Expert Advice
How to Keep Your Golf Cart Battery in Top Condition
While perfecting the swing is the focus of most golfers, it is equally important to pay attention to the supporting equipment and accessories that ensures an enjoyable experience on the golf course. One of these is the golf cart’s battery which helps golfers move around the vast course with ease in pursuit of the next hole or hunting for lost balls. A little proactive battery maintenance can go a long way in maximising its performance, extending the life and reducing the need for a replacement battery. Here are some useful maintenance tips from our battery experts to help you get the most out of your golf cart battery.
Charge Your Golf Cart Battery
Charging the golf cart battery fully after every use is best practice and an important part of overall maintenance. Avoid allowing the battery to drain to a low level or completely flat. Having the battery to remain at a Partial State of Charge (PSoC) will lead to sulphation and shorten its lifespan. A good rule of thumb is to never allow the battery to discharge below 50 percent; this will help maximise the cycle life of the battery. Always charge the battery immediately after use, and if using a smart charger, allow the battery to go through all the required phases without interrupting the process prematurely.
Stay on Top of Watering
A crucial part of the maintenance process for those with accessible batteries is to stay on top of watering . Golf cart batteries produce electricity using electrolytes and water which will slowly but continually evaporate. This means you will need to replace the water loss by topping up with distilled or de-ionized water occasionally to ensure the water level in the battery cells is at an optimal height. An average 6-volt golf cart battery holds 6.4 litres of water, and a total of 15 litres will need to be added over the battery’s life to replace the water lost to evaporation. If the water level drops too low, the battery plates will be exposed which will allow them to dry out, and will also increase the amount of hydrogen produced during charging which increases the risk of an explosion.Attempting to charge a battery with low electrolyte will damage the battery and reduce its service life.
It is important to use distilled (or de-ionized) water to top up your battery. The mineral content of tap water is too high and will damage the battery cells and affect their performance. It is best practice to top up with water after a charging session as this will help increase the level of electrolytes. Use a watering gun or watering system such as Flowrite to add the right amount of water makes battery watering easier. An overfilled battery may leak acid during charging which will subsequently lead to corrosion and may damage the vehicle.
Keep it Clean
Cleaning the golf cart battery is just as important as charging and watering. Clean off corrosion, dirt, grime and other build up around the battery terminals with a tapered
bristled brush (such as the REDMAX terminal brush). If there is any corrosion, wash the terminals with a mixture of baking soda and water and then rinse with water, wipe dry and apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) before refitting the terminals to the battery posts. This will ensure a good contact and prevent moisture from seeping in between the terminal and post.
A healthy battery is essential for a trouble-free experience on the golf course. Taking the time to care for the golf cart battery will help you get the best performance out of it and increase its lifespan thus reducing the need for replacement. For assistance with golf cart battery maintenance, replacement or fitting, visit your nearest R&J Batteries branch.
