DEEP CYCLE GOLF CART BATTERY INFORMATION.

---

 The golf cart batteries in your beloved  golf cart are the nerve centers in which your all important work and play activities depend on. Think about it, your golf cart can take you easily through your go-to 18 hole golf course, to your buddy’s football tailgate party and across acres of land for a day of work or play. With that said, you need to have confidence that your electric golf cart can conquer these activities with no battery issues. The key to achieving that confidence begins with understanding your batteries and how to properly maintain, charge and clean them. Our goal is for you to walk away with solid answers to your battery questions so you can drive away to your next activity.  

Charging your golf cart batteries properly is absolutely necessary for optimal battery performance and longevity. We want you to get the most out of your golf cart and part of that process involves a safe, proper and full charge. Here are some tips on how to charge a deep cycle battery:

• Familiarize yourself with your battery charger manual
• Recharge your batteries after it drops 70% .
• Inspect your charger connections; make sure they are free of debris/dirt and wire fraying
• Charge your batteries in a well ventilated area
• Check to make sure the lead plates are submersed in water (see battery watering section)
• Do  add water to the correct level before charging.
• Make sure all vent caps are tight
• Make sure the charger connector is firmly connected to receptacle

Let's begin by providing some important background information regarding your deep cycle batteries. First of all, the batteries found in your electric golf cart are not the same as ones found in your car although they look the same. They couldn’t be more different. The correct term for the batteries found in your golf cart or utility vehicle are deep cycle batteries. Below are some facts about deep cycle batteries: 

• Also known as a “flooded” batteries or “wet” batteries
• Deep cycle batteries are not maintenance free
• Contains electrolytes made up of a lead acid and water solution
• Produce an electrical current for long periods of time
• Require routine maintenance (watering and cleaning) to prolong battery life
• Will consume a considerable about of water over their lifespan

 The batteries found in your car are known as shallow cycle batteries (SLI) and produce a high current of electricity for a short period of time. For instance, starting you car requires a shallow cycle battery. Do not replace the batteries in your electric golf cart with SLI batteries. Currently  36V and 48V electric golf carts use 6 volt, 8 volt and 12 volt golf cart batteries. Currently we recommend the use of Exide, Crown, US and Trojan deep cycle batteries which are also compatible with our current line of 36V and 48V golf cart chargers 

 So, a normal battery charger can't be used to charge an absorbent glass mat battery. Most of the AGM battery chargers are equipped with microprocessors that collect information from the power cell to see its current charge status and to adjust the voltage and current accordingly 

AGM batteries do NOT require a special charger. However, LIKE ANY OTHER BATTERY, it will benefit from the ministrations of a quality "smart" charger. A regular ol' constant voltage charger, such as you'd buy at the local auto parts store, feeds out power at around 12.7v (some are 12.6v, and some are 12.8v). 

AGM is maintenance free, provides good electrical reliability and is lighter than the flooded lead-acid type. It stands up well to low temperatures and has a low self-discharge. The leading advantages are a charge that is up to five times faster than the flooded version, and the ability to deep cycle. 

14.2 volts

The peak charging voltage for Gel batteries is 2.3 to 2.36 volts per cell, and for a 12 volt charger this works out to 13.8 to 14.2 volts, which is lower than a wet or AGM type battery needs for a full charge.

 We can generally say an AGM battery can last two to three times as long as a flooded battery. In the commuter car example we referenced, if a flooded battery lasts three to five years, an AGM battery could last six to ten years or longer 

 While regular lead acid batteries need a topping charge every six months to prevent the buildup of sulfation, AGM batteries are less prone to sulfation and can sit in storage for longer before a charge becomes necessary. The battery stands up well to low temperatures and has a low self-discharge.