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does it hurt to leave my club car golf cat charger plugged in when not in use

by Ken Lebsack I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Most modern golf cart chargers are programmed to shut off automatically once the battery is fully charged and you can leave them plugged in for as long as you want. However, if you have an older charger or one that doesn’t automatically shut off, leaving it plugged in after the cart is fully charged may damage the battery.

Manufacturers suggest leaving your golf cart plugged in all of the time while using an auto battery charger, as it will keep the batteries fully charged and always available. If batteries are not charged for prolonged storage, they may damage over time and deliver less capacity.

Full Answer

Can I leave my golf car charger plugged in?

E-Z-GO indicates that you may leave your charger plugged in, but do so at your own risk. If your golf car has an external, or portable charger, (which pretty much all the 48V golf cars have) you should disconnect the charging plug from the vehicle receptacle

Should I charge my golf cart after every use?

In most cases, it is a healthy practice to bring your golf cart’s battery bank up to a full charge after each use. Especially if planning on going away for awhile and the cart will sit in storage. So yes, it is a good idea to charge after each use.

Why won’t my a club car golf cart turn off?

A Club Car golf cart will not shut off if the OBC is outdated or faulty. In this case, the reason depends on whether the charger is not shutting off when it is plugged into the device, or it is not plugged in but still not shutting off.

Why is my golf cart Charger always hot?

A cheap extension cord can cause the charger to overheat. Give the charger room to breathe and make sure it is on a hard surface, preferably the garage floor. With that said, if the golf cart charger is always hot and always giving off a bad smell, you should contact the manufacturer to confirm that everything is functioning properly.

Can I leave the battery charger on my golf cart?

No, it's not recommended that you leave your golf cart plugged in all the time. Although automatic chargers are designed to prevent over-charging, there is still the risk of the circuit breaker tripping, which would result in damage to your battery's cells.

Should I leave my club car plugged in?

Leaving your golf cart plugged all the time is not an ideal maintenance practice for the longevity of your battery. If you are an individual owner, experts recommend unplugging your golf cart battery when it's fully charged. A golf cart battery is like the fuel in your car; it needs to be at its optimum all the time.

How long can you leave a charger on a golf cart?

Charge your batteries for 8 to 10 hours with the proper style of golf cart battery charger. The best practice is to charge overnight after you are done using your cart for the day. Even if you only used the cart for 5 minutes, you'll want to give the golf cart batteries a good charge.

Should you charge your golf cart every night?

Should you charge new golf cart batteries? Yes. New golf cart batteries should be charged every time they are used as this will extend their lifespan, help them retain their capacity for longer, and prevent discharge. It is vitally important to charge new golf cart batteries, even after their first use.

How often should I add water to my golf cart batteries?

DO: You have to get your timing right. After charging your battery is when you want to add water. Adding water after charging prevents acid from spilling over. ... We recommend service once or twice a year. Always use distilled water so you don't add additional minerals into your battery.

How do you keep golf cart batteries charged in the winter?

Find an Indoor Storage Area The best place to store any golf-cart batteries is by looking for a cool and dry area. It shouldn't be cold, such as an exposed area to the elements, but cool. Cool temperatures will slow the battery's discharge rate. You want a slow discharge so that the battery maintains its charge.

Should you leave electric golf cart plugged in all the time?

Manufacturers suggest leaving your golf cart plugged in all of the time while using an auto battery charger, as it will keep the batteries fully charged and always available. If batteries are not charged for prolonged storage, they may damage over time and deliver less capacity.

Should lithium golf batteries be left on charger?

If the battery is being used regularly (once a week for example), it is OK to leave it connected to the charger, with the charger turned on. The Battery Management System (BMS) within the battery will prevent any damage.

How much electricity does a golf cart charger use?

For this case, let's take into account a 120 volt charger that draws 10 amps. Volts multiplied by amps yields watts as the product, so the result is 1,200 watts. Divide 1.2 kilowatts by an hour and an electric golf cart consumes about 1.2 kWH.

