Are You Playing With Fire? – Golf Cart Safety and Hidden Dangers

In residential suburbia, it has become commonplace to see golf carts cruising down the streets. Many homeowners have invested in the alternative mode of transportation to conserve gasoline, save money by using less of it and be able to leave the family car at home when driving short distances.

FLORIDIANS OFTEN USE GOLF CARTS AS TRANSPORTATION

In Florida, which should be noted has more golf courses than any state in America (1,200-plus at latest count), it has become increasingly commonplace. The trend, however, dates to the mid 2000s.

“Decades after they rolled off the links and into airport terminals, theme parks, and university campuses, golf carts and their heftier cousins, known as low-speed electric vehicles, are gaining currency as a mobility option in pockets of the United States,” states a 2015 Bloomberg article titled “More and More Towns Are Falling in Love With Golf Carts.” “Unusually, for a transportation trend, it’s older Americans who are on the cutting edge.”

A 66-year-old retiree who lives in The Villages said he owns two golf carts – one for golfing and the other for riding around town with his wife.

“We can get to all the rec centers, we can get to all the doctors, we can get to the hospitals,” Gary Search told CBS News in a 2015 article titled “Are golf carts the future of electric vehicles?” “So we prefer to cruise around in our golf carts. I take it home, plug it in, it’s ready to go the next morning. And off we go.”

WHY GOLF CART BATTERIES CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD

When consumers “plug it in,” therein lies a hidden danger. The batteries that propel golf carts to and fro can turn into serious fire hazards and even explosion hazards if they are charged improperly. The reason? Batteries naturally release hydrogen, a highly flammable gas. The smallest concentrations of hydrogen – between four and seven percent – can cause a deadly boom.

“Golfers may not realize it but their golf carts could be ticking time bombs if they charge them inside a garage,” The Palm Beach Post reports in an article titled “‘The fire hazard no one ever expected’: The hidden, deadly dangers of residential golf carts.” “That’s because golf cart batteries, especially older ones, emit hydrogen, an odorless, colorless gas that is highly flammable.”

Palm Beach County firefighters have seen an uptick in such emergency calls, including one that destroyed a mansion in Addison Reserve Country Club. By the time responders arrived at the scene, the $1.9 million home was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Palm Beach County Fire Marshal David DeRita told The Palm Beach Post that golf carts never should be charged in a closed garage.

“With hydrogen present, a problem could develop…by even touching the garage door switch or garage door light – all of which work off electricity,” DeRita said.

STEPS WHICH CAN HELP TO AVOID GOLF CART FIRES

Here are tips to prevent golf cart fires:

• Read and follow the instructions and warnings from the manufacturer
• Only use the electrical cords and battery charger designated for the golf cart
• Regularly check for damage to and / or leaks in the battery
• Opt to set up a timer that controls when the battery is charged
• Make sure a dual smoke detector / carbon monoxide detector is installed in the home

Also, the water level in the battery can play a key role in whether fires break out or explosions occur. Golf Cart Report explains:

“Some cart owners may make the mistake of overfilling or underfilling their cart’s battery with distilled water. This problem can trigger fires in a few ways. First of all, not adding enough water to your cart’s battery may make it run hotter and cause a higher production of hydrogen. And this combination may cause the battery to get hot enough to cause a fire, leading to a spread of damage throughout your cart. Overfilling the battery is not a good step, either, because this water may end up getting way too hot as a result. Others may make the mistake of adding non-distilled water to their cart’s battery. This mistake is common because owners don’t realize that non-distilled water contains trace elements of metals and other minerals. These items will cause a high level of sparking throughout your cart’s battery that may lead to damage and a high risk of fire.”

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR SAFELY CHARGING YOUR GOLF CART’S BATTERY

The environment in which you charge your golf cart’s battery can impact your risk of fire hazard. Consider the following tips in order to make the your charging environment even more secure:

• Keep metal objects away from the battery terminals – If you are wearing a watch, jewelry, or other form of metal when you place the charge on the terminals then you are creating a risk. This is due to the fact that metal contact can cause an arc. This, in turn, can lead to the ignition of gasses. This risk can be avoided by ensuring that all metal is kept away from the terminals. Also, it is strongly suggested that you only use tools which have rubber grips in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to metals.
  

• Ensure that there is proper ventilation when you are charging your battery – As explained above, batteries can release hydrogen while charging. This means that if you are charging your battery in an unventilated environment (IE – a garage which has its door closed) then you are allowing these gasses to accumulate. For obvious reasons, this increases the risk of fire. If you are charging your battery in a garage, then it is likely best to leave the door open while doing so. You may also wish to consider opening other areas, such as windows, to allow for greater airflow so that gasses may disburse.
  

• Remove other fire hazards from your charging area – It can generally be a good practice to remove flammable items from the area in which you charge your battery. These items can include rags, cardboard boxes, etc. Again, a main risk of fire stems from the release of gasses by your battery. While one spark may not necessarily detonate this gas, a smoldering item is more likely to. This means items which can catch fire in your garage or other areas may, in fact, prove to be an ignition switch for your golf cart’s battery. Removing combustible items from the environment can be a helpful safety step.
  

• Do not smoke around your golf cart’s battery while it is charging – Many do not realize that potentially flammable gasses are being released while they are charging their golf cart’s battery. This lack of knowledge, in turn, can result in one not seeing the hazard stemming from smoking in the vicinity of the cart while the charger is plugged in. Once you are aware of the potential for a fire or explosion, however, the reasons to not smoke in the vicinity of your charging golf cart become obvious.
  

• Ensure that your cart’s battery terminals are free from corrosion – Slight holes develop in the metal of your golf cart’s battery terminals as they become corroded. These holes or gaps can create the potential for sparks to fly. These sparks, in turn, can ignite the gasses we have been discussing in this article. By keeping your battery properly maintained, and free from corrosion build up, you can help prevent these gaps from forming.

The need to follow these safety tips is reinforced through the fact that the National Golf Cart Association reminds those charging the batteries on their golf carts to 1) not smoke, 2) not charge the battery near an ignition source and 3) not charge the battery in an area without proper ventilation.

The National Golf Cart Association reminds those charging the batteries on their golf carts to 1) not smoke, 2) not charge the battery near an ignition source and 3) not charge the battery in an area without proper ventilation.