Storing cart at -20 to -40f for months.

Cruise Master

We leave for 4 to 5 months during the winter during which time we can get -20 to -40f for a week at a time, that can happen more then once during the winter.

I sent off an e-mail to CC asking them what they suggest I do to the electric cart. Since they are in GA they said best to call their local CC dealer (70 miles away.)

That CC dealer told me just to top off the batteries, put a full charge into them, then disconnect the main neg and pos leaving them tied together as a bank. That sounds great since the last thing I wanted to do was pull the batteries out and haul them inside.

So for those that live in extreme cold climates, does this technique sound correct to you? I do not want to leave the cart charger plugged in all winter for that length of time (during those extreme conditions) unattended for up to 5 months.

BGW

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Sergio

Be careful with the "Just top off the batteries" procedure.

When batteries are fully charged, the specific gravity is at its maximum and the batteries will not freeze until -92F.

The catch is that it takes a while for any water that you add to fully combine with the sulfuric acid mixture already in the batteries.

Club Car recommends a minimum of 5 discharge (driving) and charge cycles to fully mix any added water with the electrolyte and avoid the "stratification effect" where the heavier sulfuric acid concentrates at the bottom of the cell.

It would take at least 16 weeks below zero for the self discharge to reach 10% to 15%, so that sounds like the best method.

joesam

This question appears on this site every year at about this time. My first set of batteries lasted over 12 years....but not quite 13 (cleaned/topped off/connections checked before storage) at those temps with the cart under a heavy vinyl cover & parked under a large deck - and WITH the cart charger attached. Once a month I manually cycled (pull-pause-plug in) the DC charger plug which would "equalize charge" them.

I too became uncomfortable with the safety aspects of a heavy duty charger plugged in for such a long unattended period; so I purchased a low amperage Battery Minder for storage - which keeps them float charged. My new battery pack stays on the battery maintainer during winter. There are other less expensive models of battery maintainer available. The reason for low amps (in my mind) was to keep the water from gassing off & ruining all the batteries while unattended - if, say a cell failed during storage.

Do a search for "battery maintainer" on this site - there are long involved discussions on the topic - with many thoughts & proposed solutions. Remarkably-from a battery health & life perspective - COLD STORAGE is much better for fully charged batteries than warm - and is way better than HOT (eg. Arizona). My neighbor has gotten just over 10 years on his Canada cart - and less than 5 years on his Arizona cart; essentially with the same maintenance/storage regimen.

lockman1

When I had my 1998 48V at my campground, my CC dealer told me something similar to what yours did...

They told me to add distilled water (top off) at least 2 weeks prior to storage,
during the 2 weekends before storage, use and charge it normally. (to back up Sergio's advise)

When the day comes to store it, switch the run/tow switch to TOW, and charge the batteries until the charger shuts off,
then unplug the charger, wait 15 minutes (without use)... and plug the charger back in until the charger shuts off again.
unplug charger, disconnect the main positive and negative cables from the pack, and close up for the season.

When you open back up... inspect all battery water levels, and add only some water if needed,
Check cables for corrosion and tightness, connect the main cables, charge her up, then check water levels again!

I too, didn't like the idea of leaving it plugged in unattended! (the campgrounds electrical was "iffy" to say the least)

with the 5 years I had that cart, I never had a problem!

.02

Cruise Master

Thanks Lockman1. NE Wisconsin has to have about the same weather as here.

I'm going to follow your procedure and hope for the best.

Thanks to the other posters also. Always amazes me the stuff people know.

kendeiss

Do you need to disconnect both Positive and Negative Terminal from the pack?

lockman1

I always did! "it's better safe, then sorry!"

rifter

Sorry for jumping in with no useful info but I can't even imagine 20 to 40 below

Cruise Master

As they say "you don't have to be crazy to live here, but it sure helps."

Cruise Master

Just an update for those that will come after me. I did what Lockman said, and it worked perfect. Got back north, hooked up the wires, waited about 30 minutes then hooked up the charger.

To my surprise the charger was off when I checked on it about an hour later. I figured that couldn't be good. It was just the opposite of what I thought, batteries were fully charged and ready to go.

Thanks to all that gave me input.