22 Years' Battery Customization
Oct 08, 2022 Pageview：492
Gold carts have become essential components in golf. They are used in moving the golfers across the large extended fields and easily carrying their equipment. That is a convenience you wouldn’t want to miss.
However, these electric devices also come with rechargeable batteries, which drain after working for a certain period. You need to know how long it will take to ride the cart before its battery dies.
Today, we will focus on golf cart batteries and discuss their capacity to hold a charge under maximum usage. We will also show you several ways to have it well maintained.
How Long Does a Gold Cart Battery Last on One Charge?
When you get into a golf cart for a ride, you want to get to your destination without any issues. So, it’s normal when you get half the trip and start wondering just how long the battery will last.
You need to know this so that you don’t get stuck one way. The energy consumed when you were going should also bring you back.
Under normal circumstances, a golf cart battery will last between 25 and 40 miles. This depends on the settings, model, and energy consumption needs of the cart.
About Golf Cart Engines
To understand this better, we need to start from the beginning and explain how these engines work. We won’t dive too deep but just share enough to help you know how the whole thing works.
For a start, golf carts are powered by a 4-stroke internal combustion engine or a 36V/48V AC or a DC.
The original ones were only electric, but modifications were made to bring out others that use gas.
For this guide, we will be focusing on electric ones. These are the most common ones, and their performance depends on the strength of the battery.
Generally, an electric golf cart will run for between 45 and 90 minutes on full power when the battery is fully charged. The exact time may vary depending on:
The load. A heavy load with consuming more power while a lighter one will require less power. Always put this in mind even when buying this equipment.
Terrain.The terrain where the cart is navigating also affects battery power consumption.
The weather. Warmer weather means less consumption, while colder weather may mean more power needs.
Conditions of the battery. Typically, a new battery will have a longer running time, while an older battery will die much faster.
If the battery is not giving you at least 45 minutes of run time, even under minimum strain, it’s time to get a new one. Such a battery will no longer serve you well, and it might get you stuck in the middle of the field.
How to Test a Gold Cart Battery?
You can test the strength of your golf cart to help you make better decisions. There are several ways of doing this. Here are the two most common ones:
Using a Voltmeter
When you want to test the voltage of your cart, use the voltmeter. This is a simple tool to use, but one that requires some knowledge.
Follow these instructions:
Wear protective gear and clear the working area. Safety is crucial here. These batteries can arc, spark or emit dangerous gasses. You must wear protective eyewear and gloves before you start working. Avoid using metal tools or smoking around the battery.
Find the negative and the positive terminals. The negative is marked (-) or black, while the positive is marked (+) or red.
Clamp the positive terminal of the voltmeter to the positive of the cart’s battery.
Connect the negative terminal of the voltmeter to that of the battery. Ensure the probes are held firmly in place.
Check the battery’s listed voltage and compare it with what you see. The best voltage is 36 or 48 volts. You might have a series of batteries that combine to reach the desired voltage and test each of them.
Your battery is fully charged if it’s above any of the listed ones. If it’s below, you might need to charge it more.
Checking Amperage With a Load Tester
You can also use a load tester to check the amperage. With this, you will know the exact strength of your battery.
Follow these steps:
It’s crucial that you don’t overcharge the battery or use the load test when it’s too cold. Always work at room temperature.
Ensure the load tester is off before you start connecting.
Connect the tester, starting with the red terminal and then the black terminal. Don’t turn on the tester until all the terminals are connected.
Turn on the tester and give your battery 300 to 350 amps’ voltage. This is half CCA.
If the voltage drops 1 to 2 volts of your original voltmeter reading, that is normal. But if it drops 3 to 4 volts, the battery has an issue and cannot hold the load. For example, your battery has good amperage if you get 11.1 volts with the load tester for a voltmeter reading of 11.9. A drop below 8 means you need a new battery.
Once done, turn off the load tester immediately for your safety. Leaving them on and connected will produce too much heat.
You may also want to test the charge of your battery. For this, you will need a hydrometer. The water in the battery should always rest at ? inch above the plate or more. Anything below will mean the plates are completely dry. Check the level of every cell and compare, ensuring they don’t show too big differences.
Gold Cart Batteries Maintenance
Proper Maintenance of golf cart batteries will give them a longer life and better performance. Consider the following tips:
Always ensure the top of the battery is dry, clean, and tight. You can use a bristle brush and baking soda for such cleaning tasks.
Use a proper charger and keep it charging for 8 to 10 hours. It’s best to charge overnight, even if you have used it for just a few minutes.
When filling the battery cells, ensure the battery is fully charged. Also, take care not to overfill. Keep the water levels at ? inch above the terminals.
Keep the cart busy, and don’t store it for too long.
Perform frequent battery testing to ensure you have the right voltage at all times.
Do not discharge the batteries beyond 80%.
Your golf cart battery is an investment you don’t want to let go wasted. Hence, give it proper Maintenance, and you are sure to enjoy the outcome.
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