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How Long Does It Take To Charge A Golf Cart: Everything You Need To Know!

How Long Does It Take To Charge A Golf Cart: Everything You Need To Know!

Golf Guides

How Long Does It Take To Charge A Golf Cart: Everything You Need To Know!

How Long Does It Take To Charge A Golf Cart: Everything You Need To Know!

How long does it take to charge a golf cart? It depends on many different factors.
Some are obvious and some might surprise you!
There are several things that affect how fast your electric or gas-powered golf cart battery recharges after a round of 18 holes: manufacturer recommendations, type of charger, and voltage of the battery being charged.
I will discuss all these things so you can make an informed decision about how fast your next golf cart should charge!

What Is The Average Time To Charge A Golf Cart?

What Is The Average Time To Charge A Golf Cart

If you average all the numbers above, you get a total charging time of about 5 hours.
That’s an average time, though, and doesn’t necessarily apply to your own situation.
There are a few factors that affect charging time. Let’s look at them one at a time.
Amperage is the amount of current that can be pulled out of a charging source.
The amount of amperage a charger can draw out of the power source is usually listed on the label.
If it’s not, you can usually find it online. If you want your charging times to be as short as possible, you need to match the amperage.
Let’s say you wanted to charge a 24-volt golf cart, but you only have a charger that can put out 5 amps. You’d be there for almost 7 hours! In this case, it’s a good idea to use a higher-amperage charger.
You can also use two or more low-amperage chargers.

How Long Does It Take To Charge A 12-volt Golf Cart?

How Long Does It Take To Charge A 12-volt Golf Cart?

The first thing to remember about 12-volt golf carts is that they don’t have 12-volt batteries!
Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from 8–14 hours for a full charge.
Most 12-volt golf cart batteries are 24-volt, with 6-volt plates.
That means when you’re charging, you need to charge at 24 volts.
That’s one reason it takes so long to charge 12-volt golf carts compared to 24-volt carts.
A second reason is that 12-volt chargers are designed to charge 12-volt batteries.
They don’t have the capacity to charge a higher voltage. In this case, it’s a good idea to use a higher-voltage charger.

How Long Does It Take To Charge A 24-volt Golf Cart?

How Long Does It Take To Charge A 24 volt Golf Cart

Most 24-volt golf carts have 24-volt batteries.
That means when you charge 24-volt carts, you need to charge at 24 volts.
It can take anywhere from 12–18 hours for a full charge.

How Long Does It Take To Charge A 48-volt Golf Cart?

How Long Does It Take To Charge A 48-volt Golf Cart?

The time it takes to charge a 48-volt golf cart again depends on the battery size and charger rating. Generally, it can take anywhere from 4–8 hours for a full charge.
As with 12-volt and 24-volt golf carts, users should ensure that their batteries remain fully charged in order to maximize the performance and longevity of the vehicle.

How Long Does It Take To Fully Charge An Electric Golf Cart?

An electric golf cart takes a long time to charge because of the high voltage.
Most electric carts have 36-volt batteries. That means when you charge 36-volt golf carts, you need to charge at 36 volts.
That’s one reason it takes so long to charge electric golf carts. It can take anywhere from 8–14 hours for a full charge.

Factors That Affect Charging Time

Battery Type & Size: Golf carts typically use either 6-volt or 8-volt batteries. The size of the battery refers to the amp hours (Ah) it can store. Generally, the larger the capacity of a battery, the longer it will take to charge.
Charger Type & Output Amperage: Higher output amperage chargers are available for golf carts and can decrease charging time, but often cost more. Additionally, setting the charger correctly for your battery type and size is critical to prevent overcharging the batteries.
Age of Batteries: As golf cart batteries age, their charge capacity decreases, and they take longer to charge.
Amperage: Amperage affects charging time because the greater the amperage, the more current you have. The more current you have, the faster your charge time.
Golf cart voltage: The voltage of your battery is critical to charging times. If you charge a 36-volt battery at 36 volts, it will take longer than if you charged it at 24 volts.
Temperature: Cold temperatures decrease a battery’s capacity and increase charging time, while warm temperatures can speed up charging time.
Number of Batteries: For golf carts with multiple batteries, it will take longer for all the batteries in the system to become fully charged.
Other Environmental Factors: Voltage drops from long extension cords or other electrical system issues can also impact charging time. Additionally, if the charger’s output amperage is lower than what the golf cart requires, the charging time will be longer.

Final Words

The best way to estimate how long a charge will take is to know the make and model of your golf cart, the voltage of your battery, and how much current your charger can pull.
Once you know those three pieces of information, it’s a fairly easy calculation to determine how long your charge will take. And be sure to fully charge your golf cart battery.
Many people think that finishing the charge with a lower amperage is ok. In fact, it’s not! If you want your charging times to be as short as possible, you need to match the amperage.
Let’s say you wanted to charge a 24-volt golf cart, but you only have a charger that can put out 5 amps. You’d be there for almost 7 hours! In this case, it’s a good idea to use a higher-amperage charger. You can also use two or more low-amperage chargers.

FAQs

Are fast chargers or ultra-fast chargers faster?

Fast chargers and ultra-fast chargers both offer faster-charging capabilities than standard wall outlets, however, the exact time required to fully charge a battery will vary based on the type of charger used. Generally speaking, fast chargers can take anywhere from 4–8 hours for a full charge while ultra-fast chargers can often charge batteries in as little as two hours. It is important to consult the charger’s instruction manual for specific charging times and safety instructions.

How much power does a golf cart have?

The amount of power a golf cart has depends on the type of model and battery rating. Generally speaking, 12-volt golf carts typically have about 5–6 horsepower while 48-volt models typically have around 10 horsepower. It is important to read the manufacturer’s specifications in order to understand the exact amount of power the particular golf cart has.

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Charles South is a man of many talents. He has been an IT Manager, Specialist, and Educator at HRL Laboratories for over 30 years. But his true passion in life is computers- he's been hooked on them since he was 20 years old! In addition to his love of computing, Charles is also a passionate golfer. He's been playing the game since he was a teenager, and it remains his number one hobby. Charles loves reading science fiction novels, and he's been a fan of the genre since he was just 12 years old. He also enjoys spending time with his family in sunny Southern California. Macs have been a part of Charles' life since 1985- long before they were popular!

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