Caring for your Electric Cart
Only add distilled water BEFORE fully charging your battery. The only time you should add water before charging is if the lead plates are exposed. Then fill just above the lead plates. It is important to fill all battery cells properly to obtain good battery life. The water should completely cover the plates inside the battery, and should be about a quarter inch below the top of the fill tube. Using a battery fill bottle will eliminate the guess work. Use only distilled, deionized or demineralized water to replace the lost water in batteries. Using tap water can produce calcium or magnesium sulfate crystals that can fill the pores and coat the plates therefore reducing battery life
Charging your batteries
Charge the batteries daily after each use, or as needed according to your gauge.
Before you plug in the golf cart battery charger, inspect all battery cables for frays or corrosion and make sure the terminals are clean and tight.
Cleaning your batteries
Always neutralize the battery acid first before rinsing of with water. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water or get some battery acid cleaner from an auto parts store. Cleaning your batteries once a month is a good practice. When you minimize corrosion to the electrical system, battery life can be increased and properly maintained batteries can last as long as 5 years. Let the cleaner set for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off with clean water.
Be careful not to spray water directly into electrical components. Use caution your speed controller is close to the batteries. NEVER USE A PRESSURE WASHER TO CLEAN YOUR BATTERIES
After rinsing if there is still deposits of battery acid spray again with the baking soda solution or cleaner and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before rinsing; repeat if required. These deposits on the batteries must be removed because they can cause your golf cart batteries to self discharge (the batteries voltage flows out of battery - like leaving your car lights on when the engine is off) . If there is still evidence of corrosion please call me.
Winterizing
TO PREVENT YOUR BATTERIES FROM FREEZING YOU MUST DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Keep your cart in a heated area
- Remove your batteries and store them in a heated area
- Charge your battery twice a month
- Use a battery charger
- Use a trickle charger
How to tell the voltage your batteries are
The easiest way to tell is to examine the number of fill holes (where you add the distilled water).
| 6 volt battery | = | 3 holes |
| 8 volt battery | = | 4 hole |
| 12 volt battery | = | 6 hole |
How to tell the voltage of your system
| 36 volt system | = | 6, 6 volt batteries | 6x6=36 |
| 48 volt system | = | 6, 8 volt batteries | 6x8=48 |
| 72 volt system | = | 6, 12 volt batteries | 6x12=72 |