Some users assume that the batteries that operate their golf carts are maintenance-free. A lack of knowledge about basic golf cart battery maintenance can lead to all kinds of problems. A solid golf cart battery maintenance program is the key to achieving optimum performance and long life.

It is recommended that you obtain following equipment for use in golf cart battery care and maintenance:

A wrench; distilled water; a voltmeter (an instrument used for measuring the voltage between two points in an electric circuit); a hydrometer (a tool used to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte solution); a post cleaner; some baking soda; petroleum jelly and possibly the most of all – goggles and gloves.

Always wear protective clothing, acid proof gloves and goggles when handling lead acid batteries and remove all jewellery. It’s important to have lots of water and baking soda nearby as this will neutralise any acid spills from battery refilling and prevent further corrosive damage. Remember, the electrolyte is a solution of acid and water, so skin contact should be avoided and, do not smoke near batteries and never add acid to a battery.

Remember, do not fill the water all the way up to the cap and do not allow the plates to be exposed to air. Do not use water with a high mineral content. Only use distilled or deionised water.

Water should only be added after fully charging the battery. There should be enough water to cover the plates, prior to charging. If the battery has been discharged (partially or fully), the water level should be above the plates.

Check water levels in each cell of each battery weekly to ensure that the leaded plates in the battery are submerged in liquid. Don’t fill the cell all the way up — add just enough water to cover the plates.

For additional information on golf cart batteries including how lead acid batteries work; how to use a hydrometer; changing batteries and troubleshooting golf cart batteries, please visit:

Golf cart battery maintenance

Lead acid batteries have been determined to be unsuitable for disposal as municipal solid waste because they contain toxic heavy metals and have corrosive properties. Golf cart batteries are not to be placed in waste baskets or dumpsters where they will end up as municipal trash.

So, what can you do? For starters, don’t toss your golf cart’s old battery into a bin with your household recyclables and leave it on the curb. The battery, also referred to as a lead-acid battery, contains about 21 pounds of lead, three pounds of plastic and one gallon of sulfuric acid. These items can be toxic if handled improperly.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, take your spent battery to a quality auto parts retailer that is committed to battery recycling.

Approximately 90 percent of all lead acid batteries are recycled. Almost any retailer that sells lead-acid batteries collects used batteries for recycling, as required by most state laws. Reclaimers crush batteries into nickel-sized pieces and separate the plastic components. They send the plastic to a reprocessor for manufacture into new plastic products and deliver purified lead to battery manufacturers and other industries.

There are many states have regulations in place requiring battery recycling. (Thirty-seven states in the U.S. require lead-acid battery recycling; making retailers collect used lead-acid batteries from customers who buy new batteries.)

As neither sulphuric acid nor lead are exactly good for the environment you have to be careful when you dispose of old lead acid batteries. Leave it for recycling. You can also leave your old battery where you buy your new one. Contact your local municipality to check where you can safely dispose of old batteries, if that’s not the case. In the old days, when we changed a battery, we threw out the old one and never gave it a second thought. These days, we know better. We know that:

• Individuals who become poisoned by lead can experience symptoms including irritability, stomach aches, poor appetite, diarrhea, colic, distractibility, and lethargy;

• Lead acid typically consists of 40% sulfuric acid, a corrosive that can burn skin; and

• The improper disposal of lead-acid batteries can contaminate soil and water. The toxic metal is not able to dissolve in water or biodegrade, dissipate, decay, or burn, making it an extremely harmful hazard.

It seems as if most people take this seriously. About 93% of all battery lead is recycled, making it the most highly recycled consumer product. Help in making sure we go towards 100%!

For additional information on golf cart batteries including how lead acid batteries work; how to use a hydrometer; changing batteries and troubleshooting golf cart batteries, please visit:

The Electric Golf Cart Battery Guide