Golf carts are used for more than just teeing off and chasing that birdie. Your customers might use these carts around their gated communities, within a huge business complex or around a government institution. Regardless of the golf cart’s location, it always needs a reliable battery.
These deep-cycle batteries have certain features that are inherent to the design. They can last for many charging cycles without much difference to its performance. However, golf-cart batteries inevitably decline with use. If you’re wondering where the power has gone, learn more about golf-cart batteries and when they require replacement.
1. Short Trips are the Rule Now
The average golf cart isn’t designed for long hauls (unlike cars). However, a quality battery will give any cart about seven miles of uninterrupted power. This estimation is entirely consistent over hundreds of charges and discharges. The reasons why deep-cycle batteries have these reliable charges is because of key, internal factors that include:
- Thick, internal plates for complete discharges with each ride
- Extra, reserve capacity within the battery cells
When the plates decline and battery cells break down, your seven-mile distance will be significantly shortened. The voltage may seem to hold if you test the battery, but the performance truly reflects a declining battery.
If your customers complain of shortened trips, test the battery with a load. Placing ordinary strain on the cells will give you a more accurate look at the battery’s operational strength. Isolating the battery with just a multimeter might give you a solid reading, which is deceptive to everyone involved with the repair.
Your best bet is to replace the battery if there’s any question about power output. Ask the customer to document the distance traveled until the battery discharges. In most cases, the old battery was simply on its last legs.
2. No More Hill Climbs
Acceleration is possible when you have a good battery attached to your golf cart. This power is necessary for those inclines and hills that are encountered every day. The cart relies on the battery for much of its power. You might have a mixture of electric or gas-powered carts, but every model needs some battery for startup and acceleration processes.
As a driver treks up the latest hill, the acceleration may struggle. It may feel like the cart is practically crawling along at a snail’s pace. Your problem resides in the battery. It’s possibly experiencing these issues, such as:
- Bad cells growing in number
- Low voltage even after charging
New, golf-cart batteries have some surging power when the vehicle requires it on an incline. Don’t expect this surge to kick in when the battery is old, damaged or been in storage during the off season.
Remain observant when it comes to cart operations. Each driver should be familiar with the acceleration power attributed to every cart. Subtle changes occur at first. You don’t want to be halfway up a hill when the cart instantly stops in its tracks. Swap out the battery well before this scenario occurs.
3. Battery is Visually Declining
Golf-cart batteries are also known as deep-cycle or lead-acid designs. Although there are many different types of batteries in the marketplace today, this particular style is still a go-to choice for cart engineers. The lead-acid battery is reliable, long lasting and inexpensive.
However, it does have a drawback. The chemicals within the battery that make charging and discharging possible are fluid. Once these chemicals break down or release from the battery’s housing altogether, it cannot be restored.
Look for these features on your battery if you’re having problems with power, including:
- Cracked housing
- Obvious liquid dripping from the battery
- Bulging housing
If you notice any damage to a golf-cart battery, it’s important to immediately remove it. Charging damaged batteries creates a mess within the cart, which can lead to expensive repairs. Buying a new battery will always be more cost effective compared to using a damaged one.
Our team at Northeast Battery is proud to serve your needs in the power industry. We welcome your questions so that everyone understands their battery just a little bit better than before. When you face any of these top three signs in the future, you’ll know immediately that a replacement job is on the horizon.