battery concern question

[yeabuddy]

I just had new batteries installed but won't be back to the cart for about 6 or 7 weeks. It's plugged in to the charger which is automatic so once it's charged will switch to a float. Should I be concerned about the cells drying out while I'm gone for this long?

no it should be ok... but not longer than 8 weeks

[JohnnieB]

If the cart is in Wisconsin, you can probably float charge the batteries all winter without them getting low on water.

Water consumption due to evaporation is less in cooler and humid climates and if the float charge voltage stays below about 2.2V per cell, the cells won't gas very much, so water usage is minimal. However, some batteries use more water than others and new batteries and old batteries use more than middle aged batteries, so you have to get a handle on how much water your batteries use, but like CTD said, two months on a new set of batteries would probably be okay.

FWIW: I added water to my batteries last November and they have been connected to a DPI charger since then, except for the few times I used it to jump-start my car and dragging fallen branches to the burn pile. The electrolyte level was still close to where it is supposed to be when I checked a few days ago. Close enough that I didn't feel the need to add any.

[DaveTM]

Wisconsin? People actually live in Wisconsin? I didn't know that.

[yurtle]

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

If the cart is in Wisconsin, you can probably float charge the batteries all winter without them getting low on water.

Water consumption due to evaporation is less in cooler and humid climates and if the float charge voltage stays below about 2.2V per cell, the cells won't gas very much, so water usage is minimal. However, some batteries use more water than others and new batteries and old batteries use more than middle aged batteries, so you have to get a handle on how much water your batteries use, but like CTD said, two months on a new set of batteries would probably be okay.

FWIW: I added water to my batteries last November and they have been connected to a DPI charger since then, except for the few times I used it to jump-start my car and dragging fallen branches to the burn pile. The electrolyte level was still close to where it is supposed to be when I checked a few days ago. Close enough that I didn't feel the need to add any.

I live in north GA and saw the same thing. Floated all winter and barely needed any water this spring.

[yeabuddy]

Hmmm now I'm wondering ... now that they're charged,should I just have them unplugged until I get there in 2 weeks? I can have someone do that for me.

[teecro]

Originally Posted by yeabuddy

Hmmm now I'm wondering ... now that they're charged,should I just have them unplugged until I get there in 2 weeks? I can have someone do that for me.

No if you have a properly functioning charger there is no need to worry and unplug your cart.... It is far better to keep them on a float charge than to let them sit and self dissipate. I've had my cart plugged into either the stock charger or DPI float charger since I've bought it about 10 months and I've yet to need to add water to the new batteries yet.....

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by yeabuddy

Hmmm now I'm wondering ... now that they're charged,should I just have them unplugged until I get there in 2 weeks? I can have someone do that for me.

No, if your charger automatically goes into float charge after the regular charge cycle as it was described in your first post in this thread, it should be continuously plugged into your cart whenever the cart is not moving.

Of course, having the charger plugged into a cart whenever the cart is not moving isn't always possible or practical, so at least never let it sit overnight without the charger being connected.

Without float charging, the only time the batteries are "fully" charged is for a short period of time immediately following the regular charge cycle. Lead-Acid batteries self-discharge at about 1% per day (some self-discharge faster, others slower), so in two week the batteries would be at 86% SoC without the cart having been moved an inch.