36v vs. 48v Golf Carts?

[rOmiLaYu]

Not exactly a car question but they technically do have a motor so I thought this might get more eyes in this forum. I have had a 36v EZGO Textron for years. It's on it's third set of batteries I think...90's model, again, I think. No tow switch, no speed controller, no auto braking...nothing.

I recently acquired a 2018 ClubCar Villager 8. It's a 2018 model and is 48v. Batteries, at least visually, appear relatively new. All kinds of electronics that the 36v doesn't have. Here's my question. Should a 48v, heavier and carrying more weight, complete with electronics that have a parasitic draw, run down quicker than a 36v, all things being the same?

With my 36v, I can charge it and take several trips for multiple miles each and it will last over two weeks or so before needing a charge. The 48v lasts only about 4 trips before needing recharging. So I'm wondering if the batteries are bad-ish or if it's just a different game with 48v carts. It goes much faster than 36v so, in my mind, it's kind of like an economy car vs sports car thing. Your Honda Civic is going to further on the same amount of gas than your Lamborghini, right?

I know, I know...hook it up to a ohmmeter or volt meter or something, but I don't have one and wouldn't know what the numbers would mean anyhow. Any shade tree golf cart experts out there?

 

[LARGO9]

The more equipment you have on your cart the more power drain, Go out and watch your meter on the house and have your wife start turning on everything in the house on and watch your meter spin faster and faster.

 

[sniper22]

Is the 48v 4-12v batteries? More batteries = more plate surface area which gives longer power.

 

[colts]

Check for a weak battery. They will lie to you and say full charge. Put each on a load tester. Its under load when the weak batteries show themselves. My carts a 48 and so are two of my boats. I can hunt a weak and not charge it. Could be something drawing , but it sounds like you may have some battery problem

 

[rOmiLaYu]

The more equipment you have on your cart the more power drain, Go out and watch your meter on the house and have your wife start turning on everything in the house on and watch your meter spin faster and faster.

Right, I understand that, but even with the additional parasitic draw I would think that the additional 12 volts at 48 over and against 36 with mitigate that and the charge would last about the same time. that doesn't seem to be the case, though.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

Is the 48v 4-12v batteries? More batteries = more plate surface area which gives longer power.

No, there are eight six volt batteries. So you're saying that if I had four 12 volt batteries as opposed to eight 6v batteries it would hold a bigger charge?

 

[GeauxLSU]

Get a load tester. They're cheap.
And convert to lithium.
To answer your question all things being equal the 48 should last longer. But obviously in your scenario all things aren't equal. No way to know for sure.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

Check for a weak battery. They will lie to you and say full charge. Put each on a load tester.

Amazon.com

Something like that^?

 

[colts]

Amazon.com

Something like that^?

Yeah. That will work

 

[rOmiLaYu]

Get a load tester. They're cheap.

See my post below yours. That's a load tester?

Also colts is it safe to assume that I'd need to disconnect and test individually? Assuming that since they are wired in series, just clamping into one would test the bank and not the individual battery.