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Is your golf cart unable to go up moderate slopes and does the system voltage drop significantly on even slight inclines?
Do you notice hesitation and diminishing power while going uphill, more than what you’d expect? Have you observed your cart slowing down for a few seconds and then recovering without stopping? Are you concerned or worried about a bigger issue like a controller? Have you recently tested your batteries, found good voltage readings, but still experience performance issues? Are you unsure about off season charge/storage for your batteries and need guidance on the first steps to troubleshoot the problem?
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your golf cart or if you were referred to this post, read further to discover how to perform an individual load test on your liquid lead acid batteries to help us help you diagnose the issue.
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Originally posted by golfcartg: "The batteries are the heart of an electric golf cart, providing the power needed for all operations especially when climbing hills or handling heavy loads. It's important to understand that even if most batteries are relatively new and all appear to have good voltage, it only takes one bad battery to affect the entire set's performance.
To accurately diagnose if a battery is causing your power issues, an individual load test is necessary. Start by fully charging the cart then taking photos of the current battery setup so you can reconnect everything correctly afterward. Let the batteries rest for a few hours, then switch the cart to TOW mode (if equipped) and disconnect the batteries starting with the main pack negative. You can purchase a load tester from a store like Harbor Freight. To run an individual load test, connect the load tester to each battery one at a time. Apply the load as per the tester's instructions, typically for about 10-15 seconds, and observe the voltage drop. A healthy battery should maintain a stable voltage under load. If any battery shows a significant voltage drop, it indicates that the battery is weak and needs to be replaced.
Over time batteries can become weak due to repeated charge and discharge cycles and inadequate maintenance. Sulfation occurs when lead sulfate crystals form on the battery plates, which can happen if batteries are not fully charged regularly. This process reduces the battery's capacity to hold a charge and deliver power, particularly under load, such as when driving uphill. Even if your liquid lead acid batteries test well for voltage and fluid levels, it is possible that they may still be experiencing some level of sulfation or degradation that is not immediately apparent from simple voltage tests."
_____________________________
When you have your individual voltage test results, start a new thread or update your existing one in the appropriate technical support section with your findings.
Do you notice hesitation and diminishing power while going uphill, more than what you’d expect? Have you observed your cart slowing down for a few seconds and then recovering without stopping? Are you concerned or worried about a bigger issue like a controller? Have you recently tested your batteries, found good voltage readings, but still experience performance issues? Are you unsure about off season charge/storage for your batteries and need guidance on the first steps to troubleshoot the problem?
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your golf cart or if you were referred to this post, read further to discover how to perform an individual load test on your liquid lead acid batteries to help us help you diagnose the issue.
_____________________________
Originally posted by golfcartg: "The batteries are the heart of an electric golf cart, providing the power needed for all operations especially when climbing hills or handling heavy loads. It's important to understand that even if most batteries are relatively new and all appear to have good voltage, it only takes one bad battery to affect the entire set's performance.
To accurately diagnose if a battery is causing your power issues, an individual load test is necessary. Start by fully charging the cart then taking photos of the current battery setup so you can reconnect everything correctly afterward. Let the batteries rest for a few hours, then switch the cart to TOW mode (if equipped) and disconnect the batteries starting with the main pack negative. You can purchase a load tester from a store like Harbor Freight. To run an individual load test, connect the load tester to each battery one at a time. Apply the load as per the tester's instructions, typically for about 10-15 seconds, and observe the voltage drop. A healthy battery should maintain a stable voltage under load. If any battery shows a significant voltage drop, it indicates that the battery is weak and needs to be replaced.
Over time batteries can become weak due to repeated charge and discharge cycles and inadequate maintenance. Sulfation occurs when lead sulfate crystals form on the battery plates, which can happen if batteries are not fully charged regularly. This process reduces the battery's capacity to hold a charge and deliver power, particularly under load, such as when driving uphill. Even if your liquid lead acid batteries test well for voltage and fluid levels, it is possible that they may still be experiencing some level of sulfation or degradation that is not immediately apparent from simple voltage tests."
_____________________________
When you have your individual voltage test results, start a new thread or update your existing one in the appropriate technical support section with your findings.
