winterizing

Klub Kar · 11-12-2008, 09:57 PM

I have a 2000 electric club cart. I live in michigan and winter is coming. Should I take the batteries out and put them in the house? Put them on a slow charger. Or do you guys just drive them all winter

Thanks for the input a cold michigander

JRay · 11-12-2008, 10:01 PM

Charge it once a month and leave mine in a cold garage, been doing it for years in MI. Drive it once in awhile when the weather is right. I don't remove a thing.

lockman1 · 11-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klub Kar

I have a 2000 electric club cart. I live in michigan and winter is coming. Should I take the batteries out and put them in the house? Put them on a slow charger. Or do you guys just drive them all winter

Thanks for the input a cold michigander

What I've done the last 3 years with our 98 48V is:

1) Fully charge the batteries

2) Disconnect the charger for 5 minutes

3) Reconnect the charger, and wait for it to shut off

4) Disconnect the negative cable from Batt #6

5) Disconnect the positive cable on Batt #1

it's winterized... (per my CC dealer)

I have newer batteries...
this may not be the thing to do with older/weaker batteries!
(a trickle charger for the pack may be best for older batteries!)

my 2 cents

shadowman · 11-12-2008, 11:49 PM

the charger is made to leave plugged in for extended periods of time so if the cart is going to be nearby where you can check on it ......it won,t hurt to leave it plugged it and when the batts, hit a certain voltage the charger will come on and than go off when done......only problem with this is if your power goes out or you get a power spike something like that but can also charge it up and than charge it one more time thur winter.......you,ll be surprised how long the batts will stay charged............everybody has their own way of doing it so whats best for you as far as cart goes but you don,t have to take them out thats just a lot of unnessary lifting....................

CartTrader · 11-13-2008, 12:33 AM

Going to have to disagree with the charger going off and on as the charge goes down. Automated 12 volt car chargers will do that but not the ones for golf carts. They need to be unplugged to reset the internal timer, charge circuit in the charger. At least my CC chargers don`t.

Fishing Dude · 11-13-2008, 03:19 AM

The ones with the OBC are made to turn on to keep the batteries charged thinking every 15 days.

lockman1 · 11-13-2008, 06:42 AM

Per my Club Car service manual:

Quote:

Note:
PowerDrive battery chargers: Leave PowerDrive battery chargers plugged in during storage.
The onboard computer will automatically activate the charger when necessary.
If charger cannot remain plugged in, or AC power will not be available during extended storage,
disconect the batteries for storage.

Caution:
Check the vehicle monthly to ensure the charger is operating correctly during storage.

so... I'm guessing "Either/Or" would be fine!

CartTrader · 11-13-2008, 07:25 AM

My bad...forgot about the powerdrive chargers. Most of mine are the old style non contoller type. Only have 1 powerdrive 2 charger and haven`t had it that long. Thanks for that info.

lockman1 · 11-13-2008, 07:41 AM

No biggie CT

I disconnect my batteries only because,
the cart stays in the shed at my campground for the winter,
and I only go up to check things after a heavy snowfall!
(or, if I just need to get away!)

The power has been known to go out every once in a while there,
and the last thing I want to do is replace batteries,
OBC, or a controller in spring. (due to power up spikes)

IMO... better safe, then sorry!

Fishing Dude · 11-13-2008, 07:45 AM

With 2 carts and 1 charger just plug in every couple of weeks.

11-12-2008, 09:57 PM	#1
Klub Kar Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 24	winterizing I have a 2000 electric club cart. I live in michigan and winter is coming. Should I take the batteries out and put them in the house? Put them on a slow charger. Or do you guys just drive them all winter Thanks for the input a cold michigander
Klub Kar Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 24

11-12-2008, 10:01 PM	#2
JRay **** guzzler Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. E. Mich. Posts: 730	Re: winterizing Charge it once a month and leave mine in a cold garage, been doing it for years in MI. Drive it once in awhile when the weather is right. I don't remove a thing.

11-12-2008, 11:49 PM	#4
shadowman The Last Moja Morani Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: jumping from cart to cart Posts: 8,975	Re: winterizing the charger is made to leave plugged in for extended periods of time so if the cart is going to be nearby where you can check on it ......it won,t hurt to leave it plugged it and when the batts, hit a certain voltage the charger will come on and than go off when done......only problem with this is if your power goes out or you get a power spike something like that but can also charge it up and than charge it one more time thur winter.......you,ll be surprised how long the batts will stay charged............everybody has their own way of doing it so whats best for you as far as cart goes but you don,t have to take them out thats just a lot of unnessary lifting....................

11-13-2008, 12:33 AM	#5
CartTrader Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ohio-In Summer, Central Florida-In winter Posts: 889	Re: winterizing Going to have to disagree with the charger going off and on as the charge goes down. Automated 12 volt car chargers will do that but not the ones for golf carts. They need to be unplugged to reset the internal timer, charge circuit in the charger. At least my CC chargers don`t.

11-13-2008, 07:25 AM	#8
CartTrader Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ohio-In Summer, Central Florida-In winter Posts: 889	Re: winterizing My bad...forgot about the powerdrive chargers. Most of mine are the old style non contoller type. Only have 1 powerdrive 2 charger and haven`t had it that long. Thanks for that info.

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11-13-2008, 03:19 AM	#6
Fishing Dude Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Slums of Lake Erie Posts: 3,721	Re: winterizing The ones with the OBC are made to turn on to keep the batteries charged thinking every 15 days.

11-13-2008, 07:41 AM	#9
lockman1 What the ....? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.E. Wisconsin Posts: 14,932	Re: winterizing No biggie CT I disconnect my batteries only because, the cart stays in the shed at my campground for the winter, and I only go up to check things after a heavy snowfall! (or, if I just need to get away!) The power has been known to go out every once in a while there, and the last thing I want to do is replace batteries, OBC, or a controller in spring. (due to power up spikes) IMO... better safe, then sorry!

11-13-2008, 07:45 AM	#10
Fishing Dude Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Slums of Lake Erie Posts: 3,721	Re: winterizing With 2 carts and 1 charger just plug in every couple of weeks.