Dec 02, 2021 Pageview:5290
Almost every vehicle that we see today has a battery in it. Some use the battery to power the vehicle while some only use it for starting the engine and powering the electrical systems of the vehicle. It means that there are several types of batteries all according to the type and requirements of the vehicle.
The vehicle whose battery we are going to discuss here is a golf cart. It usually comes with a 6-volt battery which is not very common in vehicles, so a lot of people have confusion about the battery, its charging, and percentage. So, here we will be discussing all that you need to know about these 6-volt golf cart batteries.
What voltage should you charge a 6V lead-acid battery?
The first and the most common thing that people do not know about the 6-volt golf cart batteries is their charging voltage. Although there are chargers specifically made for these batteries, using them needs no information about the charging voltage and other specifications.
However, when you use the universal charger, you need to know all the specifications and requirements of the battery charger. Only in this case, you can efficiently and safely charge the battery.
The right voltage to charge the 6-volt golf cart battery.
When you are using a charger to charge a 6-volt golf cart battery you must use it at about 7 volts. Using the charger at exactly 6 volts is not the best choice as in this way your battery will never attain full charging.
What happens if you plug it with a 12-volt charger?
As the voltage here is going to be a lot higher than what the battery needs, it can damage the battery. The damage can be permanent as well over longer usage periods. Some symptoms that your battery is not being charged the way it must are:
The battery gets too hot when charging
Battery is swollen
The battery shows full charging too quickly
The battery does not last as long as it should.
These are the major reasons why you must not use a higher voltage battery charger with your 6-volt golf cart battery.
What will happen if you charge the 6-volt battery with a lesser spec charger?
Using the less spec charger is also not the right choice. The reason is that the amps will be very low which means that the charging process will take too long. At the same time, you will never be able to charge your battery fully which will again make the whole thing inefficient.
At what voltage is a 6-volt battery dead?
The battery can be dead in two ways. One way is when the charging is dead, and the battery needs to be recharged. In this case, you do not need to worry as only charging the battery again will get the battery up and running.
The Voltage of 6 Volt Battery and Charge Percentage
The voltage of your 6-volt golf cart battery tells a lot about the charging that it has. So, if you do not have something that tells the battery charging percentage then you can take a multimeter and know how much charge your battery is holding. Here is the list of the battery voltage and charging percentage comparison:
100% battery charging will be when your battery reads 6.3 or 6.4 volts.
75% battery charging will be when your battery reads 6.2 volts
50% battery charging will be when your battery reads 6.1 volts
25% battery charging will be when your battery reads 6.0 volts
Your battery will be completely discharged when it reads below 6.0 volts
So, if your battery reads below 6.0 volts then it means that you have a dead battery that cannot perform as intended and it needs to be charged as soon as possible.
What about the dead battery that has completed its lifespan?
So, if you have a battery that is as low as 2 volts, but it is rated as 6 volts and it is not charging then there are greater chances that your battery is dead. It either needs repairing or replacement as otherwise, it is not safe and reliable to use at all.
Most people have a misconception that a 6-volt golf cart battery can only read 6 volts as max. Similarly, some believe that more voltage is better even if it crosses the maximum limit. Well, both of these are not only wrong, but they can have highly adverse effects on your battery’s performance and life.
So, here we will be discussing what should be the voltage of your 6-volt golf cart battery and why you must maintain it. As listed in the previous section, when the battery voltage is about 6.3 or 6.4 volts then it means that the battery is fully charged. You can also call it 100% charging of your 6-volt golf cart battery.
What if the volts reading on your 6-volt golf cart battery is higher than 6.4?
Sometimes your battery can read above 6.4 volts which is the highest a 6-volt golf cart battery should have. When you face this issue, you immediately need to get the system checked because there is some issue.
These batteries are not rated for higher voltages and this high voltage means that your battery is being overcharged. It can cause issues like reducing battery life, reducing battery performance, and affecting the golf cart system.
Why should you maintain the voltage on your 6-volt golf cart battery?
Maintaining the battery voltage on your 6-volt golf cart battery is important because it comes with several benefits. Some of the benefits of maintaining the voltage of your golf cart battery are:
Better lifespan
Better performance
Safe to use
Savings on maintenance and replacement
Along with these, several other benefits state why you must maintain the voltage of your 6-volt golf cart battery and never let it increase or decrease than the safe usage range.
Conclusion
With all of this information, we hope that you now know all about the 6-volt golf cart battery and you can use and charge yours most safely. The only thing that you need to care about is the battery charger specifications and the battery voltage.
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