Battery Care Tip Sheet

If you have ever had to purchase batteries for your golf car, then you know how pricey they can be. It is our goal to educate our customers so that you can maintain your batteries in good condition for as long as possible. Please read through the following tips to keep your batteries in tip-top shape. 

DAILY CARE

Plug in your car at the end of a full day's use. That way it will be fully charged when you are ready to go again! You will not overcharge your batteries as chargers are designed to turn off once the battery pack is fully charged. 

Use only a charger designed for your golf/utility car.

ONCE A MONTH BATTERY CARE   (DURING HEAVY-USE MONTHS)

Spray a solution of water mixed with baking soda on the top of the batteries. The baking soda will neutralize any acid residue so you will not burn your skin or clothing. 

Check for appropriate water level in battery. Maintaining the proper electrolyte level can extend the performance and life of your battery.
One of the biggest problems we see is when folks forget to check the water level in each cell of each battery. Once the cell goes completely dry -- it really diminishes the performance of the battery. Most manufacturers recommend that you fill up to just below the bottom of the  filler-neck. It is best to use distilled water,

Clean the battery terminals with a damp cloth or soft wire brush. You can use a hose to spray off the tops of the batteries, and all around the battery area, in order to clean off any mud or dust. 

Secure each battery wire snugly to the battery terminal. Make sure connection is tightened enough to be secure. Not too tight or too loose, just snug.  A loose battery cable can cause a battery terminal melt-down. This is a potentially dangerous situation as a fire could start.

Replace battery cables when necessary. If you notice any fraying battery wires or rotting wire connectors, replace those promptly. A poor connection can cause drainage on battery and loss of power. It's much cheaper to replace a battery cable than a whole battery, so keep an eye on them.

OVER-THE-WINTER BATTERY CARE

Do not allow batteries to freeze. According to the manufacturers, a fully charged battery will not freeze in winter temperatures unless the temp falls below -75 degrees F. (-60 degrees C)  So, it is important to keep our batteries fully charged even during the winter months, which are typically the off-use months for most of us. The ideal way to do this is to plug in our cart at least once every 30 days throughout the winter. All batteries will self-discharge over time, and they discharge faster in cold temps. Do not assume that you can just leave the charger plugged in all winter long as with many older chargers (and some new ones), once it shuts off, it will not turn on again unless it is un-plugged and re-plugged. So, the best course of action is to mark your calendar for a certain date each month -- and plug the car in again.

These are tips for maintaining your batteries in your electric cart. We hope you find these helpful. Golf Car City offers these tips as a source of helpful information, not as an all-inclusive battery maintenance chart. If you have more specific questions, check with the manufacturer of your batteries. Golf Car City is not responsible for the maintenance of your batteries and is in no way liable for how you choose to use and care for your batteries and electric car system.