Where you should store your golf cart for winter You should store your electric golf in a covered dry area, away from any water exposure. A golf cart storage shed would be the best place, but if you don’t have a small storage building with a door, make sure you place it under a shelter, and away from where the elements can get to it.
- Clean the vehicle.
- Park the vehicle in a covered, dry location.
- Fully charge the battery.
- Disconnect battery cables.
- Check the tire pressure.
- Turn the key switch to the OFF position and remove the key.
- Turn the power switch under the seat to the TOW position.
How to store your golf cart for the winter?
Things You Should Clean
- Rust
- Dirt & grime
- Bird poop
- Cut and polish any scratches
- Remove any rugs/carpet
- Clean mirrors
- Cables and connectors
- Fuel, oil and air filters
- Replace spark plugs if required
How to store electric golf cart in winter?
Preparing Your Golf Car Battery for Storage
- Start by moving your car wherever it is going to be stored. ...
- Leave the forward/reverse switch in the neutral position.
- Depending on your golf car, it will have either a tow/run or a maintenance/run switch. ...
- Fully charge the battery and water it with distilled water. ...
- Check terminals and cords for damage and corrosion. ...
How do you store golf cart batteries?
Store in the proper temperature: Avoid exposure less than 32°F and more than 80°F. Don’t forget to regularly charge your battery: Lithium-ion batteries should never be fully discharged, if possible. During the winter months, it is easy to forget to charge your batteries. The good news is lithium-ion batteries hold a charge much longer than ...
Which golf cart battery is best?
What are the Advantages of Lithium Batteries for Golf Carts?
- Constant power – Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries operate at full power throughout discharge, even when they are at less than 5%. ...
- Lightweight – Lithium batteries are 50-60% lighter than their lead-acid equivalents. ...
- Fast charging – Lithium batteries can be fully charged within 1-3 hours. ...
What do you do with golf cart batteries in the winter?
Keep them in a cool area and stay away from areas that are near heat sources such as radiators or heaters, since hot temperatures accelerate battery self-discharge. In addition, al- ways avoid areas where freezing temperatures are expected during the storage pe- riod.
Should I take my golf cart batteries out for the winter?
Simple, regular maintenance of your 6 volt golf car batteries during the off-season ensures that your car is ready to run when the time comes, but neglecting to care for them will leave you with a car that can't make it out of the garage, let alone 18 holes.
How do you winterize electric golf cart batteries?
The best place to store any golf-cart batteries is by looking for a cool and dry area. It shouldn't be cold, such as an exposed area to the elements, but cool. Cool temperatures will slow the battery's discharge rate. You want a slow discharge so that the battery maintains its charge.
Can I leave my electric golf cart plugged in all winter?
No, it's not recommended that you leave your golf cart plugged in all the time. Although automatic chargers are designed to prevent over-charging, there is still the risk of the circuit breaker tripping, which would result in damage to your battery's cells.
Should I disconnect golf cart batteries for storage?
If you only have the standard charger, you will want to make sure you fully charge the batteries up prior to storage. All electrical accessories and anything that might draw off the battery pack should be disconnected. The TOW/RUN switch should be set to TOW in order to fully shut the cart down.
How often should I add water to my golf cart batteries?
DO: You have to get your timing right. After charging your battery is when you want to add water. Adding water after charging prevents acid from spilling over. ... We recommend service once or twice a year. Always use distilled water so you don't add additional minerals into your battery.
Should I charge my golf cart batteries every day?
Should you charge new golf cart batteries? Yes. New golf cart batteries should be charged every time they are used as this will extend their lifespan, help them retain their capacity for longer, and prevent discharge. It is vitally important to charge new golf cart batteries, even after their first use.
When to start preparing golf cart storage?
Fall is a critical time to start preparing the storage of golf cart for the coming winter months ahead. A small amount of cleaning and maintenance is required in order for your cart to survive being locked up in the freezing winter conditions.
When to prep a golf cart for winter?
Prepping The Cart (End Of Fall) During the end of fall season is when you will want to wind up your use of your electric golf cart. The leaves are dropping, the temperature is falling, and you can feel the end is near. Fall is a critical time to start preparing the storage of golf cart for the coming winter months ahead.
What is the best way to clean a battery?
A clean cloth, warm water and baking soda is perfect to clean the battery. The baking soda will neutralize any acid corrosion found.
What is the run/tow switch on a cart?
If the Run/Tow switch is found on your model of cart, it’s very important that you set it to the Run/Storage switch instead. Keeping your cart stored and set to Run/Tow is a great way to drain your battery completely!
Can you store an electric golf cart in the cold?
