Toasty warm in a wide open cart.
 

Ordering two golf cars for my relocation to The Villages in February. Looking at all the boxes of motorcycle gear accumulated over five decades, I had an idea. I’ll get 12 volt outlets added to allow plugging in the heated jacket or vest I have from riding. If you haven’t tried one of these, it is like slipping into a hot tub. This even when I was riding in subfreezing temperatures. Keep your core warm and your body stays warm.

The vest uses only 45 watts, the jacket 60 watts.

Anyone else tried this?

I think you are overestimating how much you'll want to drive a golf cart when it's under 50 degrees. I know, I know, everybody thinks they need to buy their golf cart before they even move in but for many, the novelty wears off.
You would be better served driving a cart around as is for a while before sinking money into probably unneeded upgrades.

You're allowed to drive an automobile in The Villages, when it gets below 60 degrees.

Adding a couple 12 volt outlets allows all sorts of accessory use, from air compressor to my motorcycle heated gear. The beauty of this plan is that I already own the heated gear.

Don't remember a day yet that it was too cold for the cart.

Only concern I might have with the heated jacket is if the generator/alternator on the cart is sufficient for powering it. Probably is, but maybe worth asking about first. Otherwise, great idea I need to look into!

Good point regarding totaling accessory draw. Something I had to carefully consider when pulling amps from the various dirt bikes and road bikes. Fortunately, the 45 watt vest never bothered even a little 250 dirt bike.

Turning on the heated vest is truly addictive. I would light it up all the way up to 70 degrees.

I already own all sorts of RAM Mounts, BMW power outlets and a variety of farkles from my decades of BMW GS riding. Might as well make use of what I already own to make carting even more fun.

Aerostich Windstopper Electric Vest

https://www.aerostich.com/cdn/shop/f...272&width=1800

I’ve driven for early morning tee time in sub 40 temps. It’s not that big a deal. I guess I see some people put their curtains down. Hasn’t gotten cold enough for me to want to do that yet. Those heated jackets don’t sound like a bad idea. I know there’s battery powered ones. Probably provide all you’d need to be able to drive around.

LOL, So….what do you wear or plug into once you arrive at your destination like the village square? BTW, you could get a cabbed cart and totally eliminate the wide open cart from your title?

i wish my cart , like my car had heated seats. i would be one happy camper.

Thought about that too but was concerned about the current draw, as well as the complication of the different seat sections.

Then, I considered an open cart being more motorcycle like with the airflow. So, decided to use what I already own.

Besides, heated seats do indeed warm the back sides. The vest cocoons you in a very warm embrace.

OP, after you determine that the starter/generator can handle the additional load plan on SEPERATE FUSED 12 VDC feeds from the battery to the new plugs, do NOT tap into the existing dash wiring harness. I have seen many golf carts with under sized wiring harnesses which cause various problems. I do not recall seeing a rating for the generator function. I would approach this very carefully.

I passed a lady on the road today, driving a Miata with the top down. She probably had heated seats and an electric vest.

I just kept the roof up on my car and set the temp for 70.

Real men would just dress for the occasion. I rode 4000 miles in a 2.5-3 month season in weather much colder than this. No electric heaters beyond hand grips/throttle. I’m carting around TV as low as 40 degrees, so far. No issues with the enclosure up & windshield up. Layer up is all that’s needed. Don’t overthink this.

Great idea
 

I love this idea - when we lived in PA they sold them over all over. I have not seen them down here. We use our golf cart all the time no matter what the weather. Not sure if the battery ones last and stay as warm but would def try it.

Good to go !!
 

The Yamaha gas cart, for example, has 22 charging amps in generator mode. Your vest at 45 watts would draw slightly less than 4 amps. Radio, lights and instrumentation in excess of 15ish amps would be concerning.
Shouldnt be a problem unless you have an outrageous audio amp lol.