Load testing an 8 volt battery

[87chevy]

I just got a load tester to test my 8volt batteries but the question is what should the reading drop to when the load is put on each individual battery? Like they start with about 8.6 volts but when they drop what is the lowest the should go to know if they are bad or not?

[scottyb]

A golf cart is the best tester. Likely you have a 50 amp or a 100 amp tester. That's good for car batteries but golf cart batteries should be tested at 2 to 3 times this load. The cart itself will provide the load under hard start preferably uphill.
Simple fix alligator clamps to your meter and test each battery. A drop of 1v is acceptable under severe load. a drop of 2v or more indicates a bad cell.

Take paper and pen and write down the before voltage and load voltage drop. Post the results here.

[87chevy]

Originally Posted by scottyb

A golf cart is the best tester. Likely you have a 50 amp or a 100 amp tester. That's good for car batteries but golf cart batteries should be tested at 2 to 3 times this load. The cart itself will provide the load under hard start preferably uphill.
Simple fix alligator clamps to your meter and test each battery. A drop of 1v is acceptable under severe load. a drop of 2v or more indicates a bad cell.

Take paper and pen and write down the before voltage and load voltage drop. Post the results here.

Okay that sounds good. I can't really drive the cart as of right now I took it apart to change the frame out and I live in New York so I decided to make it a winter project. I was really hoping I could test the batteries individually since they were out of the cart and just sitting in the basement. But I guess I have to wait until spring to try them out.

[mrgolf]

The best thing you can do for those batteries is put them on a piece of wood and hook them to a battery maintainer. Until you can put them back in the cart. If you wait until spring they may not make it.

You can hook them all together to do this.

[CCFanatic]

Originally Posted by 87chevy

Okay that sounds good. I can't really drive the cart as of right now I took it apart to change the frame out and I live in New York so I decided to make it a winter project. I was really hoping I could test the batteries individually since they were out of the cart and just sitting in the basement. But I guess I have to wait until spring to try them out.

Where in NY are you?

[87chevy]

Originally Posted by mrgolf

The best thing you can do for those batteries is put them on a piece of wood and hook them to a battery maintainer. Until you can put them back in the cart. If you wait until spring they may not make it.

You can hook them all together to do this.

Is there a special battery maintainer I need or can it be a car one? I already have them on a pallet.

[87chevy]

Originally Posted by CCFanatic

Where in NY are you?

Poughkeepsie area!

[mrgolf]

Do you have a cart charger?

[87chevy]

Originally Posted by mrgolf

Do you have a cart charger?

Yeah I do but like just the normal one that I plug into the cart

[mrgolf]

It may be worth it for you to buy a 48 volt battery maintainer.