There comes a time each year when mother nature deems your electric golf cart unusable. The wet weather turns your otherwise enjoyable ride, into an off road journey into the unknown! When the weather turns cold, it’s time to store your golf cart in a safe place.
Can a golf cart rust in the winter?
Winters especially in the US, can reach extremely cold temperatures. If not careful, moisture from the cooler weather can cause havoc on your golf cart. The moisture from rain, ice and snow will exacerbate the amount of rusting if the issue isn’t taken care of beforehand.
Can you over inflate a car tire?
It’s critical that you don’t over inflate your tires. Over inflated tires have known to explode, and they also cause other issues like less stability while driving your cart. Over inflation is more dangerous if you plan on using the cart near-term, compared to during storage time, simply avoid it if you can.
Efficient Ways of How to Store Electric Golf Cart for winter
As the leaves fall and temperatures dip, you should wind up your electric golf cart. The end of the fall season means it is time to say goodbye to your electric golf cart because winter is on your door.
Storing Your Electric Golf Cart
You don’t want your cart to get wet, so store it in a cool, dry place. A golf shed is a good spot for this type of storage, but not everyone has the luxury – at least make sure you put some protection over your electric golf cart.
Frequently Asked Questions Golf Cart Storage
Who knew leaving your golf cart plugged all the time could be so harmful? The minimum maintenance of any lead-acid cell is recharging it soon after use; unplug when charged.
Where you should store your golf cart for winter
You should store your electric golf in a covered dry area, away from any water exposure. A golf cart storage shed would be the best place, but if you don’t have a small storage building with a door, make sure you place it under a shelter, and away from where the elements can get to it. In milder climates, it should be ok to use a golf cart cover.
Will your batteries lose charge by sitting for long periods of time in cold weather?
Batteries naturally self-discharge. Lithium batteries have a much better discharge rate than lead-acid. They will only discharge at about 2% of the charge per month. During the winter months when you won’t be using the cart, you would have to charge your batteries once every 2 weeks.
Will leaving your charger connected all winter hurt your batteries?
It is acceptable to leave our batteries connected to the charger over the winter. However, it is best practice to leave the batteries off the charger and the vehicle in TOW mode. It may be obvious but you’ll be surprised by the number of people who will disconnect but forget to turn the vehicle switch to the TOW position.
How often you should check your batteries during winter storage
Considering lithium golf cart batteries have a much lower rate of discharge than lead-acid, it’s a general rule of thumb to check them once every 3 months. Lead-acid batteries would need to be checked every 2-3 weeks to make sure they stay at a sufficient charge capacity.
Should you charge your batteries before storing them for winter?
The best practice is to leave the batteries partially charged during storage (between 50-80% SOC). The next good practice is to charge the batteries fully before putting them in storage. It is discouraged to store batteries that are very discharged (<50% SOC).
Can you disconnect the batteries to avoid monthly maintenance?
Yes, disconnecting the batteries from the vehicle or other loads, and turning them completely OFF during extended periods of non-use is the best practice.
What is the best battery for electric golf carts?
Lithium batteries outperform lead-acid in every way and have boosted the overall experience of driving a golf cart. Lithium has a long list of advantages over lead-acid but comes with a higher retail price.
How to charge a golf cart battery?
Fill all of the battery cells to the proper levels. Remove the battery tops and use distilled water to raise the water levels in the battery cells to cover the plates. Electrolyte levels in your golf cart batteries are critical, especially when cold weather hits and you need to maintain a full charge to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. ...
How to revive a frozen battery?
First, bring the battery inside and thaw it out, then hook it to an automotive charger that is equipped with clamps to put on the terminals. Set the charger on the lowest charge rate setting and charge the battery for around an hour.
How to clean battery terminals?
Clean the battery terminals posts using 2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a 1 quart of water. Use a wire scratch brush to remove the larger deposits. Keep any of the baking soda water from entering the battery. Rinse the battery thoroughly dry with a paper towel. 2.
What is a tow/run switch on a golf cart?
The Tow/Run switch is only installed on a golf car with a separately excited motor that produces regenerative braking. This uses a small amount of power even when the key is off and can take a full charge If your cart has this switch, Set it to “Tow” and set the parking brake.
How do batteries self discharge?
Batteries need to be dry and cleaned of any corrosion and dirt. Batteries can self-discharge by a small trickle of current slowly discharging your batteries through conductive debris.
What happens to electrolytes in cold weather?
Electrolyte expansion during cold weather can crack the battery case, causing complete battery failure. At a 40% state of charge, the electrolyte will freeze. As the state of charge in a battery decreases, the electrolyte solution gets to be more and more like water.
Can you store golf cart batteries in cold weather?
Also, note that golf cart batteries will take longer to charge in colder temperatures than they will in warm weather.