Golf Cart Battery Maintenance Guide

Electric golf carts are very simple to maintain, needing only occasional battery maintenance to keep them running smoothly. This guide from WilDar Golf Carts & Trailers explains how to take care of your golf cart batteries to ensure safe, reliable performance. If you need more advice on golf cart maintenance, please feel free to contact us! WilDar Golf Carts & Trailers is your local golf cart dealer in Fort Pierce, FL, serving customers from West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and St. Lucie.

Charging the Battery

When you first bring home a new electric golf cart, make sure the batteries are fully charged before you start riding. This will give you a good sense of how quickly the batteries drain. Never allow the batteries to drain completely, and avoid running them down until the low battery indicator starts flashing. Running out of charge causes wear and tear on the batteries and shortens their lifespan.

Keeping It Clean

Charging a golf cart battery releases hydrogen, water, and acid. These substances can build up over time and lead to corrosion. To stave off corrosion, clean the battery terminals regularly using a mixture of baking soda and hot water. Use a soft brush (such as an old toothbrush) to apply this mixture to the battery terminals. When you have finished cleaning the terminals, wash off the baking soda mixture, spray them with cool water, and dry them thoroughly.

Managing the Water Level

Your golf cart batteries rely on electrolytes and water to produce electricity. If there is too much water in the battery, the electrolytes will overflow. Using a watering gun to refill the batteries will help you avoid overfilling. Meanwhile, if there is not enough water in the battery, the plates can become damaged by sulfation. Always take the time to check the water level when charging your golf cart batteries, and add water as needed. Remember to only use distilled water.

Testing the Battery

Be sure to test your golf cart batteries periodically to make sure they are in good condition. You can test the battery cells using a hydrometer, which measures the density of electrolytes compared to the overall weight. A higher weight indicates a higher state of charge and a higher density of electrolytes. As you use the batteries, the discharge will eventually have a lower weight of electrolytes. Keep an eye on this measurement to track the health of your batteries.

You can also use a battery gauge to monitor the charge status of your batteries. However, keep in mind that if you have older batteries, the battery gauge may not provide an accurate reading. For a more accurate result, you can try using a battery load tester instead.

Replacing the Battery

Eventually, your golf cart batteries will need to be replaced. Lead-acid batteries typically last 2-5 years with regular use, whereas lithium-ion batteries can last from 10-20 years.

No matter what kind of batteries are in your golf cart, make sure to replace them all at the same time. If you charge old and new batteries at the same time, the new ones will be overcharged because the older batteries take longer to reach a full charge. This will reduce the lifespan of your new batteries and make them less effective.

We hope you found this information helpful! If you have any further questions about golf cart batteries, we invite you to consult the team here at WilDar Golf Carts & Trailers. You can find us in Fort Pierce, FL, near West Palm Beach.