What is the proper way to charge golf cart batteries?

3:225:42How to Charge Dead Golf Cart Batteries Manually - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe recommend starting by charging each battery for 5 to 10 minutes at a time and then moving on toMoreWe recommend starting by charging each battery for 5 to 10 minutes at a time and then moving on to the next. One.

Should I charge my golf cart in tow or run?

Golf Cart Battery Care NEVER work on the golf cart without flipping the RUN/TOW switch to "TOW." Batteries should be recharged after each day's use. Flip the RUN/TOW switch to "TOW" when charging to avoid damage to the controller. We recommend charging between any usage; if it is feasible to do so.

Is it safe to charge a golf cart in the garage?

Batteries should never be used longer than recommended by the manufacturer. When charging a golf cart, it is preferable to do so outside, but it is acceptable to charge them in a garage as long as the windows and door are open or it is otherwise well ventilated.

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Why do golf cart batteries deteriorate?

The main reason would be a concern for the golf cart battery. Manufacturers recommend leaving your golf cart plugged in all of the time, but only if using an automatic battery charger. This will keep the batteries topped off and ready to go. If batteries are not charged over a storage period of several months, they can deteriorate ...

What type of batteries does a club car use?

They have produced carts with 48V lead-acid configurations and lithium ion batteries. However, the 48V lead acid carts are the most common. The Club Car guidelines for charging such a cart are as follows:

How hot should a Yamaha cart be?

The location of storage should maintain a temperature between 0 degrees celsius (32F) and 32 degrees Celsius (90F).

How cold should a golf cart battery be?

As we know, it is a pain to uninstall and reinstall golf cart batteries, my recommendation would be to make sure your golf cart is stored above 32 degrees F and keep them charged and maintained throughout winter. This will prolong their life and keep older batteries running for a long time.

Can you leave a battery charger plugged in?

The battery chargers can be left plugged in during prolonged storage, if the charger is plugged into an active electrical source. If the electrical source is not consistent, you should not leave the battery chargers plugged in , for the battery charger will automatically continue to address the battery pack.

Who makes electric golf carts?

The three major manufacturers of electric golf carts are Club Car, E-Z-GO, and Yamaha, and it seems most of the confusion surrounding the question at hand is their fault. Well, let’s not blame any of the three companies, but they are certainly responsible, for each of these three major golf cart manufacturers address the question differently.

Why is my golf cart battery charger not working?

Bad connections will cause any battery charger to not function properly. After you've charged up your batteries and checked every connection and you are still having issues, it's probably safe to say you've got a golf cart battery charger problem and may need to service it or buy a new one.

Why is my golf cart charging red?

Occasionally a red fault light on a golf cart charger can mean that the batteries do not have enough voltage in them to allow the charger to kick on (see Charging Dead Golf Cart Batteries above).

What is an OBC on a club car?

When you plug the charger into your Club Car, the OBC will tell the battery charger when to start and stop charging based on the voltage levels in your batteries.

What voltage do you need for a 36V golf cart?

You must match volts to volts. A 36V cart requires a 36 volt golf cart charger. A 48V cart requires a 48 volt golf cart charger. You can burn up your batteries if you do not charge with the proper voltage.

How many volts does a golf cart battery need?

An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.

Why is my charger making a clicking noise?

If the charger makes a loud clicking noise, this is likely a battery charger issue.

How to keep a charger from getting hot?

But here are a few general tips to keep the charger from overheating: Make sure that your battery cable connections are correct, clean and tight.

Where is the charging plug on a golf cart?

Connect charging plug to the cart’s charging outlet – the charging outlet can be located on the exterior of the cart or underneath the seat. Leave the charger connected until the battery is fully charged – not allowing your battery to fully charge might reduce its lifespan.

How long does it take to charge an electric golf cart?

It can take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours to fully charge your electric golf cart. This is assuming the battery is nearly discharged. The exact time it will take depends on the age of your batteries and the type of charger you use. Generally, you can expect older batteries to take longer to charge (5+ hours).

