Batteries

ryan_84

HI guys just had a thought why couldn't you use 3x 12v car batteries?

Instead of 6x6V batteries to make up your 36V?

BGW

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scottyb

3/12v = 36v?
Or can I use 3 12v batteries in my 36v golf cart?
You can use 3/12v batteries in series to create a 36v power supply. However this supply will be lacking in amperage capacity and deep cycle ability. The result will be poor run time and shortened battery lifetime.
The batteries used in your cart should be golf cart specific batteries.
Golf cart batteries are designed to hold a large amount of amperage and to be discharged relatively low over a long period of time.
Automotive batteries do not store as much amperage and are designed for shallow discharge and immediate recharge. Like starting a car and having the alternator immediately begin recharging.
Battery construction differs and plate thickness and count per cell varies with regard to discharge characteristics and designed usage. The thinner plates of automotive or marine batteries give up their amperage much quicker than Golf cart batteries.
You can connect 3 automotive 12v batteries in series and get 36v. You will not have the same amperage reserve or operational characteristics needed to make the batteries perform well or last satisfactorily in a golf cart.
But, it will work for testing or short run usage...
I hope this helps ...

ryan_84

Cheers ScottyB for the in depth question much appreciated.

simple man

Right now I'm using( 3 ) 12V marine deep cycle batteries in mine. This is only temporary until I do my upgrade. I don't get the range that the Trojans gave. Like " Scotty " said, you'd be better off with dedicated golf cart batteries! They cost more to begin with, but last much longer and provide much longer ranges than other types of batteries do!

ryan_84

Only reason i was thinking was more room with less batteries hehe.

ryan_84

Hey guys was wondering how long you should get out of a full charge?

My dad and i have done 3 x 18 holes (golf) and when i teatsed the batteries with a volt meter it read 36.1V.

JohnnieB

Depends on your battery's storage capacity, the efficiency of your cart, your driving habits, the terrain and which way the wind is blowing, just to name a few of the variables, but with a relatively new set of properly broken in T-105's, you might get upwards of two hours of wide open throttle time on level ground.

From the battery life expectancy aspect, you are killing your batteries at a very fast rate by discharging the so deeply.
At 36.1V, your batteries are over 50% discharged, which should never, ever be done.

A Golf Cart is designed to carry two golfers and two sets of golf clubs over groomed golf cart trails for 18 holes and then be recharged.

Golf Cart batteries only have a limited number of charge cycles designed into them and 18 holes before recharging uses one charge cycle.
If you play 36 holes before recharging, you use up 3 charge cycles rather than just 2.

I have no idea how many charge cycles are used when you go 54 holes before recharging, but the number used is exponentially higher.

Here's a chart showing Average State of Charge vs Theoretical Life Expectancy

Attached Images

SoC vs Theoretical Charge cycles with Voltages.JPG (119.3 KB, 10 views)