Everyone loves a nice warm day out on the course. There is not a whole lot better than the smell of fresh cut grass and the sound of a golf ball getting whacked off a tee.
While we appreciate those things as much as anyone else, it is without a doubt that we are much bigger fans of preparation. Golf carts take out all the extremely long walking and even hiking from the golf course. It’s a leisure sport for most of us. No need to spend all day walking around the course when you can just cart around in your own golf cart, or the course’s golf carts.
Now, what happens when the golf cart battery dies out on the course? You’re walking back. Unless someone passes you by picks you up. Even then, if you’re out on a big course that isn’t congested, you’re probably walking back.
That is why with this guide, we aim to prepare all golfers for their time out on the course. Buying the best golf cart battery for yourself is a one off investment every 5 – 10 years or so. That is, if you maintain the battery properly.
So, let’s get into it.
What is different about battery application in golf carts?
To start off, most golf carts these days are electric. This means that the battery is always going to be powering the golf cart when it is running. Which also means you will not be able to use a car battery for your golf cart. You need a deep cycle. Like the batteries found in RV’s or boats. Compared to RV or boat batteries, golf cart batteries prices are much better cost wise.
Most golf carts don’t use a whole lot of electricity. They aren’t meant to go fast. The slow speed increases safety around the course and energy efficiency for the golf cart.
The first and foremost thing you should do when purchasing a golf cart battery is to make sure that you know the voltage your golf cart requires. This means you will have to locate the voltage wherever it is on the golf cart. Make sure you mark it down and don’t lose that piece of paper. It will allow you to spend your money on the correct battery for your golf cart. After this we recommend that your check out golf cart battery reviews here on Power Genix Systems. Extremely important to get a second opinion!
Different golf cart battery assemblies
When you’re out looking for the best golf cart battery, you have to remember how the batteries are assembled in the golf cart.
For example, your golf cart may call for a series of six 8V batteries, or 8 6v batteries. These both create a 48 volt system. You must take note of how many batteries you need and how much voltage you need. Something else to factor is that you are going to have an expectation for performance from your golf cart batteries. If you’re buying the best golf cart battery out there for your personal use, then you can expect great performance. Buying the cheaper golf cart batteries for sale will probably result in a lesser power output.
You will also need a clean fit. So be sure to take compartment measurements of your golf cart. Keep in mind that you are going to want to be sure that there is wiggle room for battery maintenance and or removal. Also, if there is no breathing room, the batteries may get way to hot. This itself can cause many problems during a hot day out on the course.
Remember, connecting batteries in a series does not increase the capacity of the batteries. This only increases the overall voltage output of the batteries in unison. However, given any extra space, you can double batteries in a parallel connection. Which does double your battery capacity. Golf cart batteries cost less usually than standard batteries used for other automobile types.
Factors to consider when buying the best golf cart battery for yourself
Apart from taking the necessary measurements of the compartment space for your batteries, it is important to take note of the dimensions of the batteries you’re looking at. Some batteries are the exact same size, but have different energy offerings.
If you’re replacing an old battery in your golf cart, it is best to use those batteries as reference points. The best golf cart batteries for you to buy are the ones that will work the same or better as your current old ones. If you’re looking for better performance, you’re going to want to look up the price of the old battery.
For those of you wondering, “where to buy golf cart battery,” we strongly recommend that you use Amazon. They offer the best prices and are always ready to ship to you.
After you get the price, look at the more expensive batteries. This will result in better performance. The battery industry is extremely competitive. Companies only make their batteries more expensive when it is absolutely necessary.
This means that, unlike other industries, more expensive golf batteries are almost always better performing. We recommend a middle of the line road battery at minimum as this will ensure that you do not get anything that is made cheap in China, and instead you will end up with something that is made in America, or some other 1st world country. Very important as with such difference in standards across the world, battery making can be a nightmare to deal with. Made in America golf batteries are always going to be reliable. Resulting in less stress for you overall.
Trojan 6 Volt Battery T-105
Coming in with arguably the best 6 volt golf cart battery out on the market the last few years, the Trojan T-105 6 Volt has gotten a lot of golf cart owners an incredible advantage in maintaining their golf cart. With it’s incredible consistency, this battery is often the most sought after on the market, hence the reason why we are listing it here today.
For anyone wondering, “how much does a golf cart battery weigh”, then we can tell that this battery weighs a little over 64 pounds. This might be a bit too heavy for some people. If that weight is to heavy for you, then we recommend that you find a family member that can handle the weight to give you a hand. Regarding the dimensions of the battery, they are:
- 3 inches long
- 1 inches wide
- 8 inches tall
Reserve capacity for this battery is 25 Amps. This is the best 6 volt golf cart battery for sale and will get you more than enough juice to get you where you are going. Many people have also been using them for trailers as well.
ML35-12 – 12V 35AH Sealed AGM Battery
This Mighty Max, 12 volt golf cart battery for sale has been making the rounds at the local golf courses near us. There are plenty of guys down at the links who have a lot of good things to say about these units, and we have had incredible results with them as well. We strongly stand by these Mighty Max batteries, and will continue to do so, if they continue to serve us well.
Marketed as a sealed, maintenance free battery, these are a great match for people who are just looking to drop them into their golf cart and be on their way. It is a great deal for older folk as well who do not want to do any kind of heavy lifting often. Of course, like any other battery, we do strongly recommend that you do basic cleaning to prevent corrosion.
Another important factor to note is how these batteries can operate in a variety of temperatures. If you live in a place where it snows, you will still be able to pull this battery out in the Winter and use it for another application.
