Electric Golf Cart

[New Englander]

If I buy an electric golf cart and I have to go up north for say two months do I leave it plugged in? Would leaving it plugged in cause harm to the batteries?

[JoMar]

We have two electric carts.....when we go for an extended time we make sure the distilled water is topped off, the batteries are fully chaged then unplug the charger and finally we put the cart of a battery minder. We were gone from the end of June till the end of August and when we returned we unplugged the battery minder and started using them immediately....which was the result of The Villages withdrawal disease....it was great to get home :)

[New Englander]

We have two electric carts.....when we go for an extended time we make sure the distilled water is topped off, the batteries are fully chaged then unplug the charger and finally we put the cart of a battery minder. We were gone from the end of June till the end of August and when we returned we unplugged the battery minder and started using them immediately....which was the result of The Villages withdrawal disease....it was great to get home :)

The battery minder is not the charger. So, you unplug the charger and then plug in the batteryminder? Do all newer electric carts have a battery minder built in?

[autumnspring]

The battery minder is not the charger. So, you unplug the charger and then plug in the batteryminder? Do all newer electric carts have a battery minder built in?

The issue is that typically without being used at all there is a loss of charge in the batteries. I seem to recall it is 2% per day.

The battery minder is a trickle charger-a low rate of charge.
I would NOT fill your batteries BEFORE charging unless the batteries are so low on electrolyte that you can see the plates are above the fluid when you look into the cell. If, that is the case, you want to add enough water so that the plates are covered BUT NOT TO THE PROPER LEVEL.
Reason is by charging the cells you actually raise the electrolyte level. If, you fill the cells before charging and as I said the level rises as the cell is charged, you will spill acid,(electrolyte) on your garage floor.
After the batteries are completely charged you then add DISTILLED water to the proper level. It is the ring at the bottom of the hole on each cell where you add water.
ADD THE RIGHT AMOUNT-MORE IS NOT BETTER.

Whatever you do, I would try it out several days before you leave so you will know all is OK.

[rjm1cc]

I think it depends on what you purchased. My cart says to leave it plugged into the charger. Their is a computer in the cart and the charger. They talk to each other and charge the battery as needed. Look up your manual on the internet for the cart and charger and see what it says. After charging I would top off with water, plug in the charger and take your trip.

[Fredman]

Buy gas and don't worry about it:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

[JoMar]

My post was based on the instructions from the manufacturer.....maybe others have different reactions. One cart is a par car and the other a Star. What I posted is from Par Car and I just did the same with the Star. I also fill with the auto fill, not by sight. Just to clarify what was behind my post. It worked fine for us.

[JoMar]

Buy gas and don't worry about it:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

Which has a whole other set of issues.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

The issue is that typically without being used at all there is a loss of charge in the batteries. I seem to recall it is 2% per day.

The battery minder is a trickle charger-a low rate of charge.
.


A battery minder is a float charger not a trickle charger. A trickle charger never stops charging unless you disconnect it. Result...overcharged battery. A float charger has intelligent circuitry that senses when the battery is charged and shuts itself off until it senses a need for charging.

[New Englander]

Buy gas and don't worry about it:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

I don't want gas.

[New Englander]

My post was based on the instructions from the manufacturer.....maybe others have different reactions. One cart is a par car and the other a Star. What I posted is from Par Car and I just did the same with the Star. I also fill with the auto fill, not by sight. Just to clarify what was behind my post. It worked fine for us.

But you didn't answer my question.

[rjm1cc]

A battery minder is a float charger not a trickle charger. A trickle charger never stops charging unless you disconnect it. Result...overcharged battery. A float charger has intelligent circuitry that senses when the battery is charged and shuts itself off until it senses a need for charging.

My post above was a Par Car. 3 or 4 years old. My guess is that my charger is working like you described a trickle charger. I think it will go for days before turning on an charging but I have never been around to observe.

[JoMar]

But you didn't answer my question.

I don't know....if we are gone for an extended period of time we do not leave it on the charger but use the battery minder. I have never left them on a charger for more than a week.

