Golf Cart Battery Basics
Golf cart batteries are the life-force behind your electric golf cart.
Golf Cart Battery Basics
Golf Cart Battery Basics
Golf Cart Battery Basics
Golf Cart Battery Basics
Golf carts run off of what are called deep-cycle batteries. Although they look similar to normal car batteries, deep cycle batteries serves a completely different purpose. While both are lead-acid based, deep-cycle batteries provide a steady current over a long period of time, whereas car batteries provide a very large current over a short period of time. This is because golf carts, like other electric vehicles, derive all their power from their batteries.
One battery is not enough to run a golf cart. Instead, they use battery packs that consist of multiple batteries. Individual golf cart batteries usually come in 6-volts or 8-volts. The combined total of the volTAGefrom each battery makes up the total golf cart volTAGe. For instance, a 36-volt golf cart probably has six 6-volt batteries. And a 48-volt golf cart probably has either eight 6-volt batteries or six 8-volt batteries. And as you can probably guess, the higher the volTAGe the longer the run time and the greater the power.
If your batteries aren't charged, however, it doesn't matter how many volts your battery pack has, it's still not going to run. The type of golf cart charger you would need depends on the total number of volts your battery pack has. A 36V golf cart requires a 36 volt charger, and a 48V golf cart requires a 48 volt charger. If you have a 36V golf cart and later decide to upgrade to a 48V golf cart by adding twoadditional 6V batteries, you can either purchase an additional 12V charger for two new batteries, or you can replace your 36V charger with a 48V charger, just so long as the volTAGe from the charger corresponds with the voltage of the batteries.
To keep your golf cart running strong you're going to want to charge your batteries after every use. Most new chargers are fully automated, which means they regulate the current so that you do not over-charge your batteries. If you have an older golf cart charger that is not fully automated you would want to set a timer to shut off the charger after your cart is fully charged. A good rule of thumb is to charge it for at least twice as long as you drove it.
Golf Cart Battery Basics