Should I keep golf cart plugged in when away?
 

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!

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.

Hazards
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes! Battery Minder from Battery Boys -> https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...t=battery+boys

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.

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.

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

Inexpensive And Useful
 

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

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!!