Electric Heater for Golfcart?

[ijusluvit]

I'll bet you're surprised that someone would be thinking about a golf cart heater but...

I'm not a fan of the propane bottle heaters popular around here, so I was wondering if it's possible to hook up a 12v DC outlet in a gas cart to run a 12.5 amp electric heater w/fan? I would put in a 15 amp in-line fuse.

If this is feasible, what's the best way to make the line hookup to the cart power source?

[Golf-Tinker]

ijusluvit:

What specifically bothers you about the propane heater? Is it just the idea of having a cartridge of propane in the cart or something else? We recently bought one and it seems to do the job.

[golfnut]

the propane heaters work good, just don't touch the outside edge, very very hot....gn

[dadspet]

Where can you get a propane heater local and how much?

[mrdills]

Wall mart

[chuckinca]

. . . along with nearly anything else you want!


.

[GuyGolf]

Where can you get a propane heater local and how much?
I just bought a new Coleman online for appx $35 + $12 for S&H
Just go to ebay and type in "new coleman heater"
GL

[dadspet]

just got one at Wally World ($58 or so). Boy they are large and hard to fit in , The one I got isn't specifically a cart heater but I thought the cart heater were pointed up to high. This one will have to be mounted in the dash above the golf ball holder of my Club Car Precedent. At this point I'm rethinking the whole idea and thinking it might be more trouble then its worth. Maybe I should have bought it during the cold spell.
Thanks for the Ebay idea -

[bertevelyn]

there are many electric heaters on ebay and I would much prefer that to my coleman

What is the max amp you can put on a gas cart. I have a cheap electric heater and it works fine, but it isn't strong enough.

[alemorkam]

Par Car are installing electric heaters as an option on their carts. So I guess it can be done.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I'll bet you're surprised that someone would be thinking about a golf cart heater but...

I'm not a fan of the propane bottle heaters popular around here, so I was wondering if it's possible to hook up a 12v DC outlet in a gas cart to run a 12.5 amp electric heater w/fan? I would put in a 15 amp in-line fuse.

If this is feasible, what's the best way to make the line hookup to the cart power source?

Can you hook up a 12v DC outlet in a gas cart? Yes.

Can you find a 12v DC outlet that can handle at least 15 amps? Maybe. Make sure you get one that's actually rated to handle that much power draw. As I;m sure you're aware, it's not just as simple as finding one that's pre-wired with a 5A fuse and replacing it with a 15A fuse.

Here's the show-stopper: I personally have my doubts that the cart's charging system would be able to keep up with the 12.5A current draw over any kind of lengthy time period. Other items which would impact that ability: How long you sit waiting at stop sign/traffic lights/etc. (if the cart's not moving, you're putting out zero charge to the battery), running with the headlights on as well, and so on.

You'd need to find the specs for the output of your cart's charging system to know if it'll be able to keep up with the heater's draw.

Re: how to best wire it up (assuming the installation of a heater turns out to be feasible) - - - Personally, I'd fuse the hot side and connect both the hot and ground wires directly to the battery.

Hope that's all of some help!

Additional thoughts re: other posts -

- A Par Car is electric. Wired and fused properly, electric carts are capable of supporting an electric heater. But the heater will cut into your travel distance.

- Coleman makes a propane heater called Golf Cat. Available via a variety of sources - local stores as well as online:

Coleman - Coleman - GolfCat (http://www.coleman.com/product/5036A850#.US9vvzf0_Mw)

We've got one and it really does the job. Needs to be used with caution - I always use a bungee cord to ensure it stays snug in the cup holder.

Bill :)