Tips & Tricks for Lithium Golf Cart Batteries
Golf carts are a great energy-efficient mode of transportation for the golf course or getting around town. As these vehicles have become more common and more popular, both on and off the golf course, battery technology has also advanced.
You’ve got two choices when it comes to golf cart batteries: Deep cycle batteries and lithium batteries. Most golf carts come equipped with lead-acid batteries. They’ve been around for years, and that’s what most golf cart owners are used to using.
However, more and more golf cart owners are making the switch to lithium batteries. While they have their pros and cons, these batteries offer some distinct advantages over the traditional lead-acid batteries. Some of these benefits include:
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Faster charging
- Maintenance-free
- Improved performance
If you’ve gotten all your questions about lithium batteries answered and decided to make the switch, we’ve got a few tips and tricks you should know to make the most out of these batteries.
Let’s dive in!
Installing Your New Lithium Batteries
If you need help converting your golf cart from lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries, you can read our full guide, but here are a few quick tips:
- Your batteries should all be facing the same direction and should be wired in a series setup.
- Don’t install the battery % meter until after you’ve got your batteries wired and tested.
- Charge your batteries to 100% and then calibrate your capacity meter.
Capacity Meter
The capacity meter is an important part of your battery system. It ensures that you always know your batteries’ charge level. Let’s take a look at a few tricks regarding the battery % meter.
- You can easily tell if your battery is charging by looking at the little arrow on the left of the screen. An up arrow means it is charging, while an arrow pointing down means the battery is in use.
- Recalibrate your meter after every full charge for the best accuracy.
- If you let your golf cart sit unused for a couple of weeks, the battery % meter won’t show the correct charge because it can’t pick up the tiny amounts of discharge that happen when the battery isn’t in use. Recharge your batteries and recalibrate the meter to fix this issue.
Charging Your Lithium Batteries
Charging your lithium batteries is a much faster process than charging lead-acid batteries, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
- Unused batteries will lose some of their charge, so it’s best to fully charge them if you plan to store them for any length of time and recharge them when you return.
- Lithium batteries handle extreme temperatures better than lead-acids, but you should still only charge them in temperatures between 32 degrees and 113 degrees.
- While lithium batteries have a BMS to keep them from overcharging, you shouldn’t leave them on the charger overnight or longer than necessary.
Storing Your Lithium Batteries
If you’re a seasonal golfer and don’t use your batteries year-round, it’s important to store your batteries properly. Here’s what you need to know:
- Cold weather can damage your batteries, so you’ll need to store your batteries in a cool, dry place with temperatures between 40 to 80 degrees.
- If you plan to store your golf cart for six months or more, it’s best to disconnect your lithium batteries to prevent the most capacity loss when not in use.
- When you take your golf cart out of storage, fully recharge your lithium batteries and let them run for a minute or two to warm them up before you use them.
If you have any other problems or questions about lithium batteries for golf carts, contact Patriot Power Source at 888-287-2864. We’re always happy to help!