Important Considerations to Keep in Mind When Choosing Golf Cart Batteries
While golf cart batteries operate in a similar fashion as a car battery, the requirements and standards involved are far different. That is just one of the reasons why you will rarely find drivers trying to fit a golf cart battery into their regular car – although it can be a good temporary option as a lightweight, deep cycle alternative. However, if you’re looking for a good golf cart battery, it’s important to keep in mind a few major considerations regarding size, power, voltage and the standards used by each particular brand of golf carts. Failure to do so might mean that you’ve spent your money on a battery that wasn’t meant to work on your cart. Learn more about which battery is right for your vehicle.
How Do Golf Carts Operate?
Golf carts operate on a series of golf cart batteries that, together, are designed to supply an adequate voltage and amperage for the cart’s power requirements. As a result, the size, standard and construction of your replacement batteries will all be important to consider when buying new ones. Golf carts typically operate on 36V or 48V standards, and require a combination of multiple batteries in order to work properly.
Advance Auto Parts stores offer free battery testing and installation*.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Golf Cart Battery
If you want to choose the best golf cart batteries on the market, start by looking for the right voltage. Typically, it’s best to follow the guidelines in your manual in this regard. When it comes to capacity, you will need to calculate the optimal amperage for a parallel connection between the right combination of batteries. A parallel connection will increase the amperage, not the voltage. Finally, keeping in mind the required voltage or capacity, make sure you get the best model and brand available. If you can’t find the right capacity, look for similar batteries, but make sure you get the minimum capacity that your golf cart requires.
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Typical Battery Types to Choose from
When it comes to getting these types of battery, it’s essential to know from the start that you don’t just get a single golf cart battery. Instead, for powering your golf cart you might need a combination of 6V, 8V and 12V batteries; so plan accordingly. You have to remember, first of all, to maintain that standard. For instance, if you own a 48V golf cart that features a combination of 6V and 8V batteries, it’s important to use that combination when finding replacements, and not to try to upgrade to a 12V set of batteries. Also, make sure you factor in for all the most essential details such as whether or not your golf cart requires deep cycle batteries, and whether you’d rather prefer to focus on higher recharge rates or better longevity. When it's time to purchase, learn why you should choose a DieHard battery.
Old vs. New Cart Batteries
Before buying any types of golf cart batteries, be sure that the unit you’re looking into is as new as possible. This is because these types of batteries perform the best if they’re not older than 6 months. Most manufacturers will have a label showing a code that represents the age of the battery. Other companies also add the actual date when the battery was manufactured, placing it somewhere close to the terminals. If a battery has the code J17, you’ll know that the letter represents the month and the number that follows represents the year – in this case, October 2017. Depending on how old they are, you’ll know whether or not it’s worth spending money on those particular golf cart batteries.
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*Car battery testing and installation available on most automotive vehicles, at most locations, unless prohibited by law.
