Golf carts, ATVs and other small vehicles are normally equipped with 6-volt lead acid batteries (smaller versions of 12 volt car batteries). Often, the useful life of golf cart batteries is shortened by being run down too far or by improperly stored for long periods. You can make golf cart batteries last longer with a proper charging routine and storage. If the battery's performance degrades, you can often recondition it yourself at little cost.
Instructions
1. Exercise proper safety precautions when you remove and work with a golf cart battery. Lead acid batteries contain sulfuric acid which can cause serious chemical burns. Wear protective eye goggles and gloves. Work in a well-ventilated area and keep open flames away from the battery. Remove the plastic cell caps on top of the battery to allow gasses generated during charging to escape. Top off each cell of the battery with distilled water. Don't use tap water as the chemicals in it can damage the battery.
2. Use a three-phase battery charger with a 6-volt setting to make a golf cart battery last longer. These are chargers that will start with a high-voltage (fast) charge and automatically reduce the charge rate when the battery is 70 percent charged, then to a low (trickle) charge. Set the charging voltage to 2.30 to 2.35 volts to make golf cart batteries last longer. Make sure the charger leads are connected to the proper battery terminals (positive to positive and negative to negative). Then turn the charger on.
3. Turn the battery charger off before you remove the battery, once it's fully charged. If you are not going to use the battery for several days, you may leave it on the charger on trickle setting to keep it at full charge. When you're ready, remove the charge leads, replace the cell caps, and return the battery to the golf cart. Use a crescent wrench to tighten the battery cables down securely.
4. Restore the battery to proper function if it has been deeply discharged several times and no longer accepts a full charge. This is caused by sulfur coating the lead plates in the battery as a result of repeated deep discharges. Follow the same steps as for normal charging. However, before charging the battery, drain the water from the battery and replace it with a solution of distilled water and Epsom salts (about 8 oz. of Epsom salts per 1/2 gallon of water). The Epsom salts will remove the sulfur from the lead plates as the battery charges. Complete the charging process in the usual manner (Steps 1-3).
Tags: Epsom salts, golf cart, golf cart, last longer, acid batteries