Golf Cart Batteries

At first glance, a golf cart battery might look like the one you have under the hood of your car.

Still, that doesn’t mean you can use them interchangeably.

Golf cart batteries are very different on the inside, in so many ways you can’t tell just by looking at them.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about golf cart batteries.

By the end, you’ll understand what makes them different, and you’ll learn how to choose the best one to suit your needs.

Let’s get started.

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What are Golf Cart Batteries?

The batteries that you find on golf carts are rechargeable deep-cycle batteries.

Their purpose is to supply a continuous electrical charge to the cart’s motors to keep them powered and get you to wherever you need to go.

One important trait that sets them apart from other batteries (like the one in your car) is that they’re deep-cycle batteries.

That means a golf cart battery will have no problems sustaining a current draw over an extended period.

Plus, it won’t have a problem with deep discharging, i.e., if you drain most of the battery’s capacity.

That’s very different from other vehicle batteries.

For example, the battery in your car is a starter or cranking battery that delivers a short but intense burst of electricity to start the engine.

As you can see, starter batteries work differently compared to deep-cycle ones.

When you go shopping for golf cart batteries, you’ll find them available in 6, 8, and 12 volt configurations for standard lead acid type batteries.

Some newer lithium ion type batteries are found in even higher voltages such as 24, 36, and 48 volt versions.

Still, you can also wire multiple batteries together in series to provide whatever voltage your golf cart might require.

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What Kinds of Golf Cart Batteries are Best?

There are 4 different kinds of golf cart batteries that you can buy, each with its own pros and cons.

You can find out which one is best by seeing which batteries match your needs the closest.

The four main types of golf cart batteries are:

Flooded Lead Acid (FLA) batteries: These batteries have been around the longest. They’re some of the most affordable ones, but they require regular inspection and maintenance.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries: AGM batteries are maintenance-free and last longer than FLA batteries. Plus, they’re spill- and leak-proof and self-discharge less when not in use. However, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging.

Gel batteries: Like AGM batteries, gel batteries are maintenance-free and spill- and leak-proof. These are ideal for extreme temperatures but are also sensitive to overcharging.

Lithium-ion batteries: Lithium is the latest technology for golf cart batteries. They’re lighter, work well with electric motors (like the one in your golf cart), and they have an impressive lifespan. They’re known to be the most expensive option, but lithium batteries are becoming increasingly affordable.

So, which battery is best for your golf cart?

Well, again, it depends on your needs.

For instance, if you live in a place with extremely hot summers, a gel cell battery would be ideal.

But if you prefer something with an impressive lifespan, you might like investing in a lithium battery instead.

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What’s a Good Capacity for Golf Cart Batteries?

You can measure golf cart battery capacity in terms of amp-hours.

An amp-hour (or ‘ampere hour’) is a way to measure how many hours a golf cart battery can provide 1 amp.

To compare their capacity, you can use the amp-hour (abbreviated as ‘Ah’) rating of individual golf cart batteries.

So, for example, a 10 Ah battery will last twice as long as one that’s only 5 Ah.

Typically, a 6-volt golf cart battery typically has 200-225 amp-hours.

However, an 8-volt battery usually has around 150 amp hours instead.

Besides knowing how long your golf cart battery will last, knowing its capacity is also crucial when choosing a charger.

The kind of battery charger you buy must be compatible with the battery’s capacity to charge safely and effectively.

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How Big are Golf Cart Batteries?

Firstly, you must understand that there is no universal size for golf cart batteries.

Each golf cart will differ in the battery sizes they can accommodate in the battery compartment.

Still, manufacturers tend to build their batteries in similar groups with matching dimensions.

For example, golf cart batteries are typically from groups GC2, GC8, and GC12.

The dimensions for batteries in those groups are:

GC2: Approximately 10 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 10 inches high.

GC8: Same as GC2, approximately 10 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 10 inches high

GC12: Approximately 12 inches long, 7 inches wide, 10 inches high

Typically, golf cart batteries will weigh between 55 and 80 pounds.

However, you’ll be able to find some lightweight models on the market that usually cost more.

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How Long do Golf Batteries Last?

When you buy a golf cart battery, you can expect it to last anywhere from 5-10 years.

However, different factors determine how long a particular battery will last before you need to replace it.

Firstly, it’s a question of maintenance and care.

As you’ve seen above, some batteries don’t need maintenance at all.

Still, you must use those batteries according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

For example, overcharging and over-discharging your batteries will make them wear out quicker.

Plus, a battery that you use every day will not last as long as one that you only use on the weekends, for example.

So, to maximize your battery’s lifespan and make the most of your investment, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

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How Far Can You Drive With a Fully Charged Golf Cart Battery?

