Once again, a golf cart battery thread

[havasujeeper]

Ok, here is my rant today. I need 6 more 6v golf cart batteries. I went to Interstate and they want $184 each for the 225 ah batteries. Costco also sells Interstate batteries, but are only 215ah, and sell for $105. I've purchased 3 sets, and get about 18 months out of them. I then went to Batteries Plus, who sells 215ah Duracell batteries for $146 a piece, but can't find any reviews on them. Interstate recommended I purchase their sealed, deep cycle, 235ah batteries, but they are $385 each. On top of this, the salesman at Interstate dismissed purchasing the Trojan batteries, saying Interstate builds the Trojan batteries for them. Trojan batteries are running about $320 a piece. So I have a price of $630, $950, $1900 or $2300, just to drive my golf cart around. Anyone have any ideas or recommendations for me?
All places thought my limited usage was due to cooking them on the original stock battery charger, so I have also purchased a new 36v trickle charger, which can be left on all the time with no damage.

 

[Dunerking]

Damn,at $2300 your probably getting close to converting it to Lithium

 

[FROGMAN524]

Try Fullriver. I’ve had great luck with them over the years.

Fullriver Battery | Total Quality Control of Premium AGM Batteries

Experience total quality control with Fullriver Battery. Our award-winning manufacturing facility ensures excellence. Trusted worldwide for premium AGM batteries.

fullriverbattery.com

 

[warpt71]

I have ran a few different off brands and get at least 5 years out of mine. Only weekend use, I keep them topped off with water and my charger will shut off when charged. I would charge overnight on the weekends that I used it and when it got put back in the garage it would not be plugged in. About the only consistent problem I've had is melting battery cables and posts off the batteries.

 

[boatnam2]

Last 2 carts I just ran 3 12 volts, worked fine, 350 bucks

 

[TimeBandit]

Last 2 carts I just ran 3 12 volts, worked fine, 350 bucks

Ditto. My antique 36 volt cart runs 3 Costco group 27, 12Volt RV batteries, works fine for my use.

I get around 3 years out of a set, it goes on the charger after every use.

 

[havasujeeper]

Interesting on using 3 12v batteries. I've never thought of that
I suppose they just need mounting brackets?
To they have a tendancy to drop off power quick?

 

[Luvnlife]

Sam’s Club, check the water on the regular, run ‘‘em and charge ‘em.

 

[TCHB]

I used the Costco batteries and they lasted 4 years. I always kept them charged and water to the correct level.

 

[boatnam2]

My current cart I keep here at home in the 70 degree weather since I no longer have a place at river, I drive it quite a bit taking the dog for a spin around the hood, it has 6 volts probably around 6 years old, the heat really does a number on the batteries.

 

[boatnam2]

Interesting on using 3 12v batteries. I've never thought of that
I suppose they just need mounting brackets?
To they have a tendancy to drop off power quick?

They do a little quicker than 6 volt, but I was already ready to on the nightly scorpion run at echo and never pooped out, hell and I think it came in second in the first annual echo beach drag race.

 

[rivermobster]

I posted awhile back about going to a golf cart repair shop...

If a golf cart has a battery problem, they replace EVERY battery in the cart...

Then they chuck the bad ones and retain the good ones to sell CHEAP.

I picked up 2 6v batteries just before new years. I paid 25 bucks each. Turns out they sold new for over 300.00 each!!!

Fuck buying new 6v batteries.

 

[havasujeeper]

They do a little quicker than 6 volt, but I was already ready to on the nightly scorpion run at echo and never pooped out, hell and I think it came in second in the first annual echo beach drag race.

I guess a big benefit with three 12v's would be 3 less batteries making it 255 pounds lighter!

 

[boatnam2]

I guess a big benefit with three 12v's would be 3 less batteries making it 255 pounds lighter!

As long as you don't add 2=250 pounders close to last call lol

 

[SoCalDave]

Time for an LS swap...

