36v powerwise promblem

[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 ...

[GThomp]

Any more thought on going from 6 6v batteries to 3 12v ones

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by 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 ...

This didn't cover it?

[rabbitreborn]

Originally Posted by GThomp

Any more thought on going from 6 6v batteries to 3 12v ones

here's my thought.....

If you have disposable income and want to wire in 2 Marine grade 12v batteries into the cart and don't mind replacing them every 2-3 months, go for it.... As Scotty said, if you want to do it for testing, that's fine and dandy, but don't expect to actually drive it for any length of time on them, they simply weren't designed for that purpose....... Oh and don't buy those Marine grade batteries at Wally World... they track returns and after the 3rd set, they will stop honoring the warranty......