A fully-charged golf cart battery can take you anywhere from 12 miles to 35 miles on a single charge.

The difference between 12 and 35 can be pretty broad, but that’s because it all boils down to the kind of battery you have and the burden that you’re placing on it.

Here are some of the issues that’ll affect the range you’ll get from a fully-charged battery:

The battery’s capacity: A battery with a higher number of amp hours will last longer and take you further on a single charge.

The battery’s condition: Golf cart batteries don’t hold the same charge forever. So, the older your battery is, the less charge it holds, and the lower your golf cart range will become.

The size and weight of your golf cart: A heavy golf cart that’s full of people and cargo will drain that battery a lot quicker than usual.

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How do You Test Golf Cart Batteries?

There are several ways to test your golf cart batteries, but two of the most common methods are using a multimeter/voltmeter and a battery load tester.

With a Voltmeter

With a standard multimeter set to measure voltage, all you have to do is connect it to the battery’s negative and positive clamps.

That will show you how many volts the battery has, and you can use that to know the level of charge your battery currently has.

Golf cart batteries using different technology will have different voltages that indicate different levels of charge.

Keep in mind that you should measure the voltage when the battery is at rest and nothing is drawing power from it.

Make sure any things like lights, radio, and any other accessories that use battery power are off when performing a voltage test if the battery is still in the golf cart when checking it.

Each battery may be a little different as well, so if you are unsure about the voltages for your specific battery you should contact the battery manufacturer to get specifications for your particular golf cart battery.

If you find that the battery won’t reach the correct voltage level despite charging it, that means your battery is wearing out or completely shot.

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Lead Acid Voltage Levels

Here is a table of the measured voltage and the percent charge of lead acid battery voltages commonly found in golf carts.

These are just general rules, and your specific battery will not correspond to these exact numbers, but they will give you a good idea.

Also, the different types of lead acid golf cart batteries will have slightly different voltages at the given capacities, but they are still very close to this.

Capacity	(12V)	(8V)	(6V)
100%	12.70	8.47	6.35
90%	12.50	8.33	6.25
80%	12.42	8.28	6.21
70%	12.32	8.21	6.17
60%	12.20	8.13	6.10
50%	12.06	8.04	6.03
40%	11.90	7.93	5.95
30%	11.75	7.83	5.88
20%	11.58	7.72	5.79
10%	11.31	7.54	5.66
0%	10.50	7.00	5.25

Discharging a lead acid battery to a charge lower than 30% is very bad for the battery and can damage it.

If your lead acid golf cart battery is discharged it is important to charge it as soon as possible to make sure your gold cart battery operates at peak performance and provides you with the longest life possible.

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Lithium Ion Voltage Levels

Lithium ion golf cart batteries can also have their charge tested by checking their voltage level.

Compared to lead acid golf cart batteries there are different voltages for the different level of battery charge.

Just like the lead acid voltage table above, these are general numbers.

Here is a table of common golf cart battery voltages for lithium ion type batteries, and the level of charge those voltages indicate.

Capacity	(12V)	(24V)	(48V)
100%	13.60	27.20	54.40
90%	13.30	26.60	53.20
70%	13.20	26.40	52.80
40%	13.10	26.20	52.40
30%	13.00	26.00	52.00
20%	12.90	25.80	51.60
17%	12.80	25.60	51.20
14%	12.50	25.00	50.00
9%	12.00	24.00	48.00
0%	10.00	20.00	40.00

Unlike lead acid golf cart batteries, you can discharge lithium ion batteries all the way down without damaging them.

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With a Battery Load Tester

Alternatively, you can also invest in a battery load tester.

The load tester will place a load on your battery (i.e. draw some power out of it) to tell you whether or not it’s still in excellent condition.

You’ll get a much clearer picture of your golf cart battery’s health using a load tester.

But because of how they draw electricity from the battery, you can only run the test for a brief period.

The test generates a lot of heat and can be dangerous if you do it for too long, but most batter load tester are fully automatic.

You just need to connect to cables and press a button in most cases.

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How Can You Tell if Your Battery Needs to be Replaced?

Don’t worry if you don’t have a multimeter or battery load tester.

You can look out for several tell-tale signs when your battery requires a replacement.

Some of those signs include:

Charging the battery to full capacity takes much longer than before
Your golf cart can’t seem to go over small hills
Physical symptoms like leaking or bulging
Your golf cart suddenly fails to run, despite having charged the battery
No other accessories can turn on

When you start to notice any combination of these symptoms, it’s time to think about your battery. If you’ve already been using the batter for a few years, it’s certainly time to invest in a new one.

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