Whether you own a golf cart to use around the golf course or as your main source of transportation, you’ll want to make sure that it’s always ready to go when you need it. Plugging in your golf cart is one way to ensure that its battery always has a full charge. But is leaving your golf cart plugged in all the time really necessary? It is wise to be concerned about the health of your golf cart battery, as repairing or replacing the battery on your cart can cost you a lot of money if you do not take care of it as you should.
When experienced and first-time golf cart owners raise similar questions, you can assume that the subject needs to be addressed. At J’s, we often hear this question from our customers.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of leaving your golf cart plugged in so that you can decide what’s best for you.
Confusion Among Golf Cart Owners
Most of the confusion surrounding whether or not you should leave your cart plugged in is the difference of instruction between brands. It can become confusing for many when each of the prominent golf cart companies gives opposing instructions.
Club Car suggests that golf cart chargers should be left plugged in during prolonged storage.
E-Z-GO, on the other hand, suggests that golf cart chargers should remain unplugged during prolonged storage. Yamaha recommends completely unplugging the golf cart batteries until they run out of charge.
Because of this, we find it important to ensure that we set the record straight on providing the answer to whether or not you need to keep your cart plugged in.
Why Should You Leave a Golf Cart Plugged In All The Time?
When it comes to battery-powered golf carts, there are two schools of thought regarding whether or not it’s better to leave the battery plugged in all the time.
As it turns out, there are a few different factors to consider. First of all, batteries will slowly self-discharge even when they’re not being used. This is known as “standby loss,” and it can vary depending on the type of battery and the conditions under which it’s stored.
On the other hand, if you regularly let your battery run down until it’s completely discharged, this can also shorten its lifespan. This is because deep discharge cycles put a lot of stress on the battery, and can lead to what’s known as “capacity fade.”
By keeping the battery charged, you can help to ensure that it will be ready to use when you need it. If you only charge the battery when you need to use the golf cart, there is a risk that the battery will not be fully charged when you need it.
Often, particularly during winter, golf carts may go months without use. As a result, your battery cells will slowly dissipate if it is not charged in a prolonged period, which may negatively impact the overall performance of your battery.
For these reasons, it is generally advisable to keep your golf cart plugged in all the time.
Why Shouldn’t You Leave Your Golf Cart Plugged In?
For those of us who own golf carts, we may be tempted to just leave them plugged in all the time so that the battery is always charged and ready to go. However, there are a few reasons why this may not be the best idea. When you put a charger plugged in for elongated periods, it can have an adverse effect.
For one thing, it’s not good for the battery. A battery that is constantly kept at full charge will start to degrade more quickly, and will need to be replaced more often. A golf cart battery should be able to last you up to ten years if it is properly taken care of. When a battery is constantly kept at full charge, it undergoes a process called “cell polarization.” This essentially means that the battery cells start to break down, which reduces the overall capacity of the battery.
Another common problem that most owners who leave their golf cart battery plugged in the notice is that their circuit breaker keeps tripping. This indicates that the battery auto switch-off function has stopped working, compelling the charger to transmit a continual flow of electricity to your battery, hence overcharging and degrading it.
In addition, leaving your golf cart plugged in all the time can also lead to problems with the charger itself. Over time, the charger can become less efficient, meaning that it will take longer to charge your battery.
If you need to leave your golf cart plugged in for extended periods of time, be sure to unplug it periodically to give the battery a break.
The Impact of Partial Charges
Some people assume that topping off their golf cart battery with a quick charge throughout the day will prolong its life. However, frequent partial charges may not always be the best approach. Most batteries perform better when they undergo complete charge cycles. A full charge ensures the battery’s cells are balanced, and it helps maintain consistent performance over time.
Partial charging, on the other hand, may result in imbalanced cells, leading to reduced capacity and a shorter battery lifespan. If you frequently only charge your golf cart for short periods, your battery may never reach its full potential. Therefore, it’s better to let the battery charge fully before unplugging.
Overcharging and Its Consequences
Overcharging is another potential problem. Even though most modern chargers are equipped with automatic shut-off features, they aren’t foolproof. If your charger malfunctions or the shut-off feature stops working, leaving your golf cart plugged in can result in overcharging. This means the battery will be forced to receive a constant flow of energy, leading to overheating, which can cause significant damage to both the battery and the charger.
Overcharging can lead to the breakdown of the internal components of the battery, such as the plates, and cause the electrolyte solution inside to evaporate more quickly. This damage is irreversible and may significantly reduce the battery’s performance and lifespan.
Battery Storage During Off-Seasons
If you plan to store your golf cart for an extended period, such as during the winter months, it’s important to consider how the battery will be affected. Many golf cart owners mistakenly believe they should leave their cart plugged in to prevent the battery from discharging. However, even with a plugged-in charger, there’s a risk of overcharging and damaging the battery if the charger doesn’t cycle properly.
Instead, it’s better to fully charge the battery, unplug the charger, and disconnect the battery cables if you’re storing your cart for several months. Regularly check the battery’s charge during the off-season, and recharge it if the level drops below a certain threshold (usually around 50%). This approach can prevent the battery from completely draining without exposing it to constant power, which can cause harm.
Temperature and Charging
The environment in which you store and charge your golf cart can greatly impact your battery’s performance. Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can accelerate the degradation of the battery’s cells. When charging your cart in a very hot environment, the battery may overheat more easily. On the other hand, cold temperatures can reduce the battery’s ability to hold a charge effectively, making it less efficient.
It’s important to store your golf cart in a climate-controlled area or, at the very least, avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures for long periods. This will not only protect the battery but also ensure that the charger functions properly and efficiently.
Using a Smart Charger
If you’re concerned about leaving your golf cart plugged in for long periods but still want to ensure that the battery stays charged, consider investing in a smart charger. Smart chargers are designed to monitor the battery’s charge level and stop charging once the battery is full. They also have the ability to “float” the charge, which means they will maintain a full charge without overloading the battery.
Smart chargers are ideal for people who use their golf carts infrequently or store them for long periods. With a smart charger, you can leave your golf cart plugged in without worrying about overcharging or damaging the battery.
The Bottom Line
A crucial point to remember is that a golf cart battery is built to discharge and recharge. Retaining a persistent state of full charge is not adequate for your overall battery performance. Enabling the battery to lose its charge before plugging it up again boosts its operational stability, resulting in optimal functioning for much longer. The best thing you can do for your battery is to charge it up entirely and then unplug it from the vehicle receptacle. It will enable your battery to discharge usually, which is beneficial for its long-term endurance.
Contact J’s Golf Carts Today
In conclusion, there are both pros and cons to keeping your golf cart plugged in all the time. If you have any more questions about how to take care of your golf cart, come visit us at J’s Golf Carts! We have both new or used golf cart to purchase here at our shop. If you would like to check out our selection of carts before you come in to visit us, browse our inventory of new and used carts. We hope to see you soon here at J’s Golf Carts!
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