How to Maintain Your Golf Cart's Batteries
It is recommended that you obtain following equipment for use in golf cart battery care and maintenance: A wrench; distilled water; a voltmeter (an instrument used for measuring the voltage between two points in an electric circuit); a hydrometer (a tool used to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte solution); a post cleaner; some baking soda; petroleum jelly and possibly the most of all - goggles and gloves.
Always wear protective clothing, acid proof gloves and goggles when handling lead acid batteries and remove all jewellery. It's important to have lots of water and baking soda nearby as this will neutralise any acid spills from battery refilling and prevent further corrosive damage. Remember, the electrolyte is a solution of acid and water, so skin contact should be avoided and, do not smoke near batteries and never add acid to a battery.
Golf carts are typically powered by six lead-acid batteries mounted beneath the front seat.
First of all, examine the outside appearance of the batteries. You should look for cracks in the container and the top of the battery. Posts and connections should be free of dirt, fluids and corrosion. You should replace any damaged batteries.
Check that all vent caps are tight. Then clean the battery top with a cloth or brush and a solution of baking soda and water ensuring that any cleaning solution or any other foreign matter does not get inside the battery. Then rinse with clean water and dry with a clean cloth. Solvents or spray cleaners should not be used. Then clean the battery terminals and the inside of the cable clamps with a post and clamp cleaner. Reconnect the clamps to the terminals and thinly coat them with petroleum jelly. Always keep the area around the batteries clean and dry.
Water should only be added after fully charging the golf cart 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 be above the plates.
Some important things to remember are: Do not allow plates to be exposed to air and do not fill the water all the way up to the cap. Do not use water with a high mineral content. You should use only distilled or deionised water.
Check water levels in each cell of each battery weekly to ensure that the leaded plates in the battery are submerged in liquid. Don't fill the cell all the way up -- add just enough water to cover the plates.
Lastly, please follow the manufacturer's instructions for maintaining your golf cart's batteries.
For additional information on golf cart batteries including how lead acid batteries work; how to use a hydrometer; changing batteries and troubleshooting golf cart batteries, please visit http://www.YourGolfCartBatteries.com
Published by Ken MacKenzie
Ken Mackenzie is a Marketing and Public Relations Consultant View profile
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8 Comments
Post a Commenthow do i properly store my golf cart for the winter without the batteries exploding over the winter months? Two of my new batteries split over the winter needing to replace them
I disagree with never adding battery acid. I purchased a new set of batteries over nine years ago. When the hydrometer indicated my batteries were approaching the upper fair level, I began to add battery acid instead of distilled water. In some cases, I had to actually extract some of the battery solution and replace the extracted solution with battery acid. This process allowed me to keep all batteries in the upper range of the good reading as indicated on the hydrometer.
we have corrosion on the bottom of our golf cart batteries can the corrosion be hosed off or do we need to only clean them with baking soda and water
I have four 2006 Trojan 12-volt batteries for my golf cart. Recently my charger cuts off after 1 to 1-1/2 hours of charging. I barely get 18 holes of golf in. Do I need new batteries? Thank you
Great article will excellent tips but definitely replace damaged batteries or they can become dangerous
www.safe-start.com
Dennis Houghton: It appears you have a problem with "Sulfation", which leads to a decrease in battery capacity. Yes, the batteries will accept a charge but, not enough to keep your golf cart going all day (which it should). Here's a site that covers "sulfation" and how to prevent and/or cure it. http://golfcartmaintenance.blogspot.com/
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What should the reading be on a fully charged 12v33ah battery as shown on a battery tester?
My battery only indicates 13.63V and tends to slow or stop the trolley on the last two holes of golf. Reading after the round is only say 11.8Volts.
Look forward to your reply, Thank you.