What does a red light on a battery charger mean?

Others have indicator lights to let you know. For example, a red light might mean that the battery still needs to be charged while a green light usually indicates it is fully charged.

Can you charge a golf cart with a generator?

Most people choose to use a simple wall outlet from their home. If your golf cart is usually stored somewhere where this is not an option, you can also use a generator. ***Make sure you charge your cart in a well-ventilated area.

Can you overcharge a golf cart battery?

If you frequently run your cart until the battery is nearly dead, it will damage the battery and can significantly shorten its lifespan. On the other hand, it’s important not to overcharge your electric golf cart battery as repetitive over-charging can also lead to battery damage.

How often should I check battery cables?

Battery cables should be torqued to 110 INCH pounds, using a ½ inch click wrench. This should be checked every 6 months.

Do cart tires have air pressure?

Tire Pressure. · Please note that when cart tires are low on air pressure, they do not appear “flat” like car tires. You must use a pressure gage to insure that the tires area properly inflated. · Use caution when inflating tires. Due to the low volume of the small tires, over-inflation can occur quickly.

Should I plug a car charger in at all times?

Since the charger should be plugged in at all times, it is wise to protect it against lightening. · Batteries should be charged after EACH period of use, no matter how short you used it. · When plugging charger into car, verify that the ammeter needle moves to the right side of the meter window.

Can a car be plugged in?

Charging –Cars should be plugged in at ALL times, when not in use. This includes cars that are out of use. Cars that are not plugged in can self-discharge over several weeks and virtually “kill” the battery pack. · Connect your battery charger to a readily available surge protector outlet/strip.

How long does it take for a battery to charge?

Newer batteries that have only a 20 to 30 percent depth of discharge (dod) will probably take 1 to 3 hours to fully charge using a heavy duty charger.

Do golf cart batteries shut off?

This is especially true when the cart will sit in storage for a while. When you are using an automatic golf cart charger, they will shut off once the batteries are at full capacity .

Can a golf cart battery charger be used for service?

Your battery charger can only receive service from a golf cart battery professional. Ensure that the professional you select has experience in repairing golf cart chargers, as you do not want to jeopardize the functionality of your golf cart battery. They will be able to evaluate the charger and diagnose any issues.

Why is my club car not charging?

The cause of a Club Car golf not charging is either a dead battery, a damaged power cable, or a faulty charger.

Why won't my club car golf cart turn off?

A Club Car golf cart will not shut off if the OBC is outdated or faulty. In this case, the reason depends on whether the charger is not shutting off when it is plugged into the device , or it is not plugged in but still not shutting off.

Why is my charger clicking?

If the charger is clicking while plugging it in, and doing nothing, examine your charger and probably replace it . If the “brain” of the charger fails , then it can cause several issues, and the batteries will not charge. Purchasing a new one or repairing the component can solve the problem.

What is the OBC on a 48V club car?

In the 48V club cars, the OBC is primarily responsible for the batteries’ charge. It controls the batteries charging, which is why the 48V requires a fully functional OBC all the time. Connect the batteries to a voltmeter and check if the charger is generating enough power.

What happens if your golf cart battery is low?

If the water level of the batteries is low, then the blade inside it will be dried, and you won’t be able to recharge your battery. Charging problems of golf carts are not something new. It can be quickly resolved. All you need to do is to examine the cart thoroughly and immediately replace the faulty parts.

How to keep car batteries charged when idle?

Try to keep specific chargers, which will help your batteries to stay charged even when the car is idle. Enough power supply is critical to keep the charger working and keep the batteries charging. Check your connections, and then turn on your charger.

What does it mean when a charger is bad?

Bad charger: if the charger turns on but there is no sign of charging. If the charger is making noises like a loud click, before kicking off. If the charger keeps charging even after turning the switch off then, without any doubt, it’s time to replace the charger.

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