Dedicated circuit for electric golf cart
 

Do I need a dedicated circuit to charge my electric golf cart? I checked my garage outlets and the outlet I need to charge my golf cart is on the same circuit as the exterior outlet that is next to my front door. I was planning to use the outlet next to my front door to connect my Christmas lights that I want to string on my shrubs.

I think I recall someone telling me the electric carts must be charged on a dedicated circuit just like the heater/AC unit is on it's own circuit. Is that correct information?

Do I need to hire an electrician to rewire the outlet in my garage to charge my golf cart so it is on a dedicated circuit?

Thanks.

If I recall correctly, the dedicated circuit is rated for 20 amps, for golf cart charging. You can take a look at your golf cart charger and see what the requirements are. If it states 120 volt/15 amp, you should be able to use any of the garage receptacles, if it states 120/20 amp, then yes you need the dedicated circuit, and an electrician.
Hope this helps.

It should be on its own circuit. Down here they allow the same circuit to also power the garage door opener, if those are the only two items on it.

Check your circuit breaker for the lamp post. The only items on that circuit (I have a courtyard villa) at my home are the attic light and the garage door opener. I actually use that circuit without any problems at all to charge my Chevy Volt electric car!

I spoke to two electricians and both said it would be better if the golf cart charger was using its own circuit. I'll probably have that done.

I did check my lamp post outlet by running a 1600 Watt hair dryer for 5 minutes with all the lights on in the house. I don't know which circuit the lamp post is on but none of the breakers tripped with my hair dryer test.

I'm going to use the lamp post and the exterior outlet on the garage side of the house. Neither of those outlets are on the same circuit with the golf cart charger. I feel safer doing it this way until I can get an electrician to put the outlet I use to charge the golf cart on its own circuit.

To the person who charges an electric car on the same circuit as a couple of other items......that's great!!!

Thanks to all who responded to my thread. Your input is much appreciated.

We have two electric carts, neither are on a dedicated circuit but both are on surge protectors. Star and ParCar, don't know about others.

Do you have the chargers plugged into the surge protector rather than directly into the outlet? My charger manual states not to use an extension cord. Is a surge protector not considered an extension cord. That may be a silly question, though.