For specific specifications, here they are:
- 68 inches long
- 16 inches wide
- 13 inches tall
- Weight: 23.15 pounds
Last, but not least, we’d like to mention that these batteries are backed by a 1-year warranty. Allowing you some peace of mind if something goes wrong. This pack comes with 2 batteries as well.
ExpertPower 12v 33ah Rechargeable Deep Cycle Battery
ExpertPower has been in the battery manufacturing industry for quite some time. They are one of the companies who makes the best golf cart batteries.
Using Absorbed Glass Technology (AGM) – these batteries can operate in a wide range of temperatures. The battery itself is a 12 volt, so ensure that it is the right battery for your golf cart before making the purchase. It has been, in our experience, extremely easy to use as the install is a one-time process with no heavy maintenance needed. Easy to install is perfect for people who are not looking for the hassle that some other batteries come with.
For the people looking for the specifications:
- 72 inches long
- 16 inches wide
- 09 inches tall
- Weight: 27 pounds
There is only 1 battery included in this pack, so make sure to make note of that if you need more than one for your cart.
Designed with a floating life of up to 8 years. The cycle use 1 is up to 260 cycles at 100% DOD, while the cycle use 2 is up to 500 cycles at 50% DOD. We strongly recommend this battery for anyone looking to give their golf cart a solid boost in performance.
VMAX857 AGM Deep Cycle Group U1 Battery
VMAX has built the best golf cart battery year after year in recent years. This year is no different, as this battery, the VMAX857 is an incredible purchase to make. Many guys we hit the links with have been dropping these batteries into their golf carts.
As said in the battery’s title, this golf cart battery for sale is a 12 volt battery. The float service life span is 5 to 8 years. Another battery that is maintenance free as well and is an install and play type unit. It is recommended that you do basic surface cleaning and tightening up the posts a bit from time to time. There is a warranty available, but keep in mind that according to VMAX the warranty only applies if the battery is sold to you by an authorized seller.
For people looking for the dimensions:
- 7 inches long
- 5 inches wide
- 1 inches tall
VMAX has been around for quite some time now, and with a lot of great reviews on Amazon and around the web, you can be assured that this is a great buy.
Mighty Max Battery 12V 35Ah GEL Battery
This 4 pack of batteries from Mighty Max is a great buy for anyone with a compatible golf cart. Coming at 12 volts per battery, these batteries are some of the best golf cart batteries available on the market. Like all the other batteries listed here in this article, this one if maintenance free as well. With the heavy duty build this battery has, the unit itself will absorb shocks and vibration. Backed by a 30 day refund policy and a full 1 year warranty.
Dimensions and other specifications are as follows:
- 68 inches long
- 16 inches wide
- 13 inches tall
- Weight: 23.15 pounds
Keep in mind that the weight of 23.15 pounds is the weight per unit. This package comes with 4 batteries, so the shipping weight will be over 100 pounds. With so many different possible uses for these batteries there are a lot of different things you can do with them. If you only golf in the Summer, and/or you live in an area where it snows for parts of the year, these batteries can be used elsewhere.
Mistakes that can ruin golf cart batteries life expectancy
General maintenance: This is by far the most overlooked aspect of any type of well-keeping for your new battery. Many people will simply plug and play with their battery, and only look at it again once it has started to die or has died.
We do not recommend this at all. We strongly recommend that you take proper precautions and properly maintain your battery. This can easily be done by cleaning your battery once a month with a damp cloth. Make sure to avoid the electrical components, as you are just looking to clean up the corrosion here.
Make sure to keep the distilled water topped up as well. Very important that you always have fresh water for your battery. Not all batteries require you to top up the water supply. If your battery is maintenance free (which we strongly recommend), you will not have to worry about this part.
Overcharging can lead to failure: For a lot of people, they will simply plug in their battery to charge and then leave it plugged in overnight. This is a big no-no as unlike many newer batteries, a lot of golf batteries for sale do not have sensors to prevent over charging. Charge your battery after every use and ensure that you never run the battery until it is completely dead.
Something else to keep in mind, if you live in an area where the winters can get cold. Do not ever charge a frozen battery. This is just asking for disaster to strike, namely in killing your battery. Forcing you to shell out more cash in buying a new one.
Be wary of your golf cart’s limitations: When somebody gets a new toy, like a golf cart, the first thing they may do is drive it around hard. This is not something we recommend at all because you can not only damage your golf cart battery life, but you will run into issues with the battery as well. Over-doing it with a better is possible, and red-lining your golf cart is one way to cause failures.
Use your golf cart batteries often: One of the goof things about the golf cart batteries available, is that they are not just limited to golf carts. There are plenty of other applications you can use them. This is important to keep in mind because you must use your battery/golf cart frequently to ensure that the battery does not become stagnant and dies on you.
We recommend a fresh recharge every 45 – 60 days at the bare minimum. This allows the battery to stay fresh and will prevent an early death.
Final thoughts
There are many different things that go into getting the correct battery for your golf cart. Finding the best one if not always going to be easy, especially if it is your first time doing it. We strongly recommend that before you even beginning the buying process, that you double, and triple check the exact battery that you need. Batteries can be interchangeable, so if you need a 6 volt or a 12 volt, then there are plenty of batteries that will work just fine for your cart – if they can fit.
We would like to take a moment as well to remind you to always take proper safety precautions when it comes to installing the battery in your cart. This means proper footwear, eye protection and always do your work in a well-lit, controlled environment. We do not want to hear about anyone who has injured themselves trying to install a battery. If they are too heavy for you, then we strongly recommend that you get a capable family member or friend to help you out. If that fails, get a professional to do it. With the additional cost to install it will come peace of mind knowing that it is done right and safely.