Golf Cart Battery: Charger, Powered, Operated, 6 Volt, Interstate Golf Cart Batteries

There are few things worse than being out golfing, and midway through the course finding that the golf cart's batteries have died. Possibly even worse, a person might find out that their golf cart is not capable of holding a charge for an entire game, even when recharged immediately beforehand. That person would have to then purchase a new golf cart battery, and be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of different golf cart batteries. Just as there are many types of golf carts, there are actually several different kinds of golf cart batteries.

When looking for a golf cart battery, there are a few things that consumers need to know. For instance, there are a few different voltages that a golf cart battery can come in, from a hefty 12 volts to the more reasonable 6 volts. It's important to make sure that the golf cart battery matches both the voltage of the cart and the battery charger. Another factor to keep in mind is that chargers, especially old chargers, do not stop charging when the battery is fully powered, and can destroy or severely deteriorate the battery if it is over-charged. While many new chargers can shut off automatically before over-charging, not all do. As a result, it's important to be careful with any new or unfamiliar golf cart battery chargers by turning them off before over-charging and damaging the golf cart battery.

While it is harmful to overcharge a golf cart battery, it is even worse to let it go completely dead. When golf cart batteries are said to be deep cycle, it means that they are meant to be able to be recharged again and again after getting down to only 20% of their normal charge. A golf cart battery usually advertises a given number of cycles that it can be recharged at before it deteriorates. The number of cycles is dependent on how much charge is taken out of the battery on average before charging again. Generally, a golf cart battery will last longer if it is put in a charger every time it gets down to about half power.

There are a few other major considerations to take into account when purchasing or maintaining a golf cart battery. If the optimal use-recharge cycle is to recharge when the golf cart battery is at 50% charge, then it is useful to look at how long the golf cart battery would typically be used for, and almost double it to find the optimal longevity of the battery needed. Of course, a battery might have numbers for running time at a different ampage than a particular golf cart might be operated at, and so figures must be adjusted accordingly.

When maintaining a golf cart battery, there are just a few things to remember. If the battery is not sealed, then it is necessary to keep the water level up, adding extra distilled water as necessary. Also, it is a good idea to wash with baking soda and water the contacts of the battery, making sure that they are clean. Finally, it is good to follow any other manufacturer's instructions on proper care of a golf cart battery.

Purchasing and maintaining a golf cart battery might seem intimidating, but there are really only a few things to remember. First of all, trying to keep the battery at high charge will make it last much longer. That being said, care must be taken to not overcharge a golf cart battery. Regular cleaning of the battery, and in many cases the topping off of water in the golf cart battery, are also essential. Finally, reading the manufacturer's instructions will give details on the maintenance of the particular battery one buys.


Sources:
"Deep Cycle Battery FAQ." Northern Arizona Wind & Sun. 1998. 17 Aug. 2007. http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm
"Golf Cart Batteries." YourGolfCartBatteries.com. 2006-2007. 17 Aug. 2007. http://www.yourgolfcartbatteries.com/

MacKenzie, Ken. "How to Maintain Your Golf Cart's Batteries." Buzzle.com. 9 May 2007. 17 Aug. 2007. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-maintain-gol f-carts-batteries.html