Anyone have experience with golf cart batteries?!

[Tripper]

Recently bought a used EZGO golf cart & wondered if anyone has experience tying to revive the batteries! I've seen lots of people recommend adding epson salts & swear by it. Anyone?!?

Pretty sure a hot rod paint job is in order!!! [ddd[ddd[ddd

BoB

 

[donsrods]

Bob, I have heard where people dump them upside down to get all the old electrolyte out and then they refill it with fresh and then charge it up. Not sure if all batteries can get some extra life out of them that way, but you might give it a shot. I understand you need a battery charger capable of cooking the batteries at a fairly high amperage to clean off the plates though.

How old are the batteries ?

Don

 

[Willowbilly3]

One time I dumped out 6 batterys that wouldn't hold a charge. I rinsed and dumped with water a few times. Then refilled with electrolyte and 5 of the 6 took a charge and were usable again.
I have also used aspirin to get batterys going again. One per cell.

 

[CR55]

I refilled one out of a riding mower and got 2 extra years out of it.

 

[Neto]

We used to do the epson salts treatment. We dumped and rinsed out the battery, then refilled with just plain water and some epson salts, but I don't remember how much. As I recall, though, those batteries did OK during the summer, but couldn't make it through the next winter.
I've also heard that you should never add acid to a battery, but don't know what the problem or danger is supposed to be. I have sometimes wondered if you ran a battery all the way down, on each cell separately like you could on those old batteries where there was an external lug connecting each cell, then reverse charge it for awhile, to clean the plates, then run it back down again and recharge the correct way, if that would work, but it's all a whole lot of trouble for an old battery.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Whether to add acid or water is depending on the specific gravity. I've added acid to batterys the got tipped over or had a hole. If they just got low from general use, then just water is best.

 

[Neto]

Whether to add acid or water is depending on the specific gravity. I've added acid to batterys that got tipped over or had a hole. If they just got low from general use, then just water is best.

Can you explain this further? I could never understand the reason why you shouldn't (add more acid), but I don't understand the bit about specific gravity. (You're not pulling my leg, are you?)

 

[sneakysnake]

Can you explain this further? I could never understand the reason why you shouldn't (add more acid), but I don't understand the bit about specific gravity. (You're not pulling my leg, are you?)

Only the water evaporates,the acid remains.


Dad has golf carts and hes tried every trick in the book with no real success other than just replacing the batteries.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Can you explain this further? I could never understand the reason why you shouldn't (add more acid), but I don't understand the bit about specific gravity. (You're not pulling my leg, are you?)

Here's a good read on specific gravity.
http://support.rollsbattery.com/support/articles/4347-measuring-specific

 

[Neto]

Here's a good read on specific gravity.
http://support.rollsbattery.com/support/articles/4347-measuring-specific

Thanks. I was just not familiar with the term. (Or maybe that was one of the many things I've forgotten.....)