging, which means they’ll release more energy.
How many amps does a series charger use?
In series charging, if the charger rate is 21 amps, all of the batteries will receive 21 amps. This means the newer batteries that have a lower resistance will accept the charge faster, and will finish charging before the other ones.
How many batteries are in a golf cart?
Again, the main thing to remember with golf cart batteries is that they are really six separate batteries built into a single unit, rather than one solid battery that powers the entire vehicle like in most cars.
Does a charger stop new batteries from releasing juice?
They did not effectively stop the new batteries from releasing all their juice. When you put these batteries in to charge, the charger will look at overall voltage to know how much charge to give, rather than the individual voltage of each 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.
What Is The Best Golf Cart Battery?
Trojan T-105 batteries are the best-known premium battery and have nearly 100 years of manufacturing experience. Trojan Battery Company was founded in 1925 and developed the golf cart battery for the Autoette in 1952. The distinctive maroon color of the T-105 makes it easy to distinguish from its competitors.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace The Batteries In A Golf Cart?
The cost of replacing the battery pack typically runs from $800 to $1500 depending on the number of batteries needed and the brand you go with.
Why would my battery go bad?
As mentioned earlier, the electrolyte level must be kept at optimum levels or damage can be done to the plates inside. Incorrectly watering is the major cause of problems in batteries.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
What does a low voltage of 4.1 mean?
(This is for a 6-volt battery.) If you get a lower reading like 4.1 volts, it indicates that at least one of the batteries is shorted or dead.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.