Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

Not too long ago, there was a post about battery acid on the garage floor. This got me curious as to what was the correct way to maintain golf cart batteries. Found this article and thought some of you might be interested:

http://www.golfprohelp.com/Articles/..._Batteries.asp

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

Thanks for the info...I made two mistakes the day I got to TV.

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

I believe you are speaking of the below post I made several weeks ago. It give you some ideas on how to maintain your cart battery.

The following is taken out of a website that talks about proper battery watering. I was told to water my batteries in the morning after they have been fully charged to make sure they are not overfilled.


Adding water to a battery is not like adding gasoline to an engine. It's more complicated and has the potential to kill the industrial vehicle—or at least the power source—if not done correctly.

It's tough to talk about battery maintenance without getting into the science of these complicated electro-chemical beasts. Properly maintained, industrial batteries are cost-effective workhorses that should last as long as five years. Electrolyte level in a battery rises and falls—much like the tides—in response to the state of its charge. If a battery is overfilled, then charged, electrolyte will rise to dangerous levels. Batteries on chargers produce hydrogen and oxygen gases as a byproduct of the electrolysis process. For overfilled batteries, explosions can happen, along with acid spray.

"When you're using the battery," explains Harold Vanasse, senior vice president, Philadelphia Scientific (Philadelphia), a battery accessory and component supplier, "the electrolyte level is at its lowest because acid has moved into the plates. As you charge the battery, gas is produced on the plates and drives the acid out, causing the electrolyte level to slowly rise."

The message here is to not to fill a battery to the top. When a battery is put on the charger, the expanding acid-laden water can overflow. The industry term is "boil over." Boil over puts sulfuric acid onto the case of the battery as well as the lift truck, floors, racks and people if they are near by.

"The other thing about boil over that's important to know," says Vanasse, "is that some of the sulfates are washed out each time there is boil over. You need sulfates to maintain the capacity of the battery."

Vanasse estimates that for every boil over, the battery loses three percent of its capacity. Those boil overs can add up and impact the running time of the battery.

Battery maintenance experts recom-mend watering batteries on a fixed schedule, depending on the age of the battery. Watering is done typically once a week. The key is to monitor the electrolyte level. It's still not uncommon to find companies filling the batteries when they remember to do it—in spite of what all the battery manufacturers tell them. Hand-watering procedures in some plants (an estimated 70% of the batteries are filled by hand), might consist of an employee with a flashlight looking at water levels, then replenishing with water from a hose or a soda bottle, says Vanasse.

QUESTION
 

OK say I overfilled the battery....how do I take the water out of the cell of the battery that I put too much water in ..or do I leave it alone!!

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

Back in the days that car batteries had to be filled, I remember using a turkey baster to add and remove as needed.

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

I have a battery checker (looks like a very small turkey baster with different colored balls in it) you draw water out of the cells to tell you the state of the charge in each cell, I use this to move water from one cell to another. You can buy one at an auto parts store.....GN

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

golfnut, what do the different balls do? indicate the charge level?

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

:redface:





;D

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

John, you are correct the number of balls floating indicate the charge level. I use it to try to determine if I have a cell going bad in one of the batteries.

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

thanks Red

Probably the best instructions on battery maintenance I've seen ......

fumar

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

How about the Gel Batt. no maint as they do not have H20
I see GEM NEV has them and are also in air planes will they work in Golf Cars?

Da Sgt

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

Sgt Mac, they're advertised for golf carts, but I've no experience in them

http://www.ebatteriestogo.com/Trojan..._Batteries.htm

Re: Golf Cart Battery Maintenance
 

Thanks,
Maybe they are (Gel Batts.) the way to go ie no maint long life ?
Da Sgt