You are probably wondering why you would ever need to know how to charge 8v golf cart batteries with a 12V charger. You are probably curious as to what that address refers to.
Golf carts are a favorite way to get around for people of all ages. Golf cart batteries do run down quickly from being used so often.
Of course, if they have been sitting around for a while they need a charge as well. Golf carts are great for all kinds of reasons. They could be used to run errands or carry golf games around.
These are very versatile vehicles, but you do have to maintain them to use them safely. If you don’t care for it, it can become a safety hazard so continue if you want to know how to charge it.
That’s the question we get asked frequently. There isn’t a big market out there for golf cart battery chargers. Most of them are 12-volts only.
Well, lucky for you in this article we will teach youhow to charge 8V golf cart batterieswith a 12V charger and get them back on the green and ready to play another day.
How to Charge 8V Golf Cart Batteries with a 12V Charger? – Step by Step Guide
How To Charge 8V Golf Cart Batteries With 12V Charger?
- Step 1. Locate your charger
Make sure the charger you are using is a 12-volt battery charger. If it isn’t attempt to find one or buy one.
You can find them typically at any hardware store such as Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Make sure you purchase one with high amperage, 10 amps is the standard amount that most chargers hold.
- Step 2. Locate your 8v golf cart batteries
Locate where all your batteries are for the golf cart and locate the positive and negative connections to each battery bank.
This can be typically done by using a visual inspection of each one. It will usually say on the top cover of each battery what you are looking for.
- Step 3. Remove 8v batteries from cart
Once you have located your 8v batteries, remove them from the golf cart and begin to take them apart.
You should not attempt to charge it with the batteries still together as a bank. You should take them apart and lay them on a flat surface.
- Step 4. Place 8v batteries on the charger
Once you have taken the 8 v golf cart batteries apart you can begin placing them into your battery charging station one at a time.
If it is a new battery, then just leave it on the charger until it begins to get warm, about 10 minutes.If you are charging an old battery that has been sitting around for a while, then leave it on there for about 30 minutes or so.
Once they are charged disconnect them from the charger one at a time and place them back into your golf cart in their respective spots.
- Step 5. Repeat until all batteries are charged
Repeat the process with each battery one at a time until they are all charged.
This way you can ensure that when you put them back in the golf cart there will be no shorts caused by low connections or anything like that.
- Step 6. Put batteries in a golf cart
Once they are finished charging put them back into your golf cart and attach the positive and negative lines to each battery.
- Step 7. Enjoy a new life for your golf cart
Give it a test run by taking it out on the green and hitting some balls. Once you get back inside check all of your connections once more just to be safe, then drive around in circles in your garage.
How Long Does it Normally Take for an 8-Volt Golf Cart Battery?
Golf carts are fun unless you have a dead battery. That is not so much fun. You never know when you are going to need your golf cart.
They can be very useful when you need them. So, how long does it normally take for an 8-volt golf cart battery to be fully charged again?
Well, that depends. If you have a new 8-volt golf cart battery, then it should only take about 4-5 hours to fully charge them again.
However, if they are older and have been sitting around for a while then it may take up to 5 hours or more. The main thing is to make sure you don’t overcharge them.
If you overcharge lifeless 8-volt golf cart batteries then they will most definitely explode.
So always be careful when charging your 8-volt golf cart batteries and make sure to follow these steps outlined here in this article to ensure a full charge time of 4-6 hours.
How many Volts Does a 12V Battery Produce?
A fully charged 12-volt battery will have a total of 12 volts. However, it won’t always be just that simple.
For example, if you have a dead battery then you might not have enough voltage to power the golf cart starter. In this case, your electric start might turn but not enough for your engine to catch so don’t worry.
You can, however, use jumper cables to jump another running golf cart. To do this, connect the positive cable from the working cart to your dead cart’s positive terminals first then connect the negative wire afterward.
This should give you enough power for your engine to catch and you will be on your way!
However, if you have a brand new 12-volt golf cart battery then you should be able to start your engine right away without any problems.
As long as the terminals are clean and the wires are attached correctly, then you shouldn’t have any trouble starting up your electric starter.
Can I use Jumper Cables to Jumpstart a Car With a Dead Battery?
Yes, you can use jumper cables to jumpstart your vehicle. For example, if you have an 8-volt golf cart battery then simply connect the positive on one end of the first cable and attach it to the dead batteries’ positive side.
On the other end of the other cable, you will need to attach the negative from your other car which should be running. Connect this end to your dead batteries’ negative side and then start up your car to give it enough power.
This should give you enough power for your engine to catch and you can go on about the road. If the terminals are clean and the wires are attached correctly, then you shouldn’t have any trouble starting up your electric starter.
Final Thoughts!
Taking care of your golf cart batteries is important so you’ll want to properly maintain them. If you take the time to recharge them then it will extend their life which means that you won’t have to spend as much on new ones.
Using a 6-volt charger for 8v batteries and vice versa could damage it since it won’t charge like it’s supposed to, so it’s best to use the correct charger for your batteries.
We hope that this article helped you learn how to properly charge 8v golf cart batteries with a 12v charger without damaging them by overcharging them which can cause them to pop or blow up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you trick a golf cart charger?
Trick a charger into thinking that your golf cart is fully charged if you have been using it for an extended period and the battery is drained.
To do this, just attach the battery charger’s clips to both ends of your battery. The charger will read these as full charges and trick itself into thinking that there is enough power in your battery.
How do I recharge my golf cart batteries?
You will need to find an outlet to plug your golf cart’s charger into. Then attach the clips to the battery terminals.
Once this is done, you should see some results within 15-20 minutes depending on how drained your battery is.
How often do I need to recharge my 8-volt golf cart batteries?
You will want to re-charge your batteries at least once a month to keep the battery in good condition.
What is the best way to charge 8-volt golf cart batteries?
To ensure that you don’t overcharge your 8-volt golf cart batteries, it’s best if you hook up your charger and leave it for no more than 2 hours.
This should be enough time for your batteries to fully charge so you can get the most out of it.
How do I service my golf cart’s battery charger?
Just check that the wire is clean, that it’s attached securely to both ends of the battery, and that the terminals are free from any debris.
What should I do if my golf cart won’t start?
If your cart’s engine won’t catch then you should check that the battery is good enough to power the starter.
Plugin your jumper cables into another running cart and attach them to your dead battery. This should give it enough power for its engine to catch and get you on your way again.
What happens if you charge a 6-volt battery with a 12-volt charger?
If you charge a 6-volt battery with a 12-volt charger, then it would result in overcharging which could cause the battery to blow up.
For example, if you have an 8-volt golf cart battery then just use an 8-volt charger on that instead of using a 12 volt one. This will ensure that you don’t overcharge the battery and blow it up.
Also, you should never have any trouble if charged correctly so always make sure to charge your batteries without overcharging them to ensure that they last as long as possible.
If you do experience troubles then consult a professional since this is not something an amateur usually has problems with.
Baker Hughes
I am Baker Hughes and I live in the USA. I am an electrical engineer and work with 12 Volt products. I want to explore this section more because it is an area of interest for me that has been developed over time. I have 10 Years of experience with 12 Volt products, specifically wiring, installation, guide, reviews, and troubleshooting.
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