Tips For Maintaining An Electric Golf Cart Battery
If you have an electric golf cart, chances are you love to drive it around places other than a golf course. However much you love your zippy vehicle, if you don’t take proper care of its battery, it won’t last as long as you want it to. If you want your electric buggy’s battery to last longer, there are some steps you need to take.
At Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports, we want to help you keep your electric golf cart battery in proper working condition for a long time, so we’ve put together this guide to help you do just that. If you’d like more information or you’re looking for electric golf carts in Raleigh or Wilmington, North Carolina. We welcome all our patrons from Clayton and Cary!
Note: Before you get down to maintaining your electric golf cart battery, ensure you’re wearing protective clothing, including gloves and goggles. If you’ve got a newer model, it’ll have a ‘Tow/Maintenance’ switch that you should turn off before you get to work.
Proper Charging
When you get a new electric golf cart, don’t ride it around until the battery dies. Instead, charge your new vehicle before you use it, and keep an eye on how quickly it drains when used. This will give you an estimate of battery life to which you can compare later performance. Always charge your battery before it drains completely. A flashing battery charge indicator isn’t something you should see often.
Cleaning Battery Acid
When an electric golf cart battery is charged, it releases hydrogen gas, water and acid that settles on other components. If this isn’t cleaned in time, it’ll corrode these parts. Shut all vent caps and cover all electric parts. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda into a cup of hot water and use an old toothbrush to apply it to the terminals. Wash off the baking soda once the corrosion is removed by spraying it with cool water and wiping the battery until it’s clean.
Adding Water
Electric golf cart batteries require electrolytes and water to produce electricity. Filling the battery with too much water causes the electrolytes to overflow. A watering gun will help you stop the filling process before overflowing. If there’s too little water, the lead plates will get damaged due to sulfation. It’s best to fill the water when the battery has been charged as that increases the electrolytes level. Always use distilled water for your battery.
Testing Battery
You should check your battery from time to time to ensure that it’s in good working condition. Use a hydrometer to test each battery cell. A hydrometer will measure the electrolytes’ density compared to the weight. A higher specific weight means that there’s a higher state of charge and a denser presence of electrolytes. As the battery is put to use, it discharges, which causes the electrolytes’ weight to decrease.
Using A Battery Gauge
Using a battery gauge to monitor the battery’s depth of discharge should be part of your maintenance routine. In general, your electric golf cart battery gauge will measure the depth of discharge so you can recharge the battery on time, before it completely drains. If your batteries are older, these gauges will not give you a highly accurate reading. To get a more accurate result, use a battery load tester.
Replacing Battery
If it’s time to replace your electric golf cart batteries, it’s best to replace them all at the same time. This ensures that your new batteries last longer. When old and new batteries are charged at the same time, the old ones charge more slowly, causing the new ones to overcharge, which reduces their lifespan. If your electric golf cart starts suffering from repeated performance issues, it’s probably a sign you need to replace the battery.
If you follow these steps, your battery should last a long time! If you want professional service and repair, visit Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports in Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina. We invite all our patrons from Clayton and Cary to check out our inventory of electric golf carts for sale!