June 2018 June 2018 | Page 10

The

Wac k y WorL D

oFG L f CaR s

Maximizing Your Golf Car Battery Capacity for the Busy Summer Months

By Julie Wilson , Owner WHEELZ Custom Carts & Accessories
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The summer is nearly upon us ! Up and down the streets in neighborhoods and RV parks , golf cars are being uncovered , washed , and prepped for the long , hot summer days . Now is a great time to remember a few things about your gold car batteries .
It ’ s Not All Fun and Golf Car Games
Golf car batteries require distilled water to be consistently added to keep the lead plates submerged in sulfuric electrolyte . Although the batteries are neatly tucked under the seat and out of sight , it is important to remember that they are there and in need of care .
When batteries run dry , they can overheat and eventually explode . Several house and outbuilding fires were reported last year from exploding golf car batteries . You , of course , don ’ t want to burn your house down . And , you want your golf car batteries to perform to their max so that you can enjoy your golf car for several hours at a time .
Here are the steps for maximizing your golf car batteries and avoid dangerous explosions .
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1 . Charging
It is important to fully charge batteries before using your golf car and after every use . Overcharging your batteries may cause damage so be sure to use an automatic charger that detects the battery charge levels and shuts off automatically at the optimal charging level . Lester Links chargers are a great option .
2 . Perform Regular Maintenance
Typical maintenance includes adding distilled water , checking and cleaning connections and performing a monthly equalization charge . Get into the habit of performing these simple maintenance tasks to avoid big problems later on and reduced run times .
3 . Limit Discharge
Charging your golf car often and limiting the discharge of your battery pack to 50 % or less will extend the life of your batteries .
4 . Monitor Each Battery
You know the expression , “ One bad apple spoils the bunch .” Well , it can be true for your golf car