by Stephen G Smith
The basic functioning of all golf carts depends on the strength of its batteries. Currently there is not a single battery on the market that is capable of powering an entire golf cart. Do keep in mind that when speaking about golf cart batteries we are actually referring to components which would fit into the physical compartment of the vehicle and has nothing to do with its inherent electrical characteristics. Usually batteries can be classified as 6-, 8-, or 12-volt types depending on their voltage output during operation. Golf cart motors on the other hand can either be 36- or 48-volt capacity. So how do you bridge the difference between the voltage output of the battery and that required by the motor?
Multiple Golf Cart Batteries
The primary solution is to make use of battery packs or combining multiple batteries to provide a single power source. The configuration for the packing of batteries would greatly depend on the voltage requirement of the electric motor. As you would know, the higher the voltage requirement, the more power the motor can deliver. So whether your vehicle relies on a 36-volt or 48-volt motor packing of batteries will deliver the necessary power it requires. The configuration would also depend on an equal existent to your preference of batteries to use so you have to choose from the different voltage types.
You can practically allow the packing of batteries by combining six 6-volt batteries to get the 36 volts requirement of the motor. You may also try three 12-volt batteries to get the same voltage output. For motors requiring 48 volts, packing of batteries can be done with six 8-volt batteries, eight 6-volt batteries, or four 12-volt batteries to deliver the required power. If you will notice, packing of batteries essentially involves as many pieces of battery as possible until you reach the desired voltage. What is not allowed though is the mixing of batteries with different voltage in a single pack. This means that you cannot mix three 8-volt batteries with one 12-volt battery to get the 48 volts requirement of the motor.
The reason why batteries of different voltage cannot be used in the packing of batteries is that they carry varying charging characteristics. So if you mix them up, there is a danger that one type of battery can overcharge while another remains undercharged. Furthermore, the 6-, 8-, and 12-volt battery types function differently during the operation phase. This means that there is a greater chance of being under powered rather than having adequate power supply which defaults the purpose of having a power source. In terms of their physical characteristics, golf cart batteries of different voltage may also differ in terms of size of the casing and the posts as well which means you may need different sized cables.
The desire to meet the power requirements of the golf cart motor is only one of the reasons why the process of packing of golf cart batteries is important. Aside from the power, the battery pack is likewise intended to deliver steady current over long usage which is ideal for golf cart electric motors. So if it’s the first time you’ve opened the battery compartment of your golf cart, don’t be surprised if you find more than one battery in there.
