State of Charge Indicator

[leewain]

Hi folks, new guy here. Bought my wife a 2007 Yamaha Drive with 4 brand new Trojan 12 volt batteries. I have only had to charge it twice and both times, I let it go until the cart quit. Had to tow it back to the trailer. My wife is concerned about having it quit when she is a long piece from the trailer. Be a smart gal, she asked, how can I tell how close it is to needing a recharge?

I have seen digital voltmeters and the round guages similar to the automotive type that show green and red with a needle.

Live in Canada and not a lot available locally so would like to get a few expert opinions on what I should get and where I should purchase it, Thanks in advance.

[golfcartg]

Hey there, welcome! Sounds like you’ve got a nice setup with that 2007 Yamaha Drive and those new Trojan batteries. Your wife is right to be concerned about running out of charge, especially if it means getting stranded far from home. There are a few ways you can monitor the battery level to prevent this from happening.

First off, you mentioned digital voltmeters and those round gauges with the needle. Both can work, but they each have their pros and cons. The round gauges, often called bar meters, are popular because they’re easy to read at a glance. However, they’re not very accurate. They can give you a rough idea of the charge, but they’re not precise enough to rely on if you want to avoid getting stranded.

A 48V digital voltmeter would be your best bet for your lead acid battery setup. These are quite accurate and give you a clear reading of your battery voltage. Continuously discharging your batteries completely is not good for them. Lead acid batteries don’t like being fully discharged repeatedly. It can shorten their lifespan and reduce their capacity over time. By keeping an eye on the voltage and recharging before it gets too low, you’ll help keep your batteries in good shape and make them last longer.

To understand the digital voltmeter, you’ll want to learn how to read the voltage properly. For lead acid deep cycle batteries, it’s important to keep the resting voltage above 48 volts. (Never let the resting voltage on the meter sit below 48v) A fully charged 48V battery pack should read around 50-52 volts. When it drops below 48 volts, it’s time to recharge. This way, you can prevent the batteries from getting too low and avoid the hassle of towing the cart back.

Since you’re in Canada and local options might be limited, I’d recommend looking online for a digital voltmeter. Websites that specialize in golf cart parts or even general online marketplaces like Amazon should have what you need. Look for a meter that’s designed for a 48V system and has good reviews for accuracy and durability.

I hope this helps! Keeping an eye on the voltage will give you peace of mind and keep your cart running smoothly. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!