Should I keep golf cart plugged in when away?

[jj6426]

We will be away for about 5 months. Is there any reason why I should keep my golf cart plugged in? If I don't plug it in, will there be any problem when I return to just plug it in then and let it get charged? Thank you for any info!

[redwitch]

Best thing you can do is get a battery tender for your cart. Bigger problem will be water for the batteries if you don't have someone checking it regularly.

[Carl in Tampa]

If you leave it plugged in and something malfunctions it could burn down your house.

If you leave it uncharged for five months the batteries may go flat and never take a full charge again. Expensive.

Perhaps you could get someone to come by the house every couple of weeks and charge it for a few hours.

Barb's house purchase came with an electric cart. We immediately replaced it with a gas cart.

[jnieman]

Our neighbor is a snowbird with an electric cart and we are allowed to use his cart when we want. We don't use it much but we do charge it fully and take it for a spin every few weeks. This seems to keep it in good running order.

[ajbrown]

As <redwitch> said, the best solution is a Battery Minder ( I think that is the brand she meant)

Next best is a home watch person plugging it every month or so.

The reason to not leave it with no charge for 5 months is that it is not good for batteries life to be left in a discharged state.

[leftyf]

Another option is to fully charge the batteries then remove the cables until you get back. When you get back, put the cables back on and charge. I watch 2 friends carts and both have battery minders. Last summer, one was shut off when the GFI blew, in just a couple weeks, the voltage dropped to 36 volts.

[justjim]

OP, most Summer's we leave anywhere from two to four months. A good home watch company is the best way to go. They will take your cart for a drive every two weeks and recharge it. You might have a neighbor or friend who you could hire to do the same and check your house weekly. Personally, I always think it's a "bit much" to ask a friend to do it and will not let him/her do it unless I paid them. But that is just me.

Anyway, a house watch (by some reliable person) is a necessity IMHO. Heat, I'm told is worse than cold on batteries. I had a battery operated cart for about three years and switched to gas for several reasons----but to each his own.

[Rollie]

We have 2 electric carts. One we have on a battery tender the other I pull a battery cable and put cart on tow. Have never had a problem with ether one. Batteries last from 40 to 5 years.

Rollie

[REDCART]

We have 2 electric carts. One we have on a battery tender the other I pull a battery cable and put cart on tow. Have never had a problem with ether one. Batteries last from 40 to 5 years.

Rollie

Is the cart you put in "tow" mode an EZGo? I ask only because the EZGo RXV carts with the AC motor are not supposed to be stored in tow mode because they draw current from the batteries to unlock the armature.

[twoplanekid]

As <redwitch> said, the best solution is a Battery Minder ( I think that is the brand she meant)

Next best is a home watch person plugging it every month or so.

The reason to not leave it with no charge for 5 months is that it is not good for batteries life to be left in a discharged state.

Yes! Battery Minder from Battery Boys -> https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/has-anyone-used-battery-boys-170332/?highlight=battery+boys

[REDCART]

We used Battery Boys in 2014 to replace and convert 4X12v batteries to Trojan Ranger 6x8v batteries. This work included replacing the battery tray. We also used them subsequently to add a Battery Minder. Very happy with their work, and they were a pleasure to deal with. The Rangers have worked out very nicely.

[rubicon]

For those with electric carts its a good practice to periodically lubricate electrical plug in port. I lubricated each time I
washed my cart.

I never plugged in my cart while I slept and never when I was away for safety purposes.

[Fred R]

Should you keep a battery tender on it........You betcha

[Jimmydoodlebug]

I kept one of these on my riding mower and never had a dead battery. Just attach it and it will maintain your battery perfectly for months on end.

Amazon.com: Black & Decker BM3B 6V and 12V Battery Charger / Maintainer: Automotive (https://smile.amazon.com/Decker-BM3B-Battery-Charger-Maintainer/dp/B0051D3MP6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466109267&sr=8-1&keywords=black+and+decker+battery+tender)

[sunset seeker]

My Club Car has a charger that would just sit idle for a while (days) after charging and would switch on after that time, see if the batteries needed charging and either charge them if needed or shut back down. Never had a problem just leaving it plugged in for months during the Winter time. Won't have to worry about that after 7/24. Will be in TV full time!!

[jchase]

No, No, No

[Barefoot]

We leave for extended periods, and we leave our cart plugged in with a battery minder.
We also have a Homewatch company that visits every week when we're away.
We consider a Homewatch service a good investment for many reasons.

[Villages Kahuna]

As a longtime owner of E-Z-Go golf carts, I'd suggest the following:

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ELECTRIC CART PLUGGED IN FOR YOUR LONGTIME ABSENCE

1. Fill your batteries with distilled water.
2. Fully charge the batteries
3. After charging, lift the seat and select the "Tow" position from the "Run-Tow" toggle switch.

If you do these things your cart will very likely maintain almost all it's charge and require very little "topping off" when you return. When you do return, toggle the switch back to "Run", then I'd definitely recommend filling the batteries for any water that may have evaporated in your absence.

[rubicon]

Wow...a little paranoid are we

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't me no one is chasing me. There have been more than one reported fire in TV resulting while an electric cart was in the charging mode.

What you frame as paranoid I term safety conscious. Its the insurance guy in me and the 40 years of "Ï can't believe that could happen to me" retelling experiences rendered by customers. And its the risk reduction education we would pass along to our customers

I traded in my electric cart for a gas cart about a year ago. And boy is it a pain to empty that gas tank every night and refill it in the morning:D

[REDCART]

As a longtime owner of E-Z-Go golf carts, I'd suggest the following:

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ELECTRIC CART PLUGGED IN FOR YOUR LONGTIME ABSENCE

1. Fill your batteries with distilled water.
2. Fully charge the batteries
3. After charging, lift the seat and select the "Tow" position from the "Run-Tow" toggle switch.

