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Helpful Tips

Tips About Golf Cart Batteries and Voltage

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Understand Golf Cart Battery Care and Voltage Better

Problems can arise with the performance of your golf cart's battery at any time. These can be prevented by following the right procedures when it comes to battery care. At Cart City, we'll provide you with some helpful tips regarding battery operation, battery care, and determining voltage. Contact us for more information.

Check Out Some Methods of Battery Care

Charging:

Correct charging methods extend battery life and range between charges
Charge new batteries completely before they are used the first time
Charging time will probably be at least 12 hours
New batteries need up to four hours more charging time than mature batteries
Schedule enough charging time, if possible, so the charger shuts off automatically
Age of battery, condition of the battery, state-of-discharge, the temperature of the electrolyte, AC line voltage level, and other variables affect charging time
Limit the use of new batteries between charging for the first 5-20 cycles (new batteries have less capacity than batteries which have been broken in)
New golf car batteries should be limited to 18 holes between charges
Industrial vehicle batteries should not be discharged more than 20-30% before recharging
Whenever possible, for the longest battery life, recharge batteries as soon as they become 20% discharged (1.233 SG / 37.38 volts)
Never allow batteries to fall below 80% discharged (1.148 SG / 35.94 volts)
Deep discharging significantly reduces battery life
Batteries in storage self-discharge and should be recharged whenever the specific gravity falls below 1.240
The rate of self-discharge varies directly with temperature
Battery state-of-charge can be determined by using a hydrometer, or by connecting the charger and observing the charging rate
If the ammeter needle jumps smartly to 20-25 amps and then tapers below 14 amps within 15 minutes, the battery is fully charged.

Watering:

Correct watering techniques extend battery life
Check the electrolyte level on new batteries before putting them into service, and at least monthly for batteries in service
Water use increases as batteries age
Never allow the electrolyte level to fall below the top of the plates
If the plates are exposed, add only enough water to cover the plates before charging
Do not overfill batteries
Electrolyte expands and can overflow during charging
Water added to replace the spillage dilutes the electrolyte and reduces its specific gravity
Cells with lower specific gravity have lower charging capacity
Make sure the electrolyte covers the plates before charging and fill cells to the markers only after batteries are charged
Use only distilled water
Electric vehicle batteries may use up to 16 quarts of water during their useful lives, and non-distilled water may contain harmful minerals which will have a cumulative adverse effect on battery performance

Cleaning:

Acid-soaked dirt on the battery tops causes current leakage and reduced battery efficiency
Hose wash battery tops periodically with clean low-pressure water to keep them free of acid spillage, dirt, grass cuttings, and other debris
Make sure vent caps are secure before washing
Do not hose wash electronic controllers, switches, solenoid, and other electrical control devices. Cover them if necessary
Wash the tops with a baking soda mixture (1/2 cup per quart of water) and a stiff bristle brush if a low-pressure hose doesn’t remove the dirt
Rinse with clean water
Make sure the battery tops are clean and dry before putting them into storage

Determining how many volts your golf cart uses is as easy as counting the water fill caps on the batteries. Lifting your golf cart’s seat reveals the battery compartment. The water fill caps are located on each battery.

Each battery cell covered by a cap is 2-volts. Simply count all of the battery fill caps on your batteries, multiply this total by two, and you will have determined your golf cart’s voltage. Gas golf carts utilize one 12-volt battery.