How To Test Your Batteries

[ToyoDieHard]

What is the best way to test my carts batteries and how do you do it?

Believe I have a bad battery that is drawing down the other batteries when my cart sits for several days without use.

[Gorhad]

What voltage cart do you have and then we can go from there

[cheapjeep2]

Originally Posted by ToyoDieHard

What is the best way to test my carts batteries and how do you do it?

Believe I have a bad battery that is drawing down the other batteries when my cart sits for several days without use.

Do you have a voltmeter? If not, then you need to get one before proceeding.

This is by no means a 100% fool proof method but will get you pretty close short of having an actual battery load tester.

1. Charge your batteries till complete and let the batteries rest. Reference this chart. Take measurements and get a base line. Write the readings down so you can reference. Take individual batt. readings and the over all pack.

2. Jack the cart up and put it on jack stands so the rear wheels are off the ground.

3. Pull the seat off and set aside.

4. Connect the voltmeter to the entire pack. With the key on and the holding the brakes FIRMLY. Press the throttle for a few seconds, the motor will not turn because of the the brakes and will simulate a full load. Make note of the voltage drop on the pack.

5. Then repeat step four, for each individual battery, if you note one or two that fall well below the others... Then that's a 95% chance that's your bad battery/s. If you find one that is bad and your pack is older than say 3 years it's better to replace the entire pack.

I've done this many times and it's been successful each time, just don't hold the throttle down more than 8 seconds or so, so you don't overheat anything.

[OLD MEC]

The way I have checked battery condition for over 65 years is by using a hydrometer ( NOT MULTI FLOAT ) with temp correcting scale. Check against rate of charge chart in STICKYS. The only draw back is that this test is that after adding needed water and fully charging to mix water and acid and waiting ONE HOUR.
One strange thing I have found with Club Car carts is numbers 5 and 6 ( under driver side ) seem to go first for an unknown reason?

[ToyoDieHard]

It's a 48 Volt cart

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by OLD MEC

One strange thing I have found with Club Car carts is numbers 5 and 6 ( under driver side ) seem to go first for an unknown reason?

12v accessories connected to 5 and 6, e.g., lights, radio, etc?

[OLD MEC]

Accessory draw from part of battery pack could be shortening battery life IF #5 and 6 ARE BAD FIRST? Many carts show # 5 and 6 bad first even when draw is from full pack 1-6 48 volt etc.