A battery charger, or recharger, is a device that stores energy in a battery by running an electric current through it. The charging protocol (how much voltage or current for how long, and what to do when charging is complete) depends on the size and type of the battery being charged. Some battery types have a high tolerance for overcharging (i.e., continued charging after the battery has been fully charged) and can be recharged by connection to a constant voltage source or a constant current source, depending on battery type. Simple chargers of this type must be manually disconnected at the end of the charge cycle. Other battery types use a timer to cut off when charging should be complete. Other battery types cannot withstand over-charging, becoming damaged (reduced capacity, reduced lifetime), overheating, or even exploding. The charger may have temperature or voltage sensing circuits and a microprocessor controller to safely adjust the charging current and voltage, determine the state of charge, and cut off at the end of charge.
Chargers may elevate the output voltage proportionally with the current to compensate for impedance in the wires.
A trickle charger provides a relatively small amount of current, only enough to counteract the self-discharge of a battery that is idle for a long time. Some battery types cannot tolerate trickle charging; attempts to do so may result in damage. Lithium-ion batteries cannot handle indefinite trickle charging.
Slow battery chargers may take several hours to complete a charge. High-rate chargers may restore most capacity much faster, but high-rate chargers can be more than some battery types can tolerate. Such batteries require active monitoring of the battery to protect them from overcharging. Electric vehicles ideally need high-rate chargers. For public access, the installation of such chargers and the distribution support for them is an issue in the proposed adoption of electric cars.
Golf Cart Battery Chargers – A Complete Guide
To put it simply, Golf Cart Chargers are exactly what you would expect them to be. They are the life source of the cart. Most chargers work by feeding electric current through a battery, in hopes that the cells inside will hold the energy that just passed through it.
This is why it is important to invest in the right charger and maintain it properly. Batteries will not last forever but you can do your best to expand the battery's lifetime.
How to Charge an Electric Golf Cart Step by Step
If your golf cart didn’t come with a battery charger, try to buy a charger from the same brand as your golf cart. If that option is not available, buy a battery charger that meets your golf cart’s specifications. You should find more information in your golf cart’s user manual, and you can always ask the vendor what charger is advised for your unit.
Always charge your golf cart in a well-ventilated area.
Make sure your golf cart switch is set to the off position.
Plug the battery charger into the power grid and plug the other end of the charger into your golf cart’s charging socket.
Depending on the charger, you may have to set up the amperage output of the charger. Golf carts chargers go from 6 to 30+ amps. More amps will make your golf cart charge faster, but you have to check your golf cart’s user manual to see the manufacturer’s recommendations about this. Some chargers are “smart”: they will adjust themselves depending on your battery’s charging levels, and other chargers have only one charging current.
Leave your golf cart plugged until it’s fully charged. Unplugging the charger before the batteries are fully charged could damage them. Some chargers have lights that will flash red when the batteries are low, and that will start to flash green when they are almost full, and will stay green when the charge is complete. Other models work differently; a set of red lights will flash when the golf cart is fully charged. Intelligent chargers usually have a simple LED display and will read “FULL” or “FUL” when the charge is finished. Most chargers will stop charging after the batteries are fully charged, and they will automatically shut down.
If your golf cart uses lead-acid batteries, it’s a good practice to periodically check your batteries’ water levels and top them with distilled water when necessary.
It’s a good practice to charge your golf cart after every use.
What Is a Lead-Acid Battery Charger?
A lead acid charger does everything you might expect, charging lead-acid batteries in a unique and effective way that will have smaller batteries ready to go in 5 hours and larger ones fully charged in 12 hours.
Lead-acid batteries use a method of charging called ‘constant current constant voltage (CCCV). This process uses a regulated current. That current works to raise the terminal voltage within the battery until the limit of the upper charge voltage is hit. When that happens and it becomes saturated the current drops. An AGM lead-acid battery, for example, will decrease its voltage output with higher temperatures. Therefore, warmer temperatures can help to increase battery life.
If it sounds confusing, it doesn’t have to be! Think of the CCCV method in three separate stages.
First, there is the constant-current charge stage. This offers the battery a large portion of its overall charge, and also takes up a bulk of the time required for the battery to be at full power.
The next stage is the topping charge, in which the current continues at a lower charge rate, saturating the battery.
Finally, the float charge compensates for any ‘energy’ lost from the battery due to self-discharge.
All three stages are incredibly important, not only for the effectiveness of your battery but for its lifespan and longevity.