Golf Carts

[scootr]

Anybody use a golf cart to run around their property.
These little electric or gas carts are popular for transportation, hunting, or checking stock.
The use of lithium battery packs has really made this a viable transportation solution.
I can help with cart problems.

 

[pokey1416]

Good info, we bought an electric one from a golf course auction this summer and I'd like to clean up the batteries and cables - I'll keep this thread bookmarked.

 

[scootr]

Id be happy to help if I can. What make and model or year did you get?
My wife's aunt introduced us to ranch golf carts years ago. They are handy as heck for running over here or there. Especially when fixing those water or fence projects when you need to make 3 trips back to the shop.

 

[/pine]

Been using a (electric) cart for 20 plus years to get around the property, out to the mail box and as a support vehicle for tractor work...

 

[Racenut]

I'm currently shopping for one too. We had an older one we picked up from a guy that refurbished them years ago. The batteries eventually got tired. "Upgraded" to a cheap sxs and after 1000 miles putzing around the ranch, it's blowing smoke and needs a motor rebuild. Want to go back to batteries because lower maintenance and it's easier for Mom to just plug it in once in a while than deal with gas cans. Also much quieter.

Things I'm learning...
Stick to the big 3 brands, parts and upgrades are readily available for Club Car, EZ-GO and Yamaha, even 20+ year old carts.
36 vs 48 volt. Generally 48 volt is better, but a 36v with six 6 volt batteries may be a better choice than a 48v with four 12v batteries. Simply more mass of battery will give you more runtime and battery life span of 6v should be better too.
Carts older than early 90's tended to use resistor coil speed controls. They are really inefficient as they dump power to resistors for anything less than full throttle. So even if you're just putting along, you're still using a lot of battery power. They can also generate a lot of heat which can be a fire hazard in the weeds.

Seems like $3500-4000 I'm seeing carts in good condition that claim to have fairly fresh batteries. Just want to find one that isn't a road trip to go get.

 

[docone]

We use our electric cart as a garden runabout, pull a little dump cart behind for transporting the garden harvest to the cold room,
and just about any chore on the acreage. Charge it overnight once a month or so.

 

[scootr]

I'm currently shopping for one too. We had an older one we picked up from a guy that refurbished them years ago. The batteries eventually got tired. "Upgraded" to a cheap sxs and after 1000 miles putzing around the ranch, it's blowing smoke and needs a motor rebuild. Want to go back to batteries because lower maintenance and it's easier for Mom to just plug it in once in a while than deal with gas cans. Also much quieter.

Things I'm learning...
Stick to the big 3 brands, parts and upgrades are readily available for Club Car, EZ-GO and Yamaha, even 20+ year old carts.
36 vs 48 volt. Generally 48 volt is better, but a 36v with six 6 volt batteries may be a better choice than a 48v with four 12v batteries. Simply more mass of battery will give you more runtime and battery life span of 6v should be better too.
Carts older than early 90's tended to use resistor coil speed controls. They are really inefficient as they dump power to resistors for anything less than full throttle. So even if you're just putting along, you're still using a lot of battery power. They can also generate a lot of heat which can be a fire hazard in the weeds.

Seems like $3500-4000 I'm seeing carts in good condition that claim to have fairly fresh batteries. Just want to find one that isn't a road trip to go get.

You Sir know more than 90% of the people owning a cart.
You are absolutely right about sticking with the big 3. These three have been producing carts for 30+ years. CC has an aluminum frame. That's good if you live in the rust belt. Personally I like Ezgo the best. Best ride, best throttle mechanism, easiest to work on. Currently we are running a couple of Ezgos. I just put a single lithium battery in one today. That makes 2 converted to a single lithium battery with on board charger.
Why you ask?
1st = no watering the batteries. I'm always too busy or forget to keep up with this like I should.
2nd = since the battery is sealed there is no mess and no corroded connections to keep after.
3rd = the warranty is 8-10 years Of course the cost is double+ but it sounds like we will get our money's worth of use from them.
4th = a little higher voltage like 51 or 56 volts versus 48 so that means more power and speed. Nothing crazy but I do like things zippy.
5th = 300 pounds. That's how much lead weight the cart lost = about 1/3 of the total cart weight
6th = longer runtime than wet cell batteries and quicker charging.

Here is a pic of the install today... and my helper Keegan

 

[RjCorazza]

I've had a 2002 EZGo since about 2008, and we have gotten a lot of use out of it. Trash / recycling runs, mail, running around the neighborhood, maintenance around the property, etc...
I'm on my second set of batteries (bought with marginal and mismatched batteries), and expect to replace them again in a year or 2. It's pretty much stock except for an onboard QuiQ charger and OEM style lighting.

