How To Look After Golf Cart Batteries

How To Maintain Your Golf Cart Batteries

Here’s some tips to follow for the proper storage of your electric golf cart during winter:
the first step is to ensure the batteries are clean and the cell caps are attached snugly. Wash the battery compartment and unplug the charger. Start on one side of the golf cart and spray Battery Neutralizer all over the tops of the batteries.

Be sure to spray between the batteries, down on the battery racks, and the inside walls of the body panels, if they are metal. Use an old paintbrush to scour all the battery tops and sides. Water from a garden hose using plain water, or use a solution of Baking Soda (about 2 tablespoons to 1 gallon of water) to neutralize the acid.

Tighten, clean, check and treat battery terminal connectors. be sure to tighten the cables to the post. Carefully wriggle each cable end side-to-side and then gently up & down. There should be no looseness or sideways movement. If your battery terminals are badly corroded, you will need to do some serious cleaning.

Check the water levels in each cell. Use distilled water to fill and be sure the electrolyte (water) in each battery cell is above the plates. leave the water a little low during winter for several months while the cart is uncharged. This raises the specific gravity of the acid, which will help prevent freezing. A lead acid battery keeps much better in the cold than in the heat, as long as the charge stays up.

A fully charged battery will not freeze until 60 to 70 below zero whereas a discharged battery can freeze at 20 degrees above zero. As a battery discharges, the acid turns into water by the basic chemical nature of the lead acid battery. The more discharge, the more water and the more likely it is to freeze. Also a dirty, acid covered battery will self-discharge at a faster rate than a clean treated battery, even in cooler temperatures.

never leave yoru golf cart plugged in to a charger for extended periods of time. after you have finished charging, unplug the charger from the cart and also from the wall.

Leave the cart in Neutral and turn the key off. Either way, scotch the wheels so you can leave the hill brake released. This prevents strain on the cables and the brake shoes can't lock to the drums.

Charge your Golf Cart batteries for a few hours once a month during winter to maintain charge. The charger should be unplugged from the car and the wall after charging.

Finalize for winter storage by checking the tire pressures and inflate to 20-25 psi.
Roll down the rain curtains and zip them part way down. If you have to leave the car out in the open, or under an open shed, neatly fold the rain curtain and bring it in the house till spring. Very cold weather will cause the see through vinyl to become very brittle and a puff of wind will blow it out.

For additional information on electric golf cart batteries including how lead acid batteries work; how to use a hydrometer; charging batteries and troubleshooting golf cart batteries please visit Golf Cart Battery Tips.