One of the biggest debates electric golf cart owners have is what to do with their batteries during the winter. Some believe you should keep the batteries inside the golf cart and not remove them. Others believe the best way to care for your golf cart batteries during winter is to remove them from the cart and bring them inside.
If you live in extremely cold climates with harsh winters, removing your electric golf cart batteries and bringing them inside during winter is best. However, if that’s too much work or isn’t a viable option, storing your golf cart in a garage that is kept above freezing is the best option.
If you’re wondering what to do with your golf cart batteries this winter, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll look at how to care for your batteries while leaving them inside the golