Troubleshooting Slow Golf Cart Speed After Purchase

Troubleshooting Slow Golf Cart Speed After Purchase

The drop in performance of your newly acquired golf cart is likely due to the use of an incompatible charger, which has led to the batteries being undercharged. By securing a suitable 48-volt charger and checking the health of your batteries, you can likely restore the golf cart's speed and reliability. 

Purchasing a used golf cart can be an exciting venture, especially if you're looking forward to leisurely rides around your community or quick trips across the golf course. However, encountering issues like a significant drop in speed can quickly dampen that excitement. As described, your golf cart initially ran at 18 mph but slowed down to about 10 mph after some use, even following a 12-hour charge. Notably, the charger provided is rated for 36 volts while the battery pack is 48 volts. This mismatch raises some immediate concerns and potential solutions to explore.

golf cart

Identifying the Problem: Voltage Incompatibility

The core issue seems to stem from using a 36-volt charger on a 48-volt battery system. Here's why this mismatch is problematic:

  1. Insufficient Charging: A 36-volt charger is not designed to fully charge a 48-volt battery system. The charger simply cannot reach the voltage required to fully charge all the cells in a 48-volt battery, leading to undercharging. Undercharged batteries can exhibit reduced performance, including slower speeds and decreased range.

  2. Battery Strain: Consistently charging with an incorrect voltage can strain the batteries, potentially reducing their lifespan and efficiency. The inability to achieve a full charge means the batteries are continually operating in a state of partial discharge, which is not ideal for battery health.

Troubleshooting Steps

To address and potentially fix the speed issue, consider the following steps:

Step 1: Check the Charger and Battery Compatibility

  • Verify the specifications of both the charger and the battery pack. If the charger is indeed for a 36-volt system as suspected, it will not adequately charge a 48-volt battery pack.

Step 2: Acquire the Correct Charger

  • Purchase a compatible 48-volt charger for your golf cart. Using the appropriate charger ensures that your batteries are charged optimally, which should improve both the speed and range of the cart.

Step 3: Test the Battery Condition

  • Even with the correct charger, old batteries might not return to optimal condition if they have been undercharged for an extended period. Test the battery pack using a battery tester to check for damaged or dead cells that might need replacing.
golf cart batteries

Step 4: Look for Other Potential Issues

  • While the charger and battery mismatch is a likely cause, other issues could also contribute to reduced speed. Check for any signs of wear or damage in the motor, alignment issues, or brake dragging that could be affecting performance.

Step 5: Consider a Professional Inspection

  • If you're not comfortable performing these checks yourself, or if the problem persists after addressing the charger issue, consider having a professional technician inspect the golf cart. They can provide a more thorough diagnosis and ensure that all components are functioning correctly.

Conclusion

The drop in performance of your newly acquired golf cart is likely due to the use of an incompatible charger, which has led to the batteries being undercharged. By securing a suitable 48-volt charger and checking the health of your batteries, you can likely restore the golf cart's speed and reliability. Remember, maintaining the correct charging setup is crucial not only for performance but also for extending the life of your golf cart's batteries.

Continue Reading:

1. How to Test Golf Cart Batteries: A Comprehensive Guide

2 comments

Zachary

Zachary

Hello, first please make sure the battery’s power switch is turned on. Once it’s on, try connecting to the battery using the Vatrer APP. If the APP successfully connects to the battery, please take a screenshot of the information displayed and send it to the email brand@vatrerpower.com. This will allow us to better assist you in diagnosing the problem. If you are unable to connect to the APP via Bluetooth, please let us know, and we will provide further assistance.

Hello, first please make sure the battery’s power switch is turned on. Once it’s on, try connecting to the battery using the Vatrer APP. If the APP successfully connects to the battery, please take a screenshot of the information displayed and send it to the email brand@vatrerpower.com. This will allow us to better assist you in diagnosing the problem. If you are unable to connect to the APP via Bluetooth, please let us know, and we will provide further assistance.

Keith

Keith

Just purchased and received a new 48v Lifepo4 battery. Installed it in my EZGO txt. I have no power cord Ming out of the battery checked with volt meter. Wires all hooked up as per directions. Need help please

Just purchased and received a new 48v Lifepo4 battery. Installed it in my EZGO txt. I have no power cord Ming out of the battery checked with volt meter. Wires all hooked up as per directions. Need help please

Leave a comment

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Prices are updated in real time

