Golf Cart Chargers

How to Choose a Charger for Your Golf Cart Battery

The vast majority of golf carts, also known as club cars, are powered by batteries that give you days of energy until they need to be recharged. When you need a golf cart battery charger, you can choose a new or preowned unit from the many listed on eBay.

Club cars come in 24-volt, 36-volt, 42-volt, or 48-volt models. Using the wrong charger can lead to improper fitting and charging, or it might damage the battery. Knowing how to determine the batterys voltage will ensure that you pick the right battery charger for your cart.

• Locate the batteries: Go to the back seat and lift the compartment. You should see several batteries there.
• Count the holes: There are several holes on the top of each battery. Count the number of holes on one battery. Most club cart batteries have either three or four holes.
• Multiply: Multiply the number of holes by two. Take the resulting number and multiply it by the number of batteries. For example, if the battery has three holes and six batteries, then its a 36-volt cart.

Each golf cart charger has a different type of plug that is meant to fit only that brand of club car. Plugs differ with regard to brand, year, voltage, and several other features. Brands offered on eBay include Club Car, DPI (Diversified Power International), E-Z-GO, and Lester. Check the carts plug before buying the charger to ensure that you get the right one. Available types include:

• Crowfoot: This has two large, diagonal prongs that are exposed. It looks similar to a standard plug except for its diagonal shape.
• Triangular: Triangular plugs come with three prongs covered by plastic. These are most commonly used with 48-volt carts.
• Rectangular: Some of these are smooth while others have a piece cut out of the side.

Storage mode means the golf cart charger is designed to refresh batteries only when they need extra power. Standard chargers will keep pushing power into the batteries. This can lead to reduced longevity and more power usage. Storage mode allows the batteries to charge only when power has dropped below a certain limit. Check with the manufacturer to determine if your charger has this feature.