Batteries in sub zero weather

[Silverstreak]

I have my cart in a shelter logic shed out a ways behind the house, with the charger. I use a 100' heavy duty extension cord from the house when I charge. The last time I charged it was about 10 days ago, and haven't used it since then. I filled the cells with water about a month ago. We've been VERY cold here in central Indiana and for awhile. The night temps with wind chills have been about minus 15.
I decided to give it a little heat tonight and plugged it in.

The charger arrow hardly went up at all, and my analog SOC moved to the end of the red area (fully charged?).

Did this happen because it is possibly fully charged, or is it because the 100' extension cord is frozen? Or because of the exceptionally low temps?
Next week is supposed to be even colder.

Any suggestions? I surely don't want to hurt the batteries. It would probably be good to drive it, but its too cold out and most of the time there's too much snow.

Thanks for your help.

[kellybell]

Winter sux!

[mike777]

Originally Posted by Silverstreak

I have my cart in a shelter logic shed out a ways behind the house, with the charger. I use a 100' heavy duty extension cord from the house when I charge. The last time I charged it was about 10 days ago, and haven't used it since then. I filled the cells with water about a month ago. We've been VERY cold here in central Indiana and for awhile. The night temps with wind chills have been about minus 15.
I decided to give it a little heat tonight and plugged it in.

The charger arrow hardly went up at all, and my analog SOC moved to the end of the red area (fully charged?).

Did this happen because it is possibly fully charged, or is it because the 100' extension cord is frozen? Or because of the exceptionally low temps?
Next week is supposed to be even colder.

Any suggestions? I surely don't want to hurt the batteries. It would probably be good to drive it, but its too cold out and most of the time there's too much snow.

Thanks for your help.

just make sure the batts are fully charged and youll be allright, I'm in MN and I'm sure we get more cold temps regularly, I try and take mine out for a spin now and again and have fun in the snow, if your not lifted with big tires ,not gonna be much fun
I keep mine plugged in quite a bit, and check the digital batt gauge regularly as well, they stay charged pretty good

[sportcoupe]

A fully charged battery will not freeze. What is the voltage of the pack now?

[kellybell]

Winter sux.......

[cgtech]

Well, they Can freeze, if you hit -92f, when fully charged. Freezing temp increases as state of charge decreases (dead batts will freeze).

[Silverstreak]

Thanks everyone.

I will check the voltage tomorrow.......if I can get out there. Supposed to have snow and bad blowing winds tonight. Up until last week, I have charged them almost every night, so I haven't abused them. Maybe the reaction I got from the charger and the SOC was because they have stayed fully charged.

I do have a lifted cart with big tires, but have gotten stuck in the snow a couple times. But usually, its a real trooper. This weather is just outrageous. I sure miss my spring/summer/fall evening rides.
Thanks for your input!

[Jd62]

It's not that bad minus 15 here in montreal it's -26F tonight.....but my cart is inside.

[yurtle]

Originally Posted by Silverstreak

The night temps with wind chills have been about minus 15.

The good news is batteries don't "feel" wind chill, just the actual temperature.

[JohnnieB]

Attached is a chart showing the temperature at which a lead-acid battery freezes vs SoC.

The temperatures given are what the thermometer actually reads rather than the calculated Wind-Chill factor.
If the wind is blowing across the battery, it will cool off faster, but it will not get any colder than the ambient air temperature displayed by a thermometer.

Keep your battery well charged and it isn't very likely to freeze if you live north of Antarctica.