Batteries are typically one of the essential elements of a golf cart, just like the car battery is. But different from the car batteries, the golf carts use deep cycle batteries to power them not a gas-powered engine. This is so a steady current can be achieved for miles.
The electrical drive system powered for EZGo golf carts is either 36-volt or 48-volt. Some newer models are 72 volts. This requires a combination of multiple batteries in other to work properly.
How Many Batteries Are There in an EZGo Golf Cart?
An EZGo golf cart has either 3, 4, 6, or 8, golf cart batteries. The average golf cart will need 4 to 6 batteries (mostly 6) for optimum performance. Only in older 36-volt carts, you’ll find 3 batteries, and some 6-volt versions will have 8 batteries.
In the golf cart design, the (multiple) batteries altogether supply the right amount of voltage and amperage required to power the cart. That is, when this 3, 4, or 6 batteries are linked, they will sum up and produce a power of either 36 volts or 48 volts.
How Does the Number of batteries fit the Battery Configurations for an EZGo Golf Cart?
The operation of golf carts effectively takes place on a series of golf cart batteries to supply enough power. That is, the battery system is a series, hence more than one battery connected together to multiply the voltage. For example, six 8-volt batteries will produce a 48-volt battery system, or just as well as for four 12-volt batteries for the same 48-volt battery system.
Amongst the golf carts, there are wider choices for six 8-volt batteries than of four 12-volt batteries for the 48-volt battery system. The battery configurations are expanded below:
6 Volt Golf Cart Batteries
A 6-volt golf cart battery is usually spotted with 3 cell caps at top of the battery. This indicates 2 volts per cell. More often than not, a single 6-volt golf cart battery will contain the greatest amperage capacity and admit also the greatest range in an 8-6 volt battery configuration.
8 Volt Golf Cart Batteries
An 8-volt golf cart battery is usually spotted with 4 cell caps at top of the battery. This indicates 2 volts per cell. More often than not, a single 8-volt golf cart battery will contain moderate amperage capacity. For most of the electric golf carts, it is never a surprise that they are common with this 6-8 volt golf cart battery pack configuration.
12 Volt Golf Cart Batteries
A 12-volt golf cart battery is usually spotted with 6 cell caps on top of the battery. This indicates 2 volts per cell. Often, a single 12-volt golf cart battery contains the smallest amperage capacity. This system is fondly used in battery systems of 72-volt which are rare. The golf cart batteries battery systems configuration for EZGo carts that are commonly used are the 4-12 volt systems.
How do you Determine Your Golf Cart Voltage?
The fastest way to know the kind of batteries your golf cart houses is the following:
- Pull your golf cart’s front seat upwards and identify the location of the golf cart battery compartment.
- Look for markings that tell you the battery’s voltage. If there are no markings, continue to step 3.
- Closely scrutinize the batteries for the acid holes. The holes are on each battery headcover. For each battery, the total number is typically 3, 4, or 6 holes on the top.
- To figure out the golf cart battery’s voltage, for each of the number of acid holes on one of your batteries, multiply the number by 2. Each hole is equal to 2 volts.
- Finally, multiply the voltage of the golf cart battery by the sum of the golf cart batteries that are installed in the particular golf cart.
Another way is to look at your carts user manual, or even take a multimeter and test your batteries voltage.
How do you Calculate Your Golf Cart Voltage?
The best way to calculate for the Golf Cart Voltage 36 volt or 48 volts is:
- Batteries for a 36 Volt Golf Cart (with six 6V Batteries)
3 acid holes multiplied by 2 volts per hole = 6-volt battery
6-volt battery multiplied by 6 total cart batteries = 36-volt system
- Batteries for a 48 Volt Golf Cart (with six 8V Batteries)
4 acid holes multiplied by 2 volts per hole = 8-volt battery
8-volt battery multiplied by 6 total cart batteries = 48-volt system
- Batteries for a 48 Volt Golf Cart (with four 12V Batteries)
6 acid holes multiplied by 2 volts per hole = 12-volt battery
12-volt battery multiplied by 4 total cart batteries = 48-volt system
Conclusion
The most common voltage in golf carts today is 48 volts. Some older models are 36 volts, and some newer are 72 volts. 48 volt carts can either have 4 12v batteries, or six 8 volt batteries.
A 36 Volt Pack is seen on most older golf carts and has a series arrangement of six 6 Volt batteries.
Very rare and few modern golf carts include 72 Volt pack with an arrangement of 6 X 12 Volts.