 

[mesquito_creek]

 

[F.U.IRS]

We use the Costco Interstate batteries, we get about 4 years out of them

 

[CarolynandBob]

I get the Duracell's from Sams. Last about 4 years. I think I paid 109 for each last October.

 

[bocco]

Damn,at $2300 your probably getting close to converting it to Lithium

Or Briggs and Stratton.

 

[wishiknew]

Or Briggs and Stratton.

Or a Honda 24 hp

 

[getch]

Personally at that range of price id do the cheap batteries or consider lithium.

Thought about getting a gas cart?

 

[Taboma]

Ok, here is my rant today. I need 6 more 6v golf cart batteries. I went to Interstate and they want $184 each for the 225 ah batteries. Costco also sells Interstate batteries, but are only 215ah, and sell for $105. I've purchased 3 sets, and get about 18 months out of them. I then went to Batteries Plus, who sells 215ah Duracell batteries for $146 a piece, but can't find any reviews on them. Interstate recommended I purchase their sealed, deep cycle, 235ah batteries, but they are $385 each. On top of this, the salesman at Interstate dismissed purchasing the Trojan batteries, saying Interstate builds the Trojan batteries for them. Trojan batteries are running about $320 a piece. So I have a price of $630, $950, $1900 or $2300, just to drive my golf cart around. Anyone have any ideas or recommendations for me?
All places thought my limited usage was due to cooking them on the original stock battery charger, so I have also purchased a new 36v trickle charger, which can be left on all the time with no damage.

I suggest if you're going to use that trickle charger, put it on a timer to limit it to maybe an hour a day at most. All you're trying to do is replenish parasitic loss, which on a GC is minimal, you could do with probably less than an hour a week. I'm well into my 6th year with my Interstates, I leave them for 2 or 3 months at a time, with no charger.
The trick I learned many years ago is, disconnect the last negative cable when I plan to leave it unattended. The batteries will still sustain some parasitic loss, but only internally not from the battery gauge or any loss through the controller draining them. This way they never go completely dead, just low and readily accept a recharge when I return.

 

[getch]

Question, what are the symptoms or reasoning for replacing them?

 

[havasujeeper]

Question, what are the symptoms or reasoning for replacing them?

It's the typical dead battery dilemma. Charge all night, next day it will get you about 10 houses down, then slows to a crawl, then stops.
I know in my situation, it is the summer heat and lack of use.

 

[mesquito_creek]

At the end of the day it’s pretty simple. Lead acid/agm chemistry is well understood. You are simply either 1) cycling them from full charge to 50% and wearing them out as designed. OR which is more likely, 2) you are discharging them below 50% often and simply killing the battery sooner than the design life cycle. 3) you are not fully charging then or charging them with a good profile and prematurely killing them.

Heat isn’t good but won’t kill them faster than #2 or #3. LE/agm are tougher than that in extreme temps

I was always a serial #2 offender until I stopped the denial and finally started sizing my battery bank correctly and ultimately converted a lot of stuff to lifepo4

 

[getch]

It's the typical dead battery dilemma. Charge all night, next day it will get you about 10 houses down, then slows to a crawl, then stops.
I know in my situation, it is the summer heat and lack of use.

May know this or not be what you wanna do, but if your tired of spending the money in bulk check the batteries individually. One bad battery in the bank can be the culprit to this. Possible you could get another summer out of them by replacing just one.

 

[Motor Boater]

I get the Duracell's from Sams. Last about 4 years. I think I paid 109 for each last October.

This. I have the Duracell’s in my 48volt cart and they have been great. I just spent $1500 on new Trojans for another cart. They better last.

 

[hman442]

May know this or not be what you wanna do, but if your tired of spending the money in bulk check the batteries individually. One bad battery in the bank can be the culprit to this. Possible you could get another summer out of them by replacing just one.

Get a refractometer, check the acid in each cell of each battery. That'll let you know if you have a weak cell or two in an individual battery. Plus, it kind of makes you look like a scientist or such, while you're checking them!

 

[Dunerking]

Or Briggs and Stratton.

