Golf Cart Inactive

[Edman222]

I don't want to sound clueless, but I knew nothing about golf carts when I moved here and bought mine. It is battery powered. We're up here in New York (UGH!) We came up for the holidays on Dec. 17 and were supposed to return on January 4th or so. Due to medical issues, I find myself stuck here until possibly mid-February. Is my cart Ok just sitting unplugged in the garage? It was fully charged when we left. I did not flip the toggle switch to "TOW" because I hadn't planned to be gone this long.
Help, anyone?

[George Bieniaszek]

I have an electric EZGO that I purchased new in 2010. We also go back and forth from The Villages to Connecticut for 2 months at a time sometimes and all I do is charge it up before we leave. I leave the cart unplugged in the garage. When we return, I just plug it back in to top off the batteries. They loose their charge slightly each month and also check the water levels before we go out on our Villages adventures. Two years, 3000 miles and no problems. I also do not flip the switch to tow.

[ajbrown]

You should be OK. That said, it is not optimal for the battery pack. If you have someone you trust it would be a good idea to have them go over, drive the cart around the block and then charge. If you worry about leaving the charger plugged in they should remove the next day. [I assume your water levels were OK when you left]

The rate of discharge will vary from cart to cart depending on health of batteries, draw of components connected, etc. As an example if your cart has a 48-12 voltage reducer, it draws off the pack even when the cart sits idle unless disconnected through the key or other mechanism.

The issue you are trying to prevent is sulfation of the batteries, the longer the batteries sit in a discharged state the more sulfation, the shorter the life of the pack.

[redwitch]

On the plus side, it's not hot, which means a lot slower evaporation of the battery water and that's really one of the big issues. You should be fine.

[renrod]

What is the point of putting the cart in TOW, when it is in the garage for an extended time?
Thanks

[ajbrown]

What is the point of putting the cart in TOW, when it is in the garage for an extended time?
Thanks

I have not looked at the wiring diagram for a cart with a tow/run switch, but in general putting a cart in tow mode will disconnect the battery pack from the electronic components, e.g. the controller. Always good practice when working on any electrical issues to prevents shorts.

For storage, things connected to the pack will draw on the pack. Even if it is a minute amount, the goal is to eliminate as much discharging of the pack as possible.

I do not have a tow mode in my series motor Club Car. If I will be leaving it for a month and no one is around to charge, I will disconnect the pack entirely.

[renrod]

I have not looked at the wiring diagram for a cart with a tow/run switch, but in general putting a cart in tow mode will disconnect the battery pack from the electronic components, e.g. the controller. Always good practice when working on any electrical issues to prevents shorts.

For storage, things connected to the pack will draw on the pack. Even if it is a minute amount, the goal is to eliminate as much discharging of the pack as possible.

I do not have a tow mode in my series motor Club Car. If I will be leaving it for a month and no one is around to charge, I will disconnect the pack entirely.
Thanks for answering my question. That does make sense.