A golf cart is an important part of the golf game, as it offers a convenient way to get around the golf course. Even more important is the quality of the battery and its efficiency.
This is a very common question. How long your golf cart batteries will last? If you follow all of these tips, your golf cart battery should last a minimum of 5 years. You will also gain the ability to travel longer distances between charges. When your cart’s battery stops working, be sure to recycle it and purchase a quality replacement. Units with high amp capacities usually last longer.
Frequent loading is nothing fun, so it is inefficient to navigate in the golf cart. The following are some of the best practices you can use to ensure that your golf cart batteries last longer and last longer.
We also answer some more questions you may have about golf cart batteries.
Table of Contents
About golf cart batteries
The batteries in your golf cart are similar to the batteries in your car: they are lead and acid batteries.
However, there are differences between the two varieties. For starters, the golf cart batteries are 6 volts, while the battery used by your truck is 12 volts; It seems you can’t exchange them.
And unlike the batteries in your truck that recharge while driving, the golf cart batteries only discharge. Driving on the golf course all day may potentially deplete the golf cart’s battery of all its juice, and you may have to take it to a shelter.
However, that is not the case with trucks, which you can drive all day, without worrying about discharged batteries.
Charging your golf cart batteries
Overloading is one of the safest ways to damage the batteries in your golf cart. Fortunately, modern varieties have an automatic charger that turns off when the battery is full.
However, not everyone has this newer model. Older ones still need to be turned off manually.
A better way to deal with the manual charger is to determine how long it would take to fully charge and time it properly. You can use an alarm to notify you when it is time to disconnect the charger to avoid overcharging and possible damage to the battery.
Ideally, you should charge the batteries every time you use the cart. It is quite wrong to wait until the juice of the golf cart drops completely before recharging. That is another way to reduce battery life.
You must ensure that there is enough time to fully charge the battery. Not when you’re in a hurry to get to the game and you can only afford a few minutes.
And to further extend the life of your golf cart, you can get the sophisticated and reliable dual pro charger.
Well, the system is automated and, unlike its counterparts, offers an optimal load. As a result, the charging system adds at least one fifth of the battery life of your golf cart, something good!
Life expectancy of the golf cart battery
Well, the life expectancy of a golf cart battery depends largely on the handling. It depends on how you keep it and how you use it.
If one person constantly uses the car in the hills and another avoids the hills as much as possible, the battery of the latter’s car has a better chance of longer life than its counterpart.
Other factors such as battery quality play a fundamental role. Cheaper batteries have low quality parts and are more likely to need replacement before better quality batteries. Essentially, you get the quality of a product according to what you are willing to pay for it.
How much a battery is left also depends on basic maintenance. Simple activities such as maintaining the correct levels of distilled water and making sure to charge after use will determine the life of the battery.
Batteries in privately owned cars tend to last longer than fleet cars. In private cars, batteries can last up to ten years, while fleet cars can last for about six years, but with proper maintenance habits.
Other factors include the additional options the cart has; for example, entertainment, headlights and, sometimes, acceleration.
Some golfers choose to use their cars as transportation to the golf course. Essentially, this together with the activity involved in golf tends to overcharge the battery. Remember that we said that the overload discharges the battery life.
Battery Discharge Minutes
Among the most common questions, new golf cart owners wonder, how long do the golf cart batteries last on a charge?
Well, in other words, what are the minutes of discharge from a golf cart battery?
In most cases, the runtime of the battery discharge minutes generally depends on the average distance a fully charged battery travels under normal operating conditions, this includes warm temperatures, level ground and well-inflated tires.
A good quality golf cart battery should do at least 55 minutes of discharge at temperatures around 26 degrees.
This battery will complete two rounds of 18-hole golf.
Maintenance
Effective maintenance is another way to extend battery life.
The seemingly simple tasks of checking the water level at least every month and cleaning the batteries frequently can be the difference between a battery that lasts longer and another that needs replacement in the shortest time.
Use distilled water and do not exceed the established level marks. They are there for a purpose.
It can even make it convenient for you using a battery irrigation system to automate the process.
Using the Batteries
The best practice when using golf carts is to turn everything off when not in use. That includes electronic devices, lights and any other accessories connected to the batteries.
Leaving the devices on, whether intentionally or not, leads to a total discharge of the batteries, which reduces their life.
If you have a car that runs on gasoline, you may need to start it as a result of the discharged battery. Do not forget to turn off all accessories before leaving the vehicle. And be sure to remove the contact keys, take them with you.
The way you drive the golf cart also affects the life of the battery, yes, the driving style.
In general, avoid such steep terrain as much as possible. Turn around if you need it or leave the car at the bottom of the hill and walk uphill if you are traveling a short distance.
Always maintain the recommended weight capacity and avoid transporting more people than necessary. And if you need to move the car a considerable distance, a trailer or utility truck would be enough to transport it.
Battery replacement
If you follow all of these tips, your golf cart battery should last a minimum of five years. You’ll also get the ability to travel longer distances between charges. When your cart battery stops working, be sure to recycle it and purchase a quality replacement. Units with high amplification capabilities generally last longer.
