Quick answer
Park on a dry, level spot, turn the cart off, and plug the charger made for your battery pack into a grounded outlet, following the order in your charger's manual. Let it finish the full cycle. Lead-acid packs need ventilation and a water check after charging, and lithium packs need a charger built for lithium.
Before you plug in
- Park on a dry, level spot, out of standing water.
- Turn the cart off and set the parking brake.
- Look over the charger cord and plug for cuts, cracks or bent prongs.
- Make sure the charger matches your battery type and voltage.
If the cord, plug or charging port looks damaged, do not charge. Get it checked first. While the cart charges, keep kids and pets away from the charger and cord.
Charging step by step
- Check your owner's manual or charger manual for the right connection order, since some chargers connect to the cart first and others to the wall first.
- Use a grounded outlet that is not already crowded with other plugs.
- Follow the manual on extension cords, since some chargers should plug straight into the wall.
- Let the charger finish the full cycle. Many chargers shut off on their own when the pack is full.
- Unplug by the plug, not the cord, and coil the cord where nobody will trip on it or drive over it.
Lead-acid batteries: ventilation and water
Many carts run on flooded lead-acid batteries. They give off gas while charging, so charge them in a well-ventilated space, never in a closed room, and keep sparks and flames away.
- Check water levels after charging, once the fluid has expanded. If the plates are exposed before charging, add just enough water to cover them, then top off after the charge.
- Use distilled or deionized water only, never tap water and never acid.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when you check water or clean terminals, since battery acid burns.
- Keep terminals clean and tight, and clean off corrosion with the cart off and the charger unplugged.
Lithium batteries: use the right charger
Lithium packs skip the watering, but they need a charger built for lithium and matched to the pack. Follow the battery maker's charging guidance, and never open the pack or tamper with its battery management system. If a lithium cart will sit unused for a while, check the maker's storage advice before you park it.
Weighing a switch? Our guide to lithium vs. lead-acid batteries lays out the tradeoffs.
How often to charge
If you ride most days, plug in at the end of each day so the cart starts every morning full. Lead-acid batteries last longer when they are not left drained, so do not let a lead-acid cart sit for days with a low pack. Short rides between charges are fine. What matters most is not storing the cart empty. Before a long day out, start with a full charge, and keep an eye on the charge level so you are not caught far from home with a low pack.
Renting, and when to call for help
Every Boss Cart arrives fully charged. On a longer stay, ask us whether you will need to charge it and how. If you own a cart, call for help when you notice:
- The charger will not start, or shuts off right away
- Range drops off fast, even after a full charge
- A burning smell, a hot plug, or a swollen or leaking battery
Our mobile golf cart repair team handles charger issues and battery service on-site. Call or text (386) 225-7765.
Ready to cruise?
Street-legal 6-seaters, delivered clean and fully charged in Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine and Ormond Beach. Repairs and builds: call or text (386) 225-7765.
