Golf Cart Lead-Acid Battery Chargers FAQ

If my golf cart battery charger is not working, how can I troubleshoot it?

This is a very common problem. If it has not been charged for a few weeks or more, then the battery may not have enough voltage for the charger to start working. Golf cart battery chargers require the lowest voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need something in the battery between 20-35 volts to let the charger know they're connected to the battery and start up.

Even if you are able to drive your golf cart, even if you just got a brand new battery, we recommend that you use a 6V or 12V car battery charger and manually charge the golf cart battery for a few minutes. This process should provide enough voltage to the battery so that your golf cart battery charger can take over.

This often happens because people leave town without charging their golf carts for weeks. For our factory keheng chargers, we always recommend that you keep the charger plugged in when not driving, as the keheng battery charger will charge your lead acid battery if the voltage starts to drop.

I manually charged the battery and it didn't work, what can I do?

The second thing you should do after charging the battery is to check each battery connection. Make sure each battery cable is wired correctly. Then check that all battery cables fit snugly against the battery terminals and are not rusted or corroded. A poor connection will prevent any battery charger from working properly.

After you've charged the battery and checked every connection and the problem is still there, it's safe to say you have a golf cart battery charger problem and may need service or buy a new one.

club car charging problem

I have a 48 volt Club Car and I charged the battery separately as above, but the charger still doesn't work, what now?

What are the symptoms of a bad golf cart battery charger versus a bad battery?

Bad battery: Generally speaking, if the charger doesn't turn on or show any signs of life when you insert it into the cart, it's most likely a battery/connection issue.

Bad charger: Generally speaking, if the charger starts up, but not fully charged or starts up quickly, it could be a charger problem. If the charger makes a loud clicking noise, it may be a problem with the battery charger. If the charger won't turn off or never stops charging, it could be a battery charger problem.

How do I know if I have a battery problem or a charger problem?

A lot of times it's a battery issue. The easiest way to determine if you have a problem with your charger is to test your charger on another cart, or test another cart's charger on your cart. We understand that this is not always possible for most clients.

Is my golf cart battery fully charged?

I charged the battery, unplugged, then plugged it back in and it started charging again for about 30 minutes or so. is this normal?

Can I leave the golf cart battery charger plugged in for extended periods of time without draining the battery?

Yes, because the keheng golf cart battery charger has a winter storage mode feature that automatically adjusts the battery's charge level. With the keheng golf cart charger, you don't need to call your neighbor to unplug and replug the charger to start, it does it automatically and only when you need it.

Does the golf cart charger automatically stop charging when the battery is fully charged?

Yes. All automatic chargers are designed to charge your batteries until they are fully charged and then stop charging. So you don't need to manually turn off the charger or worry about overcharging the battery. All Lester chargers feature several internal safety mechanisms to ensure they do not overcharge the battery.

Will my charger charge the battery if the battery voltage is too low?

Can't. Automatic golf cart battery chargers cannot charge fully discharged or dead batteries. They require the least amount of voltage to start charging. A 36-volt golf cart needs at least 20-25 volts. A 48-volt golf cart needs at least 30-35 volts.

My charger is really hot and giving a bad little signal, is this normal?

It's normal for the charger to get hot while it's working. Sometimes there may even be an odor. It really depends on the battery charger and how long it has been running and how hard it is working. The charger may get hot from time to time, depending on how far the battery has been discharged and how long it takes to restore the battery to 100% charge.

Make sure your battery cable is connected correctly, cleanly and securely. Poor connections can cause the charger to overwork and overheat.

Make sure there is sufficient water level in the battery.

Do not use extension cords. If you must use one, just use a heavy duty extension cord. Cheap extension cords can cause the charger to overheat.

Give the charger breathing room and make sure it's on a hard surface, preferably a garage floor.

That being said, if the golf cart charger is always hot and smells bad, you should contact the manufacturer to confirm that everything is in order.

The water in my wet battery was boiling while charging the battery. Why?

Several factors may affect this: There may be too much water in the battery (should be about 1/4" above the plate). You may also have an old/dead/faulty battery or two, which could cause the charger to boil the rest of the batteries to fully charge them all. We recommend checking all batteries/connections.

How long does it take to charge a golf cart?

The quick answer is, it depends. It depends on three factors, 1) the quality of the battery, 2) how discharged the battery is and 3) the quality of the charger. If you have a 5 year old battery that is very low and you have a light 2-5 amp charger, it may take a long time (10 hours or more). If you have brand new batteries, they will discharge 20-30% and you have a heavy duty charger and it can go very fast (1-3 hours). Again, it depends on all of the above factors, so it really can vary a lot.

Should I charge the golf cart after every use?

