Last golf cart question I promise

[JAXFL]

If I do not run it for say 3-4 months, but leave the factory charger hooked up will that be OK?

I know the batteries will have water... When you first pull the charger in the needle jumps to 15, but as it charges the needle drops to 0 when fully charged, so I am thinking that leaving it plugged in for 4 months, if the batteries get low it will kick on and recharge them, then turn itself off again....until they get low again.... right?

It is a 36v..2010... EzGo normal everyday golf cart.

[John_Joey]

mchero wrote:

MNGeeks61 wrote:
I usually charge them before winter and check SG/water. Fully charged batteries should winter through some very cold temps. I have a 2008 EZ-Go but I've never left the factory charger on very long. No idea if they will re-detect voltage etc and re-start the charge cycle.

worth a look here -

Trojan batteries claim -92f before freezing

Had 4 Sam's Club Golf Cart batteries, lasted 12 winters in New Hampshire w/o a charger! Just made SURE they where all juiced up & disconnected them. No problems, purchased in 2005 & still holding a charge!

I know JAXFL already knows what he'll be doing but just some trivia for those cold weather cart/RV'er types that read this stuff.

Turns out that if you add water you need to charge the battery a few times to fully mix the acid to get that -92f benefit. The acid is heavier then the distilled water and that distilled water can freeze and crack the case if it isn't fully mixed.

My cart has an IQ system that will turn off the charger when fully charged and will turn it on every 15 days for a top off charge cycle if left plugged in. Not too many do that though.

Even with that option I'm not going to leave it plugged in. I don't feel comfortable leaving for extended time and hoping nothing goes wrong with the charger when it dips way down in the temps.

[mchero]

MNGeeks61 wrote:
I usually charge them before winter and check SG/water. Fully charged batteries should winter through some very cold temps. I have a 2008 EZ-Go but I've never left the factory charger on very long. No idea if they will re-detect voltage etc and re-start the charge cycle.

worth a look here -

Trojan batteries claim -92f before freezing

Had 4 Sam's Club Golf Cart batteries, lasted 12 winters in New Hampshire w/o a charger! Just made SURE they where all juiced up & disconnected them. No problems, purchased in 2005 & still holding a charge!

[JAXFL]

Thanks guys I think I am just going to unhook them and let them set.

[Tom_M1]

mkirsch wrote:

Tom_M wrote:
You could plug the charger into a timer such as this:


Amazon search for programmable timer

You don't need to recharge the batteries anywhere near daily, which is the best that that timer will do AFAICT.

If the batteries "drained out" over the winter, either you left the key on or the batteries were bad to begin with.

The model pictured can be set for an 'ON' duration as short as 15 minutes. One would have to experiment to see what the best duration would be.

[John_Joey]

On a Club Car (an I expect also an EZ-Go) if you take the key out and leave it in "run" mode there are parasitic drains. On board computer, low battery indicator, battery meter, roll away safety, etc. Even in "tow" mode the on board computer is still active if there is one. That's why you need to disconnect the bank from the cart. Putting it in "tow" mode helps prevent accidental shorts when you disconnect.

I'm guessing the prior batteries may have had some wear on them, key was off, but cart was left in a "run" mode. That drained the batteries down too far. Their is a way of using a 12v charger to bring them back, but that is beyond my knowledge and can explode them.

[mkirsch]

Tom_M wrote:
You could plug the charger into a timer such as this:


Amazon search for programmable timer

You don't need to recharge the batteries anywhere near daily, which is the best that that timer will do AFAICT.

If the batteries "drained out" over the winter, either you left the key on or the batteries were bad to begin with.

[John_Joey]

Almost forgot. If that EZ-Go has a run/tow mode switch under the seat make sure you put it in tow mode. If it was in run mode that might explain why your batteries were dead after 3-4 months of nonuse.

If the batteries are good they should last 3-4 months if you disconnect them like I posted prior. No different then if you left a car with the negative cable off. But I do know batteries like cold not heat so your conditions may be different then mine.

On edit:
If you do have a run/tow switch make sure you're in tow mode before you disconnect anything.

[mmiille]

My cart is a club car model and the on board charger is supposed to be controlled by computer and it watches the charge and maintains a charge. It seems to work. I would think easygo would have the same thing.

[Tom_M1]

You could plug the charger into a timer such as this:


Amazon search for programmable timer

[JAXFL]

John&Joey wrote:
The best answer really is to call your local EZ-Go dealer. I see you're in Florida, but getting forum info about cold conditions. :h
.

Never said cold conditions... said for 3-4 months. However, it does freeze in this part of Florida for 2-5 days at a time some years and others only gets cool. The whole thing is I just don't want the batteries to drain out. Had that happen this last year while I was gone and it killed a couple of them totally. Dropped down to 5v and would not get above that. Anyway it looks like I will have to get a plan B as the charger turns itself off and has to be re-plugged in to again charge the batteries.... Thanks everyone.

[John_Joey]

Does this fit your cart/charger and answers your question? Clicky.

[westend]

I've done it both ways. One year, I had a fleet of 50 to service. They were new carts but the Golf Course had not thought through storage or charging so after service, off they went to bask in a MN Winter. All but about 3 moved the next Spring and I write that off to bad cart management during the previous season.

Since I've had solar and am able to baby a pair of these 6V's in storage, I'd say they do much better with constant attention and a daily charge. The best might not be one of those Lester chargers. I owned one, an old beast, and it really pushed the amps but wasn't very smart. Maybe their newer ones with the separate "storage" function works well?

[John_Joey]

I would fill the batteries, then fully charge the bank. Once done unhook the main negative, then the main positive (just to be double sure,) but leave the bank tied together.

The best answer really is to call your local EZ-Go dealer. I see you're in Florida, but getting forum info about cold conditions. :h


FWIW, I just did my Club Car this way today. I put it away for 5 months in the cold though.

[westend]

Onboard or standalone charger? What make and model?

This newer 36V Lester charger has a separate "storage feature" (floats), otherwise it turns off.

This newer Onboard Lester charger has the same storage feature.

Many older chargers never turned off. Some turned off when the batteries reached a certain voltage set point sensed by the charger. If you have an older, unknow functionality charger, it would be best to monitor the charger to see what it does after the batteries are fully charged.

If you are messing around with golf cart chargers and batteries, you need a hand held multimeter. If you own an RV, you need a hand held meter. If you are alive and want to find out anything about the hundreds of electrical items you own, you need a hand held multimeter.