How To Test Your Golf Cart Batteries

How To Check If Your Golf Cart Batteries Are Still Good

This will be an ongoing How To article because it is important to note the proper way to do something does not mean everyone has the tools required to do so. Surely not the average electric golf cart owner that is starting to experience performance issues with their golf cart. So they start to ponder possible options – which human instinct would suggest oh… great I will just replace the batteries. This is until you call to get someone to do the job for you as it is kinda overwhelming to a novice or someone who has never seen so many batteries in one place before much less wired together, oh and the size and weight…. Jeez those batteries look heavy. Average golf cart battery weight is 60 lbs ea… Then the shocker – the cost associated with replacing your golf cart batteries with a quality battery. Heck even the cheapest of cheapest made in Mexico/Korea black boxes will cost you 90-100 bucks each for a 6 volt, 100-120 each for an 8 volt, and even more for 12 volt batteries.

 

Golf Cart Battery Testing Methods

So back to square one… my golf cart is not running right or providing good range – Example – cannot complete a full 18 holes of golf. How do you determine what is wrong and if or how can you fix it?

Digital Volt Meter Test

 

Hydrometer Test

 

Battery Load Test

For example – On a full charge a good set of golf cart batteries will allow you to surely play a few rounds of golf. Using a 48 volt Club Car for example you can play a round of golf with a new set of fully charged batteries and after round is complete the cart will still be above the 48 volt threshold on the battery banks capacity. One because the start / stop load not very demanding vs all out start stops continuously without letting the golf cart or batteries catch their breath per se… Though this is also because a fully charged 48 volt cart with say 6x 8 volt batteries will be around 51 volts not 48 volts.

Proper Procedure For Load Testing A Golf Cart Battery

1.  Charge the batteries completely. If the batteries do not take a charge this is a good indication they need to be replaced. Unless your golf cart battery charger needs to be replaced or repaired because it is in fact the problem and why the cart is not performing as it should.
2. To get an accurate assessment you will need to make sure they are fully charged ( No Exceptions) and slightly rested ( Cool to your touch-Room Temperature)
3. Check voltage before each test with Digital Volt Meter or If you purchase the Load tester Pete recommends it has a volt meter on it to help facilitate a proper test.
4. Apply the load required based on Quick Guide below
5. Load the batteries to the advertised Amp Hour Ah rating at 20 hrs…. This information can be found on the top of all golf cart batteries – See learn how to interpret a Battery Information Sticker.
6. Test results you will want to see. See Golf Cart Battery Load Testing Results Explained below… the following to confirm they are still in good shape.

Quick Golf Cart Battery Capacity Guide –

• Average 6 volt golf cart batteries are 210-225Ah,
• Average 8 volt golf cart batteries are 165-170Ah, and
• Average 12 volt golf cart batteries are 150Ah….

Golf Cart Battery Load Testing Results Explained

• 6 volt battery will need to maintain 5 volts for 15 seconds at the advertised 20hr Ah rating,
• 8 volt battery will need to maintain 7 volts for 15 seconds at the advertised 20hr Ah rating, and then the
• 12 volt battery will need to maintain 11 volts for 15 seconds at the advertised 20hr Ah rating.

Lester Charge/Discharge Tester

 

 

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