Golf Cart Battery Testing
Along with battery water and charging, regular testing of your golf cart battery is important in making sure it’s performing at its peak level. There are two different ways to test your golf cart battery:
- An Open Circuit Voltage Test
An open circuit voltage test’s accuracy relies on the battery having been idle for 24 hours, or at least six hours. In order to conduct this test, you will need a DC voltmeter. To begin this type of golf cart battery test, first disconnect the battery from all loads to reduce the chance of a shock. Then, use the DC voltmeter to determine the voltage, and compare with the table below. If the golf cart battery measures 70% charged or less, then charge it. However, if it is below the values listed in the table, then the battery may have been left discharged for too long, or it may have a bad cell. In either of these cases, it is strongly recommended to take the battery to the experts at Fairway Golf Carts to figure out what, if anything, can be done to revive it.
% of Charge |
Specific Gravity Correlated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit |
Six volt |
Eight volt |
Twelve volt |
Twenty-four volt |
Thirty-six volt |
Forty-eight volt |
100 |
1.277 |
6.37 |
8.49 |
12.73 |
25.46 |
38.20 |
50.93 |
90 |
1.258 |
6.31 |
8.41 |
12.62 |
25.24 |
37.85 |
50.47 |
80 |
1.238 |
6.25 |
8.33 |
12.50 |
25.00 |
37.49 |
49.99 |
70 |
1.217 |
6.19 |
8.25 |
12.37 |
24.74 |
37.12 |
49.49 |
60 |
1.195 |
6.12 |
8.16 |
12.24 |
24.48 |
36.72 |
48.96 |
50 |
1.172 |
6.05 |
8.07 |
12.10 |
24.20 |
36.31 |
48.41 |
40 |
1.148 |
5.98 |
7.97 |
11.96 |
23.92 |
35.87 |
47.83 |
30 |
1.124 |
5.91 |
7.88 |
11.81 |
23.63 |
35.44 |
47.26 |
20 |
1.098 |
5.83 |
7.77 |
11.66 |
23.32 |
34.97 |
46.63 |
10 |
1.073 |
5.75 |
7.67 |
11.51 |
23.02 |
34.52 |
46.03 |
The first step in the specific gravity test for golf cart batteries is to fill and drain the hydrometer two to four times. Before taking a reading, be sure there is enough sample electrolyte to hold up the float entirely. Once you have pulled the sample, check and record the reading. Follow the same process to check all the cells in the golf cart battery. Once you have finished reading and recording all the cells, return the vent caps to their original position, making sure they are tightly screwed and that any spilled electrolyte solution is wiped up. Correct the readings from each cell to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, adding .004 for every ten degrees above 80 and subtracting .004 for every ten degrees below 80. Then, compare the readings and, using the table above, check the state of charge.
If the readings are below 1.270-1.284, then completely charge the batteries again and re-check the gravity readings. If they are still low, then check the voltage levels, perform an equalization charge, and take the readings a third time. If, after this last reading, the levels are still low then the golf cart battery has one or more of the following conditions:
- It is old
- It has been left uncharged for too long
- The electrolyte solution has been lost because it spilled or overflowed
- One of the cells is becoming weak or bad
- Battery was watered too much prior to testing
If the battery meets any or all of the first four conditions, it is recommended that you take the golf cart battery to the specialists at Fairway Golf Carts to have it checked and evaluated. Call or e-mail us today for more information.
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