Batteries in sub zero weather

[whizzo]

The cold temperatures should not effect the extension cord one bit as far as electrical properties are concerned.

However
pretty well every single property of lead batteries is effected by reduction in temperature below room temp.

While the electrolite may not freeze, in sub zero tempertures lead acid batteries will perform very poorly indeed......both capacity and charge acceptance will be badly efected.

cheers.

[Dave Box]

However the good news is that winter is your friend as far as self discharge rates go. As you can see from the chart (which is centigrade) at below freezing your discharge rates are negligible. So if you fully charge your cart before storage, and ensure that there are no parasitic loads you will be good until the spring.

Dave

[JohnnieB]

Of course, the best way to prevent battery damage during cold weather and long term storage is to float charge them.

My DPI Accusense charger goes into float charge after the regular cycle and when I'm not driving my cart, the charger is plugged into it.
As a side benefit, I always start my trips with a fully charged battery, even if the cart hasn't been used in several days.

[DaveTM]

The best way that I've found is to park my cart in "my" side of my heated garage, while my new Silverado sit's outside in the sub-freezing temps. The Silverado has a 5 year warranty and a 100K power train warranty. Hey.....in 5 years it's getting traded anyway.

:)

[Silverstreak]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I don't have much to worry about. Now.......how to keep my chickens warm. They are 10 and 1/2 years old, and much like me, can't tolerate the cold like I used to!