Yes. It is healthy for the battery to be fully charged at all times. So, you should charge your golf cart every night. Automatic golf cart chargers will turn off once the batteries are fully charged, so there's no need to worry about them overcharging.

If I have a car charger with a plug, can I switch to a car charger that doesn't have a plug that connects directly to the battery?

Yes. The vast majority of golf carts come with a car charger that connects to a plug. Some golf carts come with on-board chargers with ring terminals or plugs. Switching from off-board chargers (with plugs) to on-board chargers (with ring terminals that connect directly to the battery) is great.

What does the red flashing light on my battery charger mean?

The light on each golf cart battery charger is different, but usually a red light is a fault light and indicates a problem with the charging process. Sometimes a red fault light on a golf cart charger can mean that there isn't enough voltage in the battery to start the charger.

What if I charge the battery until my battery charger stops charging, but my golf cart doesn't go very far?

You may need to test your battery, and may need to buy a new golf cart battery.

Can I use my "out of car" portable charger with my golf cart?

You shouldn't put a car charger on a golf cart and use it like a car charger. They're just not designed for this use and can break. Off-board or portable chargers can't handle all the bumps and potholes. On the other hand, if you currently have a car charger attached to your cart, you can use that car charger with a DC plug attached and use it as a portable charger (outside the car).

How do I connect the keheng car charger to my battery?

You simply connect the red wire (positive) to the positive terminal of the first battery in the pack, and the black wire (negative) to the negative terminal of the last battery in the pack. So, positive to positive, negative to negative. Forget about the blue line (for more information about the blue line, read What is the blue line?). The ring terminals on the leads are universal and suitable for all batteries. Because all golf cart batteries are connected to battery cables, all batteries will be charged in series.

What is the blue wire on the keheng car battery charger?

Most people are familiar with the red wire, the positive lead, and the black wire, the negative lead. Only the red and black wires are required to fully charge the golf cart. The blue wire is an optional safety wire. If connected to a motor controller, it will not allow you to drive the golf cart while charging. Think about driving in front of a gas station with the gas station still in the car. The blue wire is not installed very often.

Can I use a 36-volt charger with a 48-volt golf cart?

Can't. You have to match the voltage to the voltage. 36-volt carts require a 36-volt golf cart charger. 48V carts require a 48V golf cart charger. If you don't charge it with the proper voltage, you can burn the battery. Check out our 36V vs 48V guide for more information.

Can I change the plug on a 36V or 48V charger?

If you have a 36V Club Car charger with a crowfoot plug and you want to use the charger with another 36V EZ-GO golf cart with a "D-shaped" plug, you can remove the crowfoot plug and connect the D plug ,no problem. Same goes for 48V chargers (you can change the plug), unless you're trying to use a 48V Club Car or its charger with a round 3-pin plug. The 48V Club Car charger is completely different from all other golf cart chargers. They don't have an internal auto shut-off, the Club Car onboard computer actually controls the shut-off. So if you try to put the round plug on the 48V EZ-GO charger, your Club Car won't work. Vice versa, if you use a 48V Club Car charger and plug in the EZ-GO delta plug, this also does not apply to your EZ-GO. Bottom line, swapping plugs on a 36V charger is fine. Replacing the plug on a 48V charger will also work, unless a 48V Club Car or 48V Club Car charger is involved.

How long do golf cart batteries last?

If golf cart batteries are properly maintained, they can usually last around 5-6 years.

What is the difference between a wet battery and an AGM battery?

Two popular deep-cycle lead-acid batteries are used today: wet cells and sealed (AGM). Wet batteries dominate the golf cart, utility vehicle, scissor lift, and material handling machine market (99%). What is the reason? Wet batteries generally have a more favorable cost/benefit ratio than sealed batteries, and despite their higher maintenance requirements, their performance and industry acceptability are historically proven. Now for the sealed battery: The main advantage of a sealed battery is that it does not emit corrosive gases during use or charging, and it does not spill acid if it is tipped over. This makes them more popular with wheelchair manufacturers and increasingly popular in the market for floor care machines used in hospitals, nursing homes, and more.

Do I need a golf cart battery watering system?

The answer is no. In a wet battery, acid and water typically evaporate from the battery. This causes the battery to lose power and not last long. Keeping the water level of wet batteries at the proper level (about 1/4 inch above the plate) will extend the life of the batteries and make them perform better on a single charge. Typically, golf cart owners manually pour distilled water from filling bottles. The battery watering system is automatic, so there is no need to manually refill the battery, which is very convenient! On the flip side of convenience, battery filling systems can be a bit expensive to purchase and maintain. Whether you're manually filling your golf cart battery, or using a filling system, always make sure you maintain the proper water level.