Battery breakdown for newbie please...

gsujeff55 · 10-08-2008, 12:52 PM

Alright, I've searched and can't really find what I'm looking for, so I'm hoping the resident battery gurus can help me out.

I'm completely new to electric golf carts and want to gain as much knowledge as I can, as fast as I can so as to not F up my cart.

What are the do's and don'ts when it comes to batteries and charging? some people say to charge when you have run the cart for a good while, some say to charge everytime you take it for a spin, even a short one. What is REALLY RIGHT?

what do I need to know about other maintenance on the batteries? what should I check for, what should the voltage be, what's this I hear about watering? I know nothing about batteries except how to jump one off in my truck or charge a 12v in my boat. I don't know even know the science behind how the things work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated guys. Thanks in advance!

roady89 · 10-08-2008, 03:07 PM

Trojan battery suggest's to plug it in after each use.....some individuals will tell you not too. Who would you listen to?

As for watering, read the stickies at the top of the forum.

gsujeff55 · 10-08-2008, 03:21 PM

ok, read the battery sticky. I had read that already, but somehow missed the charging section. anyway, what exactly is 80%(in volts) of the battery pack's life? where should I check the voltage to get the whole pack's reading? to check for water level, i just pull off the white top on the trojan battery?

thanks again

Andy4639 · 10-08-2008, 04:43 PM

To check pack voltage use the charger plug connection. A new set of batteries should read in the low 40's= 42 volts or so. You can follow the two leads from the connection back to each battery that it goes to and check their as well.
Take the caps off and keep the water level right above the plates in each hole. If you ride the cart for more than 20 minutes I would charge it.

gornoman · 10-08-2008, 04:44 PM

There is some great info on the Trojan Battery website:

http://www.trojanbattery.com/Battery...e/Testing.aspx

gsujeff55 · 10-08-2008, 07:08 PM

so that is all that is in the batteries is distilled water? just dump it right in the top?

gornoman · 10-08-2008, 07:17 PM

The distilled water is there to keep the electrolyte is suspension so the plates can interact with it properly. Too much water and the electrolyte gets dilluted. Too little water and the elyte gets too strong. It's a chemistry balancing act.

gsujeff55 · 10-08-2008, 07:36 PM

i see....makes more sense now. thanks for the explaination. btw, your cart is beautiful...all the black accents are starting to make me wish i didn't opt for a black cart!

gornoman · 10-08-2008, 07:42 PM

Thank you.

10-08-2008, 12:52 PM	#1
gsujeff55 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kingsland, GA Posts: 10	Battery breakdown for newbie please... Alright, I've searched and can't really find what I'm looking for, so I'm hoping the resident battery gurus can help me out. I'm completely new to electric golf carts and want to gain as much knowledge as I can, as fast as I can so as to not F up my cart. What are the do's and don'ts when it comes to batteries and charging? some people say to charge when you have run the cart for a good while, some say to charge everytime you take it for a spin, even a short one. What is REALLY RIGHT? what do I need to know about other maintenance on the batteries? what should I check for, what should the voltage be, what's this I hear about watering? I know nothing about batteries except how to jump one off in my truck or charge a 12v in my boat. I don't know even know the science behind how the things work. Any help would be greatly appreciated guys. Thanks in advance!

10-08-2008, 03:07 PM	#2
roady89 nimda Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 13,022	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... Trojan battery suggest's to plug it in after each use.....some individuals will tell you not too. Who would you listen to? As for watering, read the stickies at the top of the forum.
roady89 nimda Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 13,022

10-08-2008, 03:21 PM	#3
gsujeff55 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kingsland, GA Posts: 10	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... ok, read the battery sticky. I had read that already, but somehow missed the charging section. anyway, what exactly is 80%(in volts) of the battery pack's life? where should I check the voltage to get the whole pack's reading? to check for water level, i just pull off the white top on the trojan battery? thanks again

10-08-2008, 04:43 PM	#4
Andy4639 48/400/Alltrax HS motor Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Liberty SC, Garden City SC Posts: 6,190	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... To check pack voltage use the charger plug connection. A new set of batteries should read in the low 40's= 42 volts or so. You can follow the two leads from the connection back to each battery that it goes to and check their as well. Take the caps off and keep the water level right above the plates in each hole. If you ride the cart for more than 20 minutes I would charge it.

10-08-2008, 04:44 PM	#5
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,286	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... There is some great info on the Trojan Battery website: http://www.trojanbattery.com/Battery...e/Testing.aspx

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10-08-2008, 07:08 PM	#6
gsujeff55 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kingsland, GA Posts: 10	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... so that is all that is in the batteries is distilled water? just dump it right in the top?

10-08-2008, 07:17 PM	#7
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,286	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... The distilled water is there to keep the electrolyte is suspension so the plates can interact with it properly. Too much water and the electrolyte gets dilluted. Too little water and the elyte gets too strong. It's a chemistry balancing act.

10-08-2008, 07:36 PM	#8
gsujeff55 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kingsland, GA Posts: 10	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... i see....makes more sense now. thanks for the explaination. btw, your cart is beautiful...all the black accents are starting to make me wish i didn't opt for a black cart!

10-08-2008, 07:42 PM	#9
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,286	Re: Battery breakdown for newbie please... Thank you.

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