Yeah,but being stealth is a plus. I hate being the DB(douchebag) running g through the neighborhood at 2am with a louder than electric cart.

 

[Outdrive1]

Best thing I ever did, after buying 3 sets of batteries over the years, was to trade in my mid 90’s 36v EZGo for a new gas EZGo. I’ll never buy another electric cart.

 

[mesquito_creek]

One simple improvement is to add a cheap digital volt gauge. a 36v battery pack will read 38.2v fully charged. Maximum drop under load should not be more than 6v below 38.2v equal to 32 volts or less.

If it’s reading less than 32 at rest you have already deep discharged it and taken away battery life.

If you are discharging below that you are killing you batteries.

 

[Taboma]

One simple improvement is to add a cheap digital volt gauge. a 36v battery pack will read 38.2v fully charged. Maximum drop under load should not be more than 6v below 38.2v equal to 32 volts or less.

If it’s reading less than 32 at rest you have already deep discharged it and taken away battery life.

If you are discharging below that you are killing you batteries.

Here's a chart to represent what you're stating. The link to even more battery info for cart owners:

Charging Tutorial

www.cartsunlimited.net

 

[King295]

Best thing I ever did, after buying 3 sets of batteries over the years, was to trade in my mid 90’s 36v EZGo for a new gas EZGo. I’ll never buy another electric cart.

x2. I had an electric cart for all of a year. I quickly realized that program was for the birds. Plugging that thing in every night (albeit after a day on the water and after the bar) was a real pain in the ass and I always worried about it. Gas EZGO with non-ethanol fuel, no worries ever.

 

[mesquito_creek]

IF you converted to lifepo4, added a mppt charge controller and a solar panel on the roof... it would be hands free for years and years. Literally the most dummy proof set up ever.

... I know I just stepped into a can of political/global warming hornets nest of ridicule and scorn... but I am a crazy off the grid prepper with as little dependance on anyone or any thing possible.

 

[Riverfamlee]

May know this or not be what you wanna do, but if your tired of spending the money in bulk check the batteries individually. One bad battery in the bank can be the culprit to this. Possible you could get another summer out of them by replacing just one.

This ^^^^. Get a meter and check the voltage on each battery. With GC batteries being in series even a small voltage drop on a single battery will effect the run time. Sometimes you can bring them up by charging them individually . You do not need to disconnect anything to charge them as long as you use a 6v or 12v charger depending on what you have.

Second, get a good GC charger and scrap the trickle charger idea. I went with a Lester summit that has bluetooth. You set the battery profile and can see the battery conditions. It charges in phases and keeps the batteries topped off as needed. A lot of the stock and cheaper chargers will over/under charge reducing battery life. I'm on year 4 with a EZGO 6 seat RXV (4x 12v) US Batteries.


When these die, I will bite the bullet and go with lithium .

 

[Taboma]

This ^^^^. Get a meter and check the voltage on each battery. With GC batteries being in series even a small voltage drop on a single battery will effect the run time. Sometimes you can bring them up by charging them individually . You do not need to disconnect anything to charge them as long as you use a 6v or 12v charger depending on what you have.

Second, get a good GC charger and scrap the trickle charger idea. I went with a Lester summit that has bluetooth. You set the battery profile and can see the battery conditions. It charges in phases and keeps the batteries topped off as needed. A lot of the stock and cheaper chargers will over/under charge reducing battery life. I'm on year 4 with a EZGO 6 seat RXV (4x 12v) US Batteries.


When these die, I will bite the bullet and go with lithium .

I don't know about others here, but my GC is stored in a car port and I'm certainly not going to entertain leaving an expensive charger where some honest person might accidently mistake it for their own.

 

[paradise]

IF you converted to lifepo4, added a mppt charge controller and a solar panel on the roof... it would be hands free for years and years. Literally the most dummy proof set up ever.

... I know I just stepped into a can of political/global warming hornets nest of ridicule and scorn... but I am a crazy off the grid prepper with as little dependance on anyone or any thing possible.

