Can you use 3 12-volt batteries in a 36 volt golf cart?
James Craig
Published Jan 23, 2026
If you have a 36-volt golf cart that runs on six 6-volt batteries, you can replace them with three 12-volt batteries, which often are easier to find.
How do you connect 3 12-volt batteries to make 36 volts?
Attach a wire running from the negative (-) terminal of the second battery to the positive (+) terminal of the third battery. The remaining two terminals should be the positive (+) on the first battery and the negative (-) on the third battery. These two terminals will now output 36 volts.
How can I get more power out of my 36 volt golf cart?
6 Ways You Can Make a Golf Cart Faster
- Add More Torque to Your Golf Cart.
- Upgrade Your Golf Cart's Motor.
- Improve the High-Speed Controller of the Cart.
- Add Better Golf Cart Tires.
- Use a Higher Powered Golf Cart Battery.
- Watch the Weight in Your Golf Cart.
How many batteries do I need for a 36 volt golf cart?
If you're working with a golf cart that has 36 volts, this means that it will contain six batteries in total, with each battery containing six volts of power.
Can I use 12V batteries in my golf cart?
Can You Use Regular Car Batteries in a Golf Cart? The short answer is yes. Standard car batteries are 12-volts, and you could connect three or four of them in series to provide the required 36 or 48 volts to your golf cart motor. However, the design of car batteries provides a huge surge of current for short periods.
45 related questions foundWhat size batteries do golf carts use?
Golf carts use a series of batteries that supply the needed voltage and amperage, so size and power requirements are key features for a replacement. Be aware that golf carts do not use a single battery, but multiples of 6V, 8V, or 12V batteries.
How many volts should a 36 volt golf cart have?
For example: a 36v battery pack will read 38.2v fully charged. Maximum drop under load should not be more than 6v below 38.2v equal to 32 volts or less.
Can you put 48 volt batteries in a 36 volt golf cart?
Yes, but effective and simple. However, although it is possible to upgrade these vehicles to electronic speed control at either the 36V or 48V level, I would not recommend it due to the cost associated with the conversion. You can buy a modern 48V cart for far less money than the 36v to 48v conversion.
What size battery for EZ GO golf cart?
An EZGo golf cart has either 3, 4, 6, or 8, golf cart batteries. The average golf cart will need 4 to 6 batteries (mostly 6) for optimum performance.
Is 30 mph fast for a golf cart?
Depending on how far you want to go on a full charge, you might want a 40mph or a 30mph golf cart. At top speed, most golf carts do around 14mph. However, with the advent of street legal golf carts and modifications, it is possible to go 35mph and above.
How can I make my electric EZ Go golf cart go faster?
Increasing the speed of your EZ Go golf cart can be done by reprograming your speed control at the dealer, upgrading your batteries, motor, or replacing your speed control. Upgrading these can increase your typical speed from 12 MPH to 19.5 mph or above depending on your modifications.
How can I make my EZ Go golf cart go faster?
One way to increase the speed of EZ Go golf carts is to incorporate an octane booster when you fill the tank. The cart will have more pick-up, and it could gain as much as 5 mph. A different approach is to take out the throttle linkage governor on the carburetor.
How do you hook up a 36 volt battery?
One 36V Battery
First, connect the positive (red) terminal of the 36V battery to the positive (red) lead on the motor. Then attach the negative (black) terminal to the negative (black) lead on the engine. And that's it. Your installation is complete.
Which is better 36 volt or 48 volt golf cart?
Basically, a 48V system gives you more “pep in your step” and picks up/speeds up a bit faster than a 36V system. Energy Needed/Amps Drawn- A 48V system draws less amps and provides a little more range with all things being equal (cart/passenger payload weight, motor horsepower, etc).
How do I upgrade my 36V golf cart to 48V?
You can upgrade the battery system by replacing the current batteries with four 12-volt batteries for added power. By having a higher amp-hour rating on the larger batteries, you can avoid more recharging times for the cart.
What happens if you put 48V to a 36V motor?
It won't hurt it to try it. All the will happen is that the controller will shut down earlier if the cut off voltage is set for the 48v which might be right at 42v which would be peak on the 36v.
At what voltage is a 36 volt battery dead?
Voltage: most ebike kits are rated for a specific voltage range. A typical 36v ebike needs a battery that delivers power between 42v to 30v. A 36v pack, at 42v is fully 100% charged and holding as much energy as it can and at 30v it should shut down and stop giving power before causing permanent damage..
How long should a 36v golf cart charge last?
How Long Will a Cart Last Fully Charged? # Typically, an electric golf cart has between 45 and 90 minutes of full-power run time on a fully charged battery.
How long does 36 volt golf cart batteries last?
When you drive a battery-powered golf cart model, it's important to charge it correctly and maintain your cart so that your battery will last as long as possible. When you take care of your golf cart's battery, you can expect it to last anywhere between five and ten years.
What kind of batteries does a Club Car golf cart use?
Club Car Precedent Champion models also use a 48-volt system but utilize four BCI Group Size GC12, 12-volt batteries. U.S. Battery's 12VRX XC2 (20-hour rate of 155) provides a great compromise between daily and occasional use.
Can you use marine batteries in golf cart?
The Technical Answer: Yes
It's possible to use a marine battery in place of electric golf cart batteries. They're both technically gel lead acid batteries designed for deep-cycle purposes, reports It Still Runs.
What kind of batteries are used in a golf cart?
The type of deep-cycle Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFeO4) batteries used in golf carts are one of the most stable and safe forms of Lithium-Ion batteries, and are optimized to provide a steady current.