When it comes time to replace your batteries, replace all of them.Do not mix new and used batteries. Your running range per charge cycle will massively decrease if you mix old batteries with new. The load will also last longer and you can travel longer distances.
However, the battery will stop working, after a period, hopefully after a long time. When it stops working, recycle it and get a good replacement.
Do not try to fix it, as it can cause more problems than before. One tip that can be useful when buying the battery is to choose high amplifier capabilities. They tend to last longer than low amperage batteries.
Other best practices to extend battery life
- Always be sure to complete low battery levels with distilled water, not tap water. Tap water may contain chemicals that can easily damage the battery. Make sure liquid levels do not go under the plates.
- Be sure to connect a three-phase battery charger and be very careful when connecting the cables to the poles. The negative cable must be connected to the negative pole and the positive cable to the positive pole.
- Always fully charge the battery. Most chargers have an indicator light to alert you when it is full. Charging time varies between one hour and overnight, depending on the level of discharge.
- As much as possible, do not allow the battery to discharge more than 70%. Usually, the later it charges, the more it will overheat, which will reduce its life. Too much heat is not good for the life of the battery.
- Running the car all day until the battery runs out is not always the best. It will overheat during operation, and the long charging time it will take will also cause overheating.
That is why in warmer regions, batteries are replaced more frequently than in colder areas. Depending on the temperature of the area in which you are, you can know if the battery will last or not.
Sulfation in golf cart batteries and what you can do about it
Sulfuric acid, especially when the golf cart battery is completely discharged, can cause sulfur to form on the lead plates, which in turn can act as a barrier to an effective charge.
Typically, acidic water is 65% distilled water and 35% acid.
During the discharge of the battery, sulfuric acid finds its way into the plates to create energy. If you run the car all day, until the battery runs out, all the sulfuric acid will be on the plates.
That is why a hydrometer test indicates a depleted battery after a full discharge.
Essentially, there is only water left at that time. The charge returns the acid to the solution and a full charge occurs when everything returns. The deposit and the elimination of acid eventually wear down the paste of the plates.
If the battery is not charged after a long time, the acid deposits remain too much on the plates and wear out at a much faster rate than normal. The sulfation process in a discharged battery is faster, which means that the longer you wait to charge after discharge, the faster the wear rate will be.
Imagine the sulfation process as crust formation. The longer the bark remains, the harder it will be to get rid of it. It is this crust that forms a barrier between the acidic water solution and the plates that hinder future loading and unloading.
Ideally, you should be sure to charge the car’s batteries immediately after use to remove sulfuric acid deposits from the plates. And if the car is going to sit in a shelter for a long time, without use, be sure to change it frequently, like once a month to extend the life of the dough.
Do not buy cheap batteries
As you probably know, better quality products last longer than cheap products. The same applies to golf cart batteries, and it would be ideal to avoid trying to buy cheap batteries.
A brand like Trojan will surely last longer than most other brands. You see, they use thicker plates and more lead than their normal plates and the replacement will take much longer.
However, the price or quality of the golf cart battery does not eliminate the need for maintenance. You could also choose cheaper batteries if you are not going to maintain them effectively.
Golf Cart Batteries FAQ
How to know when golf cart batteries are running low?
We mention that several factors determine the life of the battery and include quality, handling and maintenance. However, the battery in your cart will eventually die. But what factors underline a depleted battery?
Well, an exhausted battery will give you slower starts. You’ll notice something like a 2-second delay between hitting the accelerator and when the car starts moving.
Another indicator is the behavior of the battery when changing gears. A battery on his deathbed runs out faster just by changing gears. And if it is a relief that the car has finally negotiated the tilt after making you sweat, then it needs a replacement.
The slow operation of golf cart accessories such as radio and headlights are another telltale signal. You already know how a low battery torch or a low battery radio works, it is not necessary to discuss here.
If your car wobbles on the road to the next hole, and there are no visible impediments on the road, then it is probably the battery.
A depleted battery will take twice as long as when purchased. The car with a defective battery will also discharge faster than it can now go through two full 18-hole rounds without requiring an additional charge.
Finally, if the battery starts to leak acid and you notice something bulky, do not press it further. Change the battery as it is in your last days.
How long do golf carts last?
The lifespan of a particular golf cart depends on several factors, such as handling and maintenance. You can usually use the golf cart for many years and even leave it for the next generation if you are careful with it. For example, you cannot handle it badly when using it for other activities such as gardening and expecting it to provide many years of service.
Another important determinant is maintenance. Gas cars will demand a little more maintenance than those that run on electricity. However, both will provide a decent amount of service if you take good care of it.
The fact is that golf carts have replaceable parts. You can always change them if you notice that they start to wobble or hit.
Do I have to leave my golf cart plugged in all the time?
The new generation of chargers is smarter and can effectively regulate the load depending on the level of charge. They can be turned on and off, as it is necessarily freeing you to do other things. You can even leave it on as you call it one day and retire to bed.
Final word
Golf carts are an integral part of the golf game. You can’t have fun without a convenient way to move from one hole to the next. But the usefulness of a golf cart is in the battery. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that it is in good working condition, fully charged and in good condition.
