Charging opinions for vacation home cart

knowit · 04-10-2011, 12:14 PM

Hi all, great forum here. I have been lurking for a while. Finally registered because I had a question that I couldn't find the answer to. Anyway here is my dilemma.

We have a vacation home in Florida that we visit about every 3 to 4 months or so. Of course I bought a cart because it was a great excuse to do it. I have a 2006 CC Precedent with 4 12volts in it. Runs great. Charges fine. My question is what to do with the batteries when I am not there for 3 months.
Do I keep the charger on it even though no one will be available to check the water level? I am not too keen on that idea.

Do I buy a small trickle charger? Will the water level still be an issue?

Do I charge them up fully before I leave and then charge them again when I return? This last choice is what I am currently doing. I just have a problem leaving something plugged in and on charge while the house is empty.

Any thoughts and /or experience are greatly appreciated.

shadowman · 04-10-2011, 01:47 PM

if your gonna check them every 3 months it won,t hurt to just charge them before you leave and again when you return.......your charger will shut off when charged and than turn on again when needed if you leave charger hooked up but again if your there every 3 months i would charge them and than again when i got back, oh and by the way welcome.......................................

Andy4639 · 04-10-2011, 11:18 PM

I would charge them fully before leaving then when you get back put them back on charge. I have a beach house and have a hard time leaving the charger plug in all the time. Lightening short anything can happen and come back to a pile of rubble.
Just make sure you don't leave them discharged while your gone. May want to take one of the battery cables loose also. Doesn't matter which one.

OLD MEC · 04-11-2011, 09:14 AM

If you deside to unhook cables BE SURE AND DO PROPER SHUT DOWN ACCORDING TO YOUR OWNERS MANUAL. Otherwise you could possibly do damage to electronics.

Andy4639 · 04-11-2011, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD MEC

If you deside to unhook cables BE SURE AND DO PROPER SHUT DOWN ACCORDING TO YOUR OWNERS MANUAL. Otherwise you could possibly do damage to electronics.

Would you like to elaberate on this please.
Have never herd of this before. What can you hurt if the electric circuit is incomplete on the cart?
Turning the tow switch to tow is doing basicly the same thing on a newer cart I'm wondering what you could hurt.

Fishing Dude · 04-12-2011, 05:50 AM

I/E flip tow switch to proper position.

OLD MEC · 04-12-2011, 08:56 AM

The owners manuals info varys from year to year so this is why I always recommend consulting before doing anythiing to batterys or wiring. This is my own way with any solid state controlled cart.
#1 Run-Tow to Tow ( If IQ )
#2 Remove pack ground ( NEGATIVE ) cable from battery
#3 Cover cable end with electrical tape ( not duct tape ) to keep from any shorting
#4 Remove pack positive ( PLUS ) cable
#5 Cover cable end with electrical tape
#6 Cover battery pack with some type of non conductive covering ( I use an old fender cover ) to prevent possible SHORTING and PERSONAL SHOCKING across single or multipule batterys
#7 If removal of electrical parts near batterys is needed I always diagram battery cables and mark for locations and then remove all battery cables for safety
This may sound excessive but if you ever had a battery blow up in your face you will know what I am talking about. Besides just one spark can damage a solid state controller, etc?
After working with batterys for almost 65 years now I have real respect for what they can and will do if not respected.

04-10-2011, 12:14 PM	#1
knowit Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 7	Charging opinions for vacation home cart Hi all, great forum here. I have been lurking for a while. Finally registered because I had a question that I couldn't find the answer to. Anyway here is my dilemma. We have a vacation home in Florida that we visit about every 3 to 4 months or so. Of course I bought a cart because it was a great excuse to do it. I have a 2006 CC Precedent with 4 12volts in it. Runs great. Charges fine. My question is what to do with the batteries when I am not there for 3 months. Do I keep the charger on it even though no one will be available to check the water level? I am not too keen on that idea. Do I buy a small trickle charger? Will the water level still be an issue? Do I charge them up fully before I leave and then charge them again when I return? This last choice is what I am currently doing. I just have a problem leaving something plugged in and on charge while the house is empty. Any thoughts and /or experience are greatly appreciated.
knowit Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 7

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04-10-2011, 01:47 PM	#2
shadowman The Last Moja Morani Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: jumping from cart to cart Posts: 8,975	Re: Charging opinions for vacation home cart if your gonna check them every 3 months it won,t hurt to just charge them before you leave and again when you return.......your charger will shut off when charged and than turn on again when needed if you leave charger hooked up but again if your there every 3 months i would charge them and than again when i got back, oh and by the way welcome.......................................

04-10-2011, 11:18 PM	#3
Andy4639 48/400/Alltrax HS motor Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Liberty SC, Garden City SC Posts: 6,190	Re: Charging opinions for vacation home cart I would charge them fully before leaving then when you get back put them back on charge. I have a beach house and have a hard time leaving the charger plug in all the time. Lightening short anything can happen and come back to a pile of rubble. Just make sure you don't leave them discharged while your gone. May want to take one of the battery cables loose also. Doesn't matter which one.

04-11-2011, 09:14 AM	#4
OLD MEC Gone Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,391	Re: Charging opinions for vacation home cart If you deside to unhook cables BE SURE AND DO PROPER SHUT DOWN ACCORDING TO YOUR OWNERS MANUAL. Otherwise you could possibly do damage to electronics.

04-12-2011, 05:50 AM	#6
Fishing Dude Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Slums of Lake Erie Posts: 3,721	Re: Charging opinions for vacation home cart I/E flip tow switch to proper position.

04-12-2011, 08:56 AM	#7
OLD MEC Gone Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,391	Re: Charging opinions for vacation home cart The owners manuals info varys from year to year so this is why I always recommend consulting before doing anythiing to batterys or wiring. This is my own way with any solid state controlled cart. #1 Run-Tow to Tow ( If IQ ) #2 Remove pack ground ( NEGATIVE ) cable from battery #3 Cover cable end with electrical tape ( not duct tape ) to keep from any shorting #4 Remove pack positive ( PLUS ) cable #5 Cover cable end with electrical tape #6 Cover battery pack with some type of non conductive covering ( I use an old fender cover ) to prevent possible SHORTING and PERSONAL SHOCKING across single or multipule batterys #7 If removal of electrical parts near batterys is needed I always diagram battery cables and mark for locations and then remove all battery cables for safety This may sound excessive but if you ever had a battery blow up in your face you will know what I am talking about. Besides just one spark can damage a solid state controller, etc? After working with batterys for almost 65 years now I have real respect for what they can and will do if not respected.