Golf is a sport that is fun to play and great for your health. As such, it’s no surprise that so many people enjoy this sport intimately.
The golf cart has enormously increased the sport’s popularity by minimizing physical requirements. For golf, these days, people use a golf cart – a small vehicle that transfers golf players and their luggage across the often large golf court. It usually runs on electricity.
This article provides the necessary information for making your golf life easier and improving the charging time for the carts.
Charging Golf Carts
Since golf carts are typically electrical, you can’t run on a one-time charge forever. You will need to charge it almost every time before using it. We all know charging is quite a long, drawn-out process. Therefore, it is generally a wise choice to devise a plan to manage your golf cart’s charge time and usage.
We can not emphasize enough how important it is to learn about the charging management of your golf cart. Just imagine you did not pay enough attention to the remaining battery and got stuck halfway through your ride. Beyond that, your battery may have a fault that causes it to drain away faster than usual. Such issues may sound trivial but can result in really unpleasant outcomes. This calls for users to gather basic knowledge of the battery and its charging.
How Long Does it Take to Charge Your Golf Cart?
New users frequently ask this question. The answer is, charging time depends on several factors. It also varies, depending on the type of golf cart battery.
Specifically, the charge time for lead acid batteries is noticeably different from that of a lithium-based battery.
That said, the commonest type of battery in golf carts is lead acid batteries. The average charging time of these batteries is around 7-8 hours. Other batteries may take longer or shorter time depending upon the type and other factors. The minimum charging time reported by the users is about 3 hours. However, a fully drained battery takes up to 14 hours, regardless of its type.
Factors Influencing the Charging Time
Now let us jump on the things that directly affect your golf cart’s battery. This can help you better predict how long your cart will run fine without charging.
Battery type
As discussed earlier, the battery type is a vital parameter that makes a battery good or bad in terms of its charging time. A battery that can last longer is the users’ number one priority. That said, lead acid-type batteries are the most common batteries found in golf carts. They are common because they can run for 15 hours after being charged once. This longevity is the reason why people prefer lead-acid batteries over other types. Moreover, they are way more budget-friendly. However, these batteries require a ton of maintenance.
Type of charger
Just as everyone is interested more in fast-charging mobile chargers, a golf cart owner is always searching for a good quality fast charger for his cart. This search is obvious because everyone wants to save up the time consumed in charging. You can better utilize this time for running errands or going to play golf instead of getting frustrated over low charging speeds.
A fast charger can reduce your charging time by 50%. For example, in the case of a lead acid battery, instead of waiting for your golf cart to be charged in 14 hours, you can just get done with it in 5-6 hours. Moreover, find a charger that is compatible with your battery to avoid subsequent issues. To find the right charger, read the user manual thoroughly.
Temperature
Heat is another important factor defining your charging time. It is necessary to keep your battery in a cool environment while charging. This is because overheating can hurt battery performance. Thus, your golf cart’s battery will take more time to charge and will be discharged earlier than expected.
If you live in a place with consistently hot weather, your golf cart’s battery might be at risk, especially if it’s not properly taken care of. As such, you should ensure the room where you charge the battery is kept at a cool temperature.
That way, your battery will stay healthy for longer, making your cart efficient in terms of power output and time. Keep in mind that it’s not only high temperatures that take a toll on your battery life. Under freezing temperatures, your battery might also suffer permanent damage leading to battery failure in the future.
Battery Age
Similar to the case of any other battery, an older golf cart battery does not work as well or last as long as it used to. A battery calls for replacement typically after 3-7 years of usage. After purchasing a fresh battery, it works more efficiently, but as time progresses, the chemicals inside it begin to decay. As a result, the battery starts to perform poorly, i.e., it takes more time to charge and discharges faster or may not charge at all. So, the point here is to avoid later annoyance over battery issues. Therefore, you should invest in a new battery every 5 years.
How Can You Reduce the Charging Time?
Some tips and tricks can help you keep your battery healthy, leading to fast charging. Let us talk about these so you can maintain your golf cart’s battery.
Cleaning
With time, dust, dirt, and grease can accumulate around the battery’s terminals. This, in turn, disrupts the flow of electricity. To optimize the performance of your battery, clean the terminals of the battery regularly. Cleaning will ensure proper energy flow from your battery.
Check the Cable Connection
Worn-out cables or loose connections will eventually lead to battery failure. This is due to loose connections and faulty cables; no electrical connection is established to deliver charges to your battery. During routine maintenance, take a deeper look at the cables’ connections and wear and tear. Make sure connections are secure and there are no damaged wires.
Use a Compatible Charger
A charger that is not compatible with your battery can make your battery slow and reduce its lifespan. While looking for a charger, go for the one mentioned in the batteries user manual to avoid future inconvenience.
Conclusion
Getting straight to the point, a golf cart will make your life easier and give you the edge of going to nearby places faster. Despite its primary usage in the golf area, people commonly use it in spaces such as school and college campuses, hospitals, military bases, and country clubs.
When it comes to charging, this information will help you take care of your golf cart. Make sure you have the right charger and battery. After getting to know basic know-how of charging the batteries, you can now smartly manage the charging times. Ensure the safety and maintenance of your batteries so you can enjoy golf carting.