^^^^ Lithium, good chargers and be done. Have it all onboard and never worry about it again. (or for 10 plus years)

 

[77charger]

Try and look for us2200s battery I used them in my toy hauler and were really good. I tried costcos they are hit or miss wasn’t happy with them.

Old work next door was a golf cart shop guy told me they were very close to Trojans

 

[Terminal Velocity]

I'll stick with my 95 ClubCar Gas. Now if I can just get into upholstery and spend more money And Clean my damn shop Kind of embarrassed at that part.

 

[Todd Mohr]

I have ran a few different off brands and get at least 5 years out of mine. Only weekend use, I keep them topped off with water and my charger will shut off when charged. I would charge overnight on the weekends that I used it and when it got put back in the garage it would not be plugged in. About the only consistent problem I've had is melting battery cables and posts off the batteries.

I have the same problem with the melting posts, is there a fix for that?

 

[Riverfamlee]

Electric carts are the best for the late night booze cruise thru the neighborhood. You gassers cant do that without waking everyone up

 

[Riverfamlee]

I have the same problem with the melting posts, is there a fix for that?

Upgrade you cables. You're drawing too much current

 

[Motor Boater]

I'll stick with my 95 ClubCar Gas. Now if I can just get into upholstery and spend more money And Clean my damn shop Kind of embarrassed at that part.
View attachment 1190710

Just got new seats on my club car.

 

[Motor Boater]

I’ve had gas carts and rhinos and absolutely love my 48volt golf cart. Quiet, hauls ass, no going to the gas station. We have a summer place and all the loud rhinos, atv’s, canams etc get annoying.

 

[RVR SWPR]

You will not regret Duracell.
“Duracell Inc. is an American manufacturer of alkaline batteries, specialty cells, rechargeables and smart power systems, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. The company has its origins in the 1920s, through the work of Samuel Rubenand Philip Mallory, and the formation of the P. R. Mallory Company.”

 

[Terminal Velocity]

Just got new seats on my club car. View attachment 1190711

I just saw those a couple days ago, they look nice. Unfortunately they don't make them for a 95. I thought about getting them and trying to figure out a way to make them work. but in the end, my dumb ass is going to spend a $1000 on full custom. The one thing im going to add to mine is the pocket in the center like that has for phones. I'm putting in a dual usb for phone charger.
Also mading new Aluminum Pedals to replace the old beat up rubber ones.

 

[D19]

I got Centennials from Battery Systems of Anaheim. They work great in AZ heat. (6) 6 volts were about $1,000. I had one go bad and they swapped it out. McFaddendale Hardware is right next door so you can get all your new cables, shrink tube and lugs there.


I plugged my trickles / chargers into these at the river and set them at 85 degrees so they're not charging in the heat. If the AC is off in the garages they'll typically only run at night.

 

[getch]

Electric carts are the best for the late night booze cruise thru the neighborhood. You gassers cant do that without waking everyone up

Defiantly, but an Ezgo with a Robins is damn near as quiet. They screwed that part up with the Kawasaki thou lol

 

[C-Ya]

I used to think gas was the only way to go on a golf cart.

My mind has now changed since I converted to lithium. I can go 70 miles on a charge and there is NO gas golf cart that can even come close to me in a race. I actually cannot just stab the motor from a holeshot……… I will just spin the tires. I might only go 43mph…….. but the excelleration to that speed is incredible.

Quiet and fast are not the two words that go together when modifying a gas cart to go fast. The faster you make it go…… the louder it gets.

Just my .02 cents

 

[warpt71]

I have the same problem with the melting posts, is there a fix for that?

Newer bigger gauge cables, keep them clean and make sure they stay tight. My cart is an antique and part throttle is actually harder on it that wide open. I've had plans to re wire my cart but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Another thing that I have hear is that once the cable starts to corroded it's like a wick and it really doesn't matter how clean it looks, it should be replaced. I just got really good at flipping the seat up and inspecting everything every trip. I think it comes down to maintenance