golf cart - solar

[lefoster]

Not a camper question, but figured someone in this group might have knowledge about doing this. Seems like it should work.

Has anyone put a solar panel on the roof of an electric golf cart to keep batteries charged?

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by lefoster

Not a camper question, but figured someone in this group might have knowledge about doing this. Seems like it should work.

Has anyone put a solar panel on the roof of an electric golf cart to keep batteries charged?

Good idea... Have to follow this....

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by lefoster

Has anyone put a solar panel on the roof of an electric golf cart to keep batteries charged?

I suppose you could, but most golf carts are either 36 volt or 48 volt, so make sure you have the right charge controller, and your panel can put out that amount of voltage. Plus, they normally have a BIG battery bank, so it will take a while to charge, considering there isn't much roof space for panels.

[lefoster]

Yes, I am just thinking you drive around in the sun all day. Do you think it needs a different controller than what comes on the solar panels?

[RetiredOne]

No idea. You're going to have to check to see if the panel puts out the necessary voltage and if the controller can regulate and put it out for the golf cart.

[lefoster]

spoke with a golf cart professional today. he says can't put enough panels on the cart to charge the battery bank - He said, "good idea, but it doesn't work". ha! good to know!

[Murff]

Originally Posted by lefoster

spoke with a golf cart professional today. he says can't put enough panels on the cart to charge the battery bank - He said, "good idea, but it doesn't work". ha! good to know!

Leave us not be so hasty...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/6311063...iABEgJQ8fD_BwE

https://www.hammacher.com/product/so...ered-golf-cart

Murff

[lefoster]

Well lookie there! Love it!

[sciencenerd]

Let's do the math:

Assume the golf cart has six 6V batteries, 220 Ah each in series, for 36 volts. That has a total energy storage ability of 36 V x 220 Ah = 7.9 kWh.

Solar irradiance is 1 kW per sq yard, but only a max of 20% of that can be extracted by solar cells. Let's assume you have ideal solar irradiance on the solar cells for 10 hours a day, that gives you 10 h x 0.2 kW = 2 kWh of energy per day from 1 sq yard.

To get the 7.9 kWh for recharging the GC batteries, you therefore need 4 times that energy, or four sq yards.

Now, assume conditions are not always ideal, this amount of surface area has to be at least doubled to ensure 100% recharging every day. Do you have 8 sq yard on the roof of your golf cart? Probably not.

Conclusion: Your golf cart tech is correct, the solar energy density is not enough to supply the energy to your golf cart.

That's why people don't just mount solar panels on top of a car roof and get free transportation forever. The energy from the solar cells would barely run the AC, let alone the car engine.

[lefoster]

On reading more about it, seems the solar panels might let you run longer before charging, but cart still would need to be plugged in for full charge.