When charging your golf cart batteries, you may have noticed a noise during the process and this could have you wondering if it is normal for your golf cart batteries to make a noise while charging. Depending on the noise that is occurring, it could be completely normal and nothing to worry about or you could have a problem on your hands. It is important to take note of the type of sound emitting from the batteries while they charge, among other factors, which could indicate whether your batteries are doing what they should be doing or you need to disconnect as soon as possible.
Golf cart batteries will make bubbling, clicking, and blowing type sounds while charging. If you hear a pop or a hiss, this is abnormal and may be a sign to further problems. The noses are from gasses in the batteries expanding and bubbling the water as well as leaking out causing an odor.
Learning and understanding the differences in sounds that can happen during the charging process, among other factors like odor or sparks, will allow you to properly tend to your golf cart and its batteries. It is completely normal for golf cart batteries to emit a certain sound while charging but there will be some noises that can indicate a serious issue with the batteries. By identifying the noise that is occurring while you are charging your golf cart batteries, you will be able to identify whether or not the batteries are behaving normally or if they need to be replaced.
Noises That Golf Cart Batteries Can Make And What They Mean
Bubbling/Boiling:
A bubbling or boiling sound is entirely normal during the charging process, especially with new batteries, as this is an important process new batteries must undergo to solidify the new lead within the batteries, called curing the lead. This process could take around 15 to 20 cycles to be completed and you will more than likely continuously add water during this time as the charger pushes electrons into the lead.
After your batteries have completed the “new” process they need to go through, the bubbling or boiling sound will begin to get quieter, but your batteries should always make a bubbling or boiling noise while charging.
It is important to note that if your golf cart batteries are still making a loud bubbling or boiling noise after the curing process, your batteries could be experiencing an overcharge situation. This is a dangerous phenomenon as batteries emit a gaseous fume during the charging process, and too much heat or a spark could cause an explosion. In order to prevent overcharging your batteries, it is recommended to use an automatic charging system that has an auto-off sensor or slow charge for the last 5 to 10 percent in order to reduce the possibility of overcharging your batteries.
Clicking:
A clicking noise occurring during the charging process, may or may not indicate an issue that will need to be addressed. It will be important to locate where exactly the clicking is coming from in order to know for sure if this sound is common or not. The two possible locations of a clicking sound and what the sound means during the charging process include:
- Batteries: Golf cart batteries are like the majority of batteries, as they are alkaline batteries and alkaline batteries produce their energy through the chemical process that occurs within the battery. Golf cart batteries produce hydrogen gas, an extremely flammable fume which can leak from a battery as it begins to age and/or needs replacing. This excessive leak of hydrogen gas can cause this clicking noise as it passes through the vent in the batteries. Remember, hydrogen gas is highly combustible and any spark or large amount of overheating can cause the batteries to explode.
- Charger: A clicking sound originating from the charger could indicate a couple of different possibilities. If the charger is plugged in and not producing a charge but it is clicking, then this usually indicates that it is time to replace the charger as it has most likely gone bad. Be sure to contact a professional to take a look at the charger and your golf cart to ensure there is not an underlying issue causing your charger to not function properly. It is also recommended to check your charger for any warranty information in order to save you some money if you do end up needing to replace the charger. Another cause of clicking is when the charger is changing charge cycles which may happen throughout the battery charging process.
If your charger is working properly and your batteries are charging but they aren’t reaching their full capacity and you are not hearing the clicking noise which is produced by the golf cart’s relay in its computer, then you could quite possibly have an issue with the computer in your golf cart and you should contact a professional to check things over; this is a rare issue but it can happen.
Hissing/Sizzling:
If your golf cart batteries are producing a hissing or sizzling noise while charging, then it is quite possible that you are having an issue with either overcharging or low water or acid in the batteries.
The hissing or sizzling will occur when one or two cells are experiencing a difference in temperature during the charging process due to low water or acid. It is important to add water or a water and acid mixture, depending on the type of batteries you have, in order to prevent an accelerated break down of the overall health and electrical production of the batteries.
Be sure not to overfill your batteries as this can cause battery acid to leak out which can ultimately cause damage to your golf cart and/or burn your skin. It is also important to remember that golf cart batteries produce hydrogen gas while charging, which is highly flammable, and any overheating or sparks produced due to low fluid levels can ultimately cause an explosion.