 

[scootr]

Early carts were resistor coil speed control. This was 1930's technology from the then new elevator industry.
This didn't change until Ezgo and CC introduced the solid state speed control about 1990-91. These carts lost the coils that burned off amperage at low speed and the whole cart became more efficient and safer. Fewer cart and grass fires.
I could go on .. but it's lunch time

 

[polo1665]

We have an EZ-GO gas cart. Used it for projects around here for about six or seven years and decided to pretty it up a bit for the grandkids. Amazing how much money you can get into these things.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...There is a lot of misinformation out there about lead/acid deep cycle batteries...
For anyone owning or caring for an electric (l/a bats) cart I highly recommend reading up on the care and process for breaking in a new set of batteries...I will cite another forum below without a hyperlink...it is the go to site for all cart owners...

a few facts about cart batteries...
They should never be allowed to get below a 50% charge..
They will lose about 1% charge per day just sitting...
Opportunity charging is a good thing...

The best single tool a cart owner can have is a good volt/multi meter...
Installing a "state of charge" indicator is a good thing...most newer carts have them by the OEM...

For 12 volt service (lights, radio etc., etc.) it is best to install a pack voltage reducer rather than coming off say 2 six volt batteries...

The site I referred to above is 'buggies gone wild dot com '

 

[scootr]

Love the flag cart. My friend had one years ago- it was a gasser too.

 

[scootr]

Even the manufacturers used to pull 12v off two 6v batteries. This is bad. If used a lot it will draw 2 batteries down lower than the other 4. In charging the same amount of amperage goes into each battery. So the result is the initial imbalance gets more pronounced. Eventually you have 2 getting under charged and 4 getting over charged and none of them are happy... but the manufacturer saved a couple of bucks.

If I can help let me know.

 

[pokey1416]

Id be happy to help if I can. What make and model or year did you get?
My wife's aunt introduced us to ranch golf carts years ago. They are handy as heck for running over here or there. Especially when fixing those water or fence projects when you need to make 3 trips back to the shop.

2012 Yamaha Drive. I like the idea of upgrading to Lithium battery.

 

[tallyho8]

Scootr, I have seen 48 volt lithium batteries but no 51 volt ones. Where do you get those batteries?
Second, do you have to replace your stock charger with a $500 lithium charger?
I have 2 Club Cars and an EZgo and have had carts for farm use for over 30 years and would like to replace my batteries in one the next time they need it to try the lithium ones out.

 

[ultrarunner]

My only golf cart was the Oakland A’s theme cart with the cab an oversized A’s ball cap.

It was too good to use around the ranch so I sold it to a collector.

Would have been a nice addition to the collection but at age 22 money very tight trying to buy my home…

 

[scootr]

Scootr, I have seen 48 volt lithium batteries but no 51 volt ones. Where do you get those batteries?
Second, do you have to replace your stock charger with a $500 lithium charger?
I have 2 Club Cars and an EZgo and have had carts for farm use for over 30 years and would like to replace my batteries in one the next time they need it to try the lithium ones out.

48 is nominal voltage. That means the actual voltage is higher.a fully charged conventional 48v battery pack will be 50.9 volts. When it drops to 48v at rest it's time to recharge.
The cells in a lithium battery hold a little more voltage. So when talking about a single 48v battery it is usually 51 volts or 54v fully charged. You be surprised how much extra power and speed a few volts will give ya. Plus the loss of 300 pounds adds up to something you can feel in the seat of your pants. Charging lithium is not hard the charger just needs to have the proper algorithm. Some conventional chargers like the Lester Summit II can charger wet cell or Lithium. Most conventional chargers cannot. We opt for a battery combo that comes with a charger and a DC reducer. That way you know everything is good to work together. I put a voltmeter in the dash so I can monitor all of our carts.
We have a 71 amp hour battery from Eco Battery in one cart and a 90amp hour battery from Uno battery in the other.
both of these packs are the smallest offered by these companies. Yet both batteries yield more run time than the conventional batteries.
The Manufacturers say 30-40 mile range on these 2 between charges. Bigger batteries yield more run time but they cost more and these are already expensive at about $2500 for a combo kit.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Hi Scootr. We have 2 36V EzGoes. Are there lithiums applicable for the 36V cart? Is there a charge controller that would allow use of the original EzGo charger?
Thanks!
Larry

 

[scootr]

Yes, Lithium battery packs are available in 36v but you have to have a charger that is for lithium. The charging is critical. Not just for the battery life but for safety as well.
Get a battery /charger combo. That way you know the charger you have is made for the battery you have.

 

[Spanky100]

Thanks Gentlemen.
Reading these post make me want one (for my wife of course). Her birthday is a great opportunity.
Well probably less expensive then then the diesel side by side I was working up to. But I will need the fancy larger chrome wheels, lift kit, sun canopy, with the US Flag graphics. I think there is enough room next to her tractor and ZTR Mower.

Now the hard part - what model and year EzGo Gasoline or electric with lithium battery and charger combination.