[sstarr]

What kind of batteries does a golf cart use? What's deep cycle? How many different batteries are there anyway? I've always been confused and at 71 yrs its high time I find out. Eh? :) Tnx, Sharon

[tkrussell]

This should answer most of your questions:

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ

[jcaron2]

Different models and manufacturers use different types. I think 6V and 8V batteries are both pretty common, and they're usually arranged with six batteries in series to provide 36V or 48V (depending on whether the individual batteries are 6V or 8V) to run the motor.

Deep cycle batteries have thick solid lead plates inside them which allow the battery to repeatedly be drained of most of its charge then recharged. This is as opposed to the more common "starting" batteries like you'd find in your car. Starting batteries have thinner and more porous lead plates inside the battery, and are therefore designed to deliver short bursts of extremely high current with limited ability to be recharged if drained too far.

As the link TKRussell provided says, just because a battery is labeled "golf cart", that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a deep-cycle battery. Apparently "golf cart" or "golf car", when speaking of batteries, relates to the size, not the construction. Therefore, you need to be careful to make absolutely sure that any golf cart batteries you buy are truly deep-cycle.