Water overflows from batteries

[jonequest]

I have had a problem since I first got my cart. The water in my batteries always seems to bubble out through the caps and ends up dripping down the side of the batteries and rotting out the battery tray. I am on my second new battery tray in about 4 years and this one is starting to corrode badly as well and it is only 6 months old. I fill the batteries to a little below touching the plastic that goes down into the cells so I don't think I am overfilling them am I? I am not sure what to do about this. I worry if I keep the water lower it will be dangerous for my batteries since the bubbling will still cause seepage too. Any suggestions?

I have a 2004 EZGO with 48 volts and I use an LVS brand charger.

[yamahaguy97]

hey,

They should be filled just a little bit above the lead plates. some people do fill them completely up but its not right/needed. Now, as for the boiling over part and pouring down the side of the batteries...the charger seems to be putting out a lot, maybe too much and overdoing it. bubbling is normal during the charging process, but boiling a lot to the point it pours down the batteries is not . It sounds either like your batteries are bad, or the charger is bad.

Honestly though, every month or so, rinse your batteries down and throw in some baking soda and you will find that your tray won't need to be replaced so quickly.


steve

[yamahaguy97]

and if you really wan't the tray to last longer, get yourself an aluminum one

[Volt_Ampere]

Always fill AFTER charging. The level goes up during charge. Clean often

[Golf cart guy]

Single gang cap-or single caps?

Single caps are the best for keeping the fluid in. If your batteries are not on there way out, chances can be it just the cap.

[jonequest]

I have an aluminum tray now but it is starting corrode too. I actually regret getting an aluminum tray since I can't weld it as easily when it rots out in spots.

I have the gang cap style with a handle that turns 4 at a time to open them. They definitely don't seem to be very watertight at all. I also noticed that my cart is not as fast as it used to be. The batteries are about 4 years old now if I remember right. Since electrolyte has slowly seeped out and been replaced by distilled water should I check the acid PH of the batteries? The distilled water gets turned into acid as the battery gets charged right?

[Golf cart guy]

So old batteries and crappy caps- double wammy

[jonequest]

Originally Posted by Golf cart guy

So old batteries and crappy caps- double wammy

I guess so. They are US Battery brand and have always been kept with plenty of water. I have tried to take care of them so they never got low.

[jonequest]

Since I seem to have overfilled them slightly by adding water before charging sometimes, and have obviously lost some electrolyte is there a way to get the acid percentage level right again?

[Golf cart guy]

Originally Posted by jonequest

Since I seem to have overfilled them slightly by adding water before charging sometimes, and have obviously lost some electrolyte is there a way to get the acid percentage level right again?

Don't bother. Bite the bullet, get yourself some batteries