If you do these things your cart will very likely maintain almost all it's charge and require very little "topping off" when you return. When you do return, toggle the switch back to "Run", then I'd definitely recommend filling the batteries for any water that may have evaporated in your absence.

VK, You may wish to research the "tow mode" advice. Town & Country was very specific about not storing an EZGo cart in tow mode. Because I was curious I also read the owner's manual which also confirmed this advice. Perhaps you have an older EZGo?

The EZGo RXV carts with the AC motor are not supposed to be stored in tow mode because in tow mode they draw current from the batteries to unlock the armature. If you don't have to apply the brake when you park your EZGo cart, you probably have a newer RXV.

[dadspet]

The is the battery saver I use

Save A Battery 48 Volt 50 Watt PULSE Charger Maintainer (http://www.granitedigital.com/48volt.aspx)

Leave it on when I go back north for a few months. I think it works.

[Bay Kid]

I wouldn't.

[genobambino]

I have the EZ GO ac, I called the company [not local dealer] about the car sitting for a long period of time...They told me never use a battery tender, leave it unplugged, unhook the negative battery cable where it grounds to the car. When you get back just hook it back up and charge it...Done this for several years never a problem...As far as leaving it plugged in, if you get a lightening strike it would fry your charger and the cart and always the possibility of the charger malfunctioning and burning down your house.

[OhioBuckeye]

REDWITCH you're right! By leaving a battery charger on for even a couple of months at a time is very hard on them & the life of that battery probably will be cut in half. Battery chargers make a battery hot & will boil or make it hot enough that the water will evaporate in a very short time. I would do what REDWITCH said, get a battery tender. I had a battery backup sump pump in my last home (in Ohio) & when I first got it I left it plugged in all the time & this battery was a Marine battery, it's better than what these golf carts have, it lasted 1 yr. & I had to buy another expensive Marine battery. So to answer you question, NO I wouldn't leave you cart plug in for 5 months, personally I would make sure it's fully charged before I left & leave it go. Leaving it charge will cook it!

[OhioBuckeye]

Yes! Battery Minder from Battery Boys -> https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/has-anyone-used-battery-boys-170332/?highlight=battery+boys
If she's not going to do anything I would make sure it has a full charge & leave it go, 5 months really isn't that long to leave a battery sit. It's better than charging it for 5 months, because it'll for sure be cooked. Yes you're right though I would put a discharger on it so it's charging & discharging all the time.:gc:

[ajbrown]

OP, not sure you are still reading this, but IMO, there is some misinformation on this thread. I never felt comfortable leaving my normal charger plugged in for months as it gets hot. I would prefer to plug it when needed after inspecting that the area and connection are clean and safe. This is why a battery minder or other product like it is preferred.

Here is a nice link on batteries..

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ (http://www.solar-electric.com/deep-cycle-battery-faq.html)

A relevant snippet (bold added by Alan) from that link is here:

Battery Voltages
All Lead-Acid batteries supply about 2.14 volts per cell (12.6 to 12.8 for a 12 volt battery) when fully charged. Batteries that are stored for long periods will eventually lose all their charge. This "leakage" or self discharge varies considerably with battery type, age, & temperature. It can range from about 1% to 15% per month. Generally, new AGM batteries have the lowest, and old industrial (Lead-Antimony plates) are the highest. In systems that are continually connected to some type charging source, whether it is solar, wind, or an AC powered charger this is seldom a problem.

However, one of the biggest killers of batteries is sitting stored in a partly discharged state for a few months.

A "float" trickle charge should be maintained on the batteries even if they are not used (or, especially if they are not used). Even most "dry charged" batteries (those sold without electrolyte so they can be shipped more easily, with acid added later) will deteriorate over time. Max storage life on those is about 18 to 30 months.

Batteries self-discharge faster at higher temperatures. Lifespan can also be seriously reduced at higher temperatures - most manufacturers state this as a 50% loss in life for every 15 degrees F over a 77 degree cell temperature. Lifespan is increased at the same rate if below 77 degrees, but capacity is reduced. This tends to even out in most systems - they will spend part of their life at higher temperatures, and part at lower. Typical self discharge rates for flooded are 5% to 15% per month.

[Barefoot]

I wish that Frank, TOTV's golf cart expert, would give us his opinion. :gc:

[flyerguy]

Battery Tenders (Minders etc.) are not battery chargers. Tenders are meant to keep a battery(s) at full SOC (State of Charge). Batteries should be brought to full charge condition before using a Minder. They will not fry your batteries. They produce a very, very low amp, (mA- milliamp) charge at very low voltage. Once the batteries are brought up to full charge the Minder will either shut down (sleep mode) or go into Float mode.

If you are leaving the batteries connected to a Tender for long periods, I recommend you always plug it into a GFI( Ground Fault Interrupter) circuit. If anything should happen like a voltage spike, lightening strike, etc. it will trip before any damage will occur. The worse case scenario is your Tender will be off until the circuit is reset by a person.

To plug in or not is a personal decision. I have used them for years and they have always proven to be safe and effective. Make sure you buy a good quality Tender, it should have all the safety features needed for a safe operation. Read the Manuals, especially the part about using extension cords, a primary source for overheating.

[maybe]

Maybe golf cart 48 volt battery minders don't fail, but I have had two 12 volt minders go bad that were used to keep a motorcycle battery charged. They lost the ability to stop charging, resulting in cooked, and ruined, batteries. I would not vacate a house with a battery tender connected.