[Sgroemm]

I do not leave mine plugged in when I head back to the Jersey Shore for the summer. I was advised by the dealer that they can overheat, cause fires, get a surge from lightning...etc. more trouble than I can list. I do not have a battery minder...but am thinking I will look into one.

[TravelHungry]

What is a battery minder?

[Wiotte]

What is a battery minder?



Monitors voltage, charges as necessary.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bbbbbb]

I don't want gas.

Hi, we have an Easy Go, love it so much. Bought it OUTSIDE THE VILLAGES. So, on gas or electric.

You may want to check your chemistry book for a balanced combustion process. You will find for perfect combustion, and we do not have perfect combustion.
But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, To burn a pint of gas (one pound) it takes 14 pounds of air. So,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 15 pounds of exhaust goes out the pipe, check it out. Electric, No exhaust. Be sure to hold your breath going through the tunnels. Good luck folks.

:ho: :read:

[Biker Dog]

Hi, we have an Easy Go, love it so much. Bought it OUTSIDE THE VILLAGES. So, on gas or electric.

You may want to check your chemistry book for a balanced combustion process. You will find for perfect combustion, and we do not have perfect combustion.
But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, To burn a pint of gas (one pound) it takes 14 pounds of air. So,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 15 pounds of exhaust goes out the pipe, check it out. Electric, No exhaust. Be sure to hold your breath going through the tunnels. Good luck folks.

:ho: :read:
:agree:

[coffeebean]

The 2017 Yamaha gas carts are not that much quieter than the older models. Someone up-thread said these new gas carts are almost as quiet as electric. No way, Jose! My electric Yamaha is whisper quiet and rides smoother than the Yamaha 2017 gas. I've been in the 2017 gas Yamaha on a ride from LSL to Brownwood and my insides were scrambled by the time I got there. I guess I'm just spoiled with the smooth and super quiet ride I get from my 2016 Yamaha electric cart.

[autumnspring]

Hi, we have an Easy Go, love it so much. Bought it OUTSIDE THE VILLAGES. So, on gas or electric.

You may want to check your chemistry book for a balanced combustion process. You will find for perfect combustion, and we do not have perfect combustion.
But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, To burn a pint of gas (one pound) it takes 14 pounds of air. So,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 15 pounds of exhaust goes out the pipe, check it out. Electric, No exhaust. Be sure to hold your breath going through the tunnels. Good luck folks.

:ho: :read:

The fact is going through the tunnels what you smell is the golf cart ahead of you. You may be right that it is 14 lbs of air to one pound of fuel BUT I had always thought it is volume not weight. In any case, it is only important to the carburetor designer. The engine will tell you it is happy or not.

The fuel injected carts, which is what we have do seem to be far cleaner.

You can talk about his wife, but for peace do not mention politics, religion, dogs, lawns OR GOLF CARTS.

[autumnspring]

The 2017 Yamaha gas carts are not that much quieter than the older models. Someone up-thread said these new gas carts are almost as quiet as electric. No way, Jose! My electric Yamaha is whisper quiet and rides smoother than the Yamaha 2017 gas. I've been in the 2017 gas Yamaha on a ride from LSL to Brownwood and my insides were scrambled by the time I got there. I guess I'm just spoiled with the smooth and super quiet ride I get from my 2016 Yamaha electric cart.


As I said in another post you can criticize a guys wife, his kids but for peace do not bring up politics, religion, lawns OR GOLF CARTS

First of all the 2017 Yamahas are quieter. I drove one when our 2015 was in for an oil change. I did not look but expect they put some sound deadening material around the engine and perhaps modified the exhaust system.

RE: electric being quieter-of course it is BUT
As you surely know-you give up range. If, you run out of charge there is no place to fill it up. As the batteries get older it will not go as far as it used to on a fresh set of batteries and replacing the batteries is not at all inexpensive.

AS TO QUIET-quiet may not be GOOD. With a gas golf cart, people, bicyclists, animals can hear you coming.
There is a reason there are no quiet motorcycles.

[JoMar]

The reasons there are no electric motorcycles (yet) is the batteries are too heavy.....has nothing to do with sound. The electric debate continues from and on other threads and all the arguments are there......buy what works for you.....not what works for someone else.