Lithium Batteries Price List

Lithium Battery Model Price Discounted Buy link
36 volt golf cart batteries ez go 11 36V lithium golf cart battery for EZGO $1,599.99 Save $600.00 Shop Now
36 volt golf cart batteries for Club Car 11 36V 105Ah Club Car golf cart battery $1,599.99 Save $600.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 48V 105Ah ICON golf cart lifepo4 battery 11 48V 105Ah ICON lithium golf cart battery $1,699.99 Save $700.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 100Ah 150A BMS LiFePO4 Battery for Trolling Motors Bluetooth Version 11 12V 100Ah (Trolling Motor) $249.99 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 100Ah heated lithium battery 11 12V 100Ah (Self-heating) $269.99 Save $100.00 Shop Now
12v 100ah lithium ion battery 11 12V 100Ah $288.99 Save $31.00 Shop Now
12v 100ah lithium ion battery 11 12V 100Ah $169.99 Save $150.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 100Ah(Group 24) Low Temp Cutoff LiFePO4 Battery with Bluetooth 11 12V 100Ah (Group 24) $219.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 12Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery 11 12V 12Ah $59.99 Sold out Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 200Ah 100A BMS Low Temp Cutoff LiFePO4 Lithium Battery 11 12V 200Ah 100A BMS $439.99 Shop Now
12V 200Ah Bluetooth LiFePO4 Lithium Battery 11 12V 200Ah (Self-heating) $559.99 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 200Ah Plus 200A BMS Low Temp Cutoff Lithium Battery 11 12V 200Ah Plus 200A BMS $459.99 Save $130.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 20AH LiFePO4 Rechargeable Deep Cycle Lithium Battery 11 12V 20Ah $69.99 Shop Now
12V 230AH Low Temp Cutoff LiFePO4 RV Battery 11 12V 230Ah $539.99 Save $100.00 Shop Now
12V 300Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery 11 12V 300Ah $669.99 Save $220.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 300AH Bluetooth LiFePO4 Lithium Battery with Self-Heating 11 12V 300Ah (Self-heating) $669.99 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 30AH LiFePO4 Lithium Rechargeable Battery 11 12V 30Ah $89.99 Shop Now
lithium battery for rv 11 12V 460Ah $1,399.99 Save $300.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 50Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery 11 12V 50Ah $119.99 Save $80.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 12V 7Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Fish Finder Battery 11 12V 7Ah $29.99 Sold out Shop Now
24V 100Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery 11 24V 100Ah $559.99 Save $140.00 Shop Now
24V 200Ah Lithium Battery 11 24V 200Ah $1,099.99 Shop Now
36V 105Ah LiFePO4 Golf Cart Battery 11 36V 105Ah lithium golf cart battery $1,599.99 Save $600.00 Shop Now
48V 100Ah Stacked Cells Modular Battery Pack 11 48V Stacked 2 Cells Modular Battery $4,999.99 Save $400.00 Shop Now
48V 100AH LiFePO4 Server Rack Lithium Solar Battery 11 48V 100Ah $1,199.99 Sold out Shop Now
48V 105Ah lithium golf cart battery for Club Car 11 48V 105Ah Narrow Version Golf Cart Battery $1,699.99 Save $700.00 Shop Now
48V 105Ah LiFePO4 Club Car Golf Cart Battery 11 48V 105Ah Club Car lithium golf cart battery $1,699.99 Save $700.00 Shop Now
48V 105Ah LiFePO4 Golf Cart Battery 11 48V 105Ah EZ GO lithium golf cart battery $1,699.99 Save $700.00 Shop Now
Yamaha golf cart batteries 11 48V 105Ah Yamaha golf cart battery $1,699.99 Save $700.00 Shop Now
48V Golf Cart Battery 11 48V 105Ah LiFePO4 lithium golf cart battery $1,699.99 Save $700.00 Shop Now
48V 105Ah Heated LiFePO4 Golf Cart Battery 11 48V 105Ah (Self-heating) golf cart battery $1,879.99 Save $1,420.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 48V 150Ah High Capacity Lithium Golf Cart Battery, 200A BMS, 7680Wh, Max 10.24kW Power Output 11 48V 150Ah Golf Cart Battery $2,499.99 Save $1,400.00 Shop Now
51.2V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Solar Battery 11 51.2V 100Ah $986.99 Save $313.00 Shop Now
Wall Mounted Lithium Battery 11 51.2V 100Ah Wall-Mounted $1,299.99 Save $300.00 Shop Now
Vatrer 72V Club Car Batteries 6 72V(70.4V) Battery for Club Car $2,499.99 Save $1,200.00 Shop Now
gem lithium conversion 11 72V(70.4V) Battery for GEM $2,499.99 Save $1,200.00 Shop Now
72 volt golf cart battery 11 72V(70.4V) 105Ah $2,499.99 Save $1,200.00 Shop Now

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join our community. Get the latest news & offers!