[DrHitch]

I couldn't find a previous thread on this subject.

I have seen small propane heaters for golf carts that fit into the cup holders.

I have also seen small electric heaters that hook to your battery.

I'm more intrigued by the electric heaters... Saw one on Amazon that draws 200 watts.

Thoughts? Preference?

Ok, so I've also been told that the propane ones aren't a problem with CO emissions.

[villagetinker]

I would be cautious of both, but the electric at 200 watts maybe more than the golf cart electrical system can handle. We have been here for 13 years, and just use jackets, and a blanket if necessary with the sides down.

[Dave951]

If it's that cold take the car or stay home. Dress in layers put the sides down. It's not below zero

[Joecooool418]

The propane ones work great.

[Topspinmo]

I have propane but rarely use it. Works with 1 pound bottle and adapter in drink tray on dash, if it gets jarred or tips the safety feather chicks off gas. 200w would be 10 amp draw and 20V I think. I would want to know what wiring fuseable link rating, size of the wires in harness? 20 volts almost double voltage on 12 V system, I would think that would be quite draw on generator/battery/circuit?

[biker1]

If you have a gas cart, go with a propane heater. If you have an electric cart then consider an electric heater. I believe a 400 watt draw by an electric heater for a 48V electric cart is typical so you are looking at a very modest load on the battery pack. For example, my battery pack is about 10 kWhs. The heater isn't used much, perhaps a couple of times per year, so I haven't really detected much impact.

Originally Posted by DrHitch

I couldn't find a previous thread on this subject.

I have seen small propane heaters for golf carts that fit into the cup holders.

I have also seen small electric heaters that hook to your battery.

I'm more intrigued by the electric heaters... Saw one on Amazon that draws 200 watts.

Thoughts? Preference?

Ok, so I've also been told that the propane ones aren't a problem with CO emissions.

[billdozer]

I sell you one for $30.00. Works great, if interested, text Bill at 352.209.2796.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Just wear a jacket and gloves, if you absolutely must use a golf cart when the temps dip below 50°

[tophcfa]

Hat and gloves works, and if it gets really cold, flip up the windshield.

[Sparky99]

Bring a blanket.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I would be cautious of both, but the electric at 200 watts maybe more than the golf cart electrical system can handle. We have been here for 13 years, and just use jackets, and a blanket if necessary with the sides down.

Me too. Don't forget your gloves.

[HJBeck]

In my opinion, only get an electric heater if you have an electric cart. 200 watts on a regular 12 vdc battery is excessive. Load=200/12.5vdc=16 amps draw. Assume you have a 100 ampere hour battery: 16 amps * 5 hour (championship course) is 80 AH or 80% of your battery. 16 amps* 2.5 hours (executive) = 40% of the battery capacity. Sounds a little excessive to me given the stop and go nature of golf play which doesn’t provide much recharge during play. Cold weather doesn’t help much either.

[UpNorth]

All kinds of rechargeable heated socks, vests, gloves, etc available on Amazon if you need warmth on a body part.

[DrHitch]

Thanks for all these replies. The consensus seems to be:

1) mostly unnecessary in The Villages even in winter

2) propane heater fits in cup holder

Stay warm everybody!

[FredMitchell]

**Does propane smell naturally?**

No. In its natural state, commercial propane is completely odorless and colorless.

To ensure leaks can be detected immediately, suppliers add an odorant called **ethyl mercaptan**. It gives off that familiar, pungent "rotten egg" or boiled cabbage smell so you notice a leak long before the gas reaches a dangerous concentration.

---

**What happens when it burns?**

**1. Normal (Complete) Combustion**
When a heater or burner has plenty of oxygen, propane burns cleanly into two main byproducts:

* **Water vapor:** Propane produces quite a bit of moisture as it burns. If you run a portable propane heater inside a golf cart with the enclosure zipped up, that moisture is why the windshield and vinyl panels fog up so quickly.
* **Carbon dioxide (CO2):** A standard, non-toxic combustion gas (though in a sealed space it will eventually displace fresh air).
* **The smell disappears:** The trace amount of odorant burns up along with the propane, breaking down into negligible amounts of sulfur dioxide, water, and CO2. You might get a brief whiff of it right when lighting the burner, but during steady burning, the rotten-egg smell is gone.

**2. Incomplete Combustion & Carbon Monoxide (CO)**
If oxygen levels drop—or if the burner screen/ports become dirty or blocked—the flame cannot burn completely:

* Instead of just CO2 and water, the burner begins producing **carbon monoxide (CO)**.
* **Critical safety note:** Carbon monoxide is completely odorless, tasteless, and invisible. Burning the odorant does *not* create a warning scent for carbon monoxide. Even if a cup-holder heater has an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) or tip-over shutoff, you always need some fresh airflow (such as keeping a flap cracked) so oxygen doesn't deplete and CO doesn't build up.




When it gets cold, switch from sandals to socks and shoes, from shorts to long pants, from short sleeves to long. If necessary, add a lightweight down jacket or vest, a hat that covers your ears, and gloves.

Enjoy not shoveling snow and dealing with really cold weather.