Industry News_Six Things You Need to Know to Maintenance Your Golf Cart Battery

Golf carts can make a round of golf much more relaxing and enjoyable. To reduce noise and cost, most golf carts use a series of batteries located in a compartment beneath the seat as a power source. Generally, these 36- or 48-volt systems are powerful enough to carry golfers and their gear across a course, to span its lifetime, regular maintenance of battery is necessary.

Keep it Clean
Golf carts typically use lead-acid batteries, which have a plastic housing and contain acid that can sometimes leak out. Golf cart batteries also have metal terminals where they connect to battery cables. These terminals can become rusted over time. Make cleaning golf cart batteries part of your regular cleaning regimen. Use a clean rag to wipe down the terminals and battery cases to check for any possible leaks.

Check Cables Often
Aside from corrosion where battery cables connect to terminals, cables are also susceptible to splits in the plastic insulation that protects the wires. A frayed wire can lead to a dangerous shock to a rider or service technician, or cause a short circuit that renders the cart dead. Check the cables often and replace damaged cables quickly. For a quick fix, wrap the damaged cable in electrical tape, but never use this as a permanent solution.

Routine Maintenance
Some golf cart batteries are maintenance free and come in sealed enclosures. However, others open to reveal a series of metal plates submerged in water. Add d0.istilled water whenever the water level goes down, being careful not to overfill the battery as this can cause acid to leak out and cause damage. Use only distilled water, which is free of the ions that can alter the way a battery performs.
Whenever you handle a battery, wear hand and eye protection. The acid inside could cause serious injury, and batteries still connected to the cart can deliver a dangerous shock to someone with exposed skin.

Charge Fully
When it comes time to recharge a golf cart's batteries, try to charge them completely as often as possible. Running batteries on only a partial charge can reduce their capacity to hold electrical power, making them less effective. If an automatic charger shuts off before the batteries are fully charged, use a manual charger to ensure that every battery is at full capacity before going back into the cart.

Proper Disposal
Eventually, even the best-maintained golf cart battery won't be able to hold a charge and needs to be disposed of. It is illegal in most places to throw away lead-acid batteries with household trash. Instead, contact your local waste management service to locate the nearest battery drop-off or learn about local policies.

Buy a New One
Before spending money, be sure to know the major specifications for the battery you need. Dimensions are important, especially if you have a particularly small cart or battery case--be sure a battery can fit in your cart before you buy. Pay attention to the number of hours a cart can go, and at which ampere load. Batteries will last longer at low outputs--low speed--than they will at high speed. If you drive fast, you'll need a battery that will last at a high ampere load. If you drive slower, you might be OK with a cheaper battery that has a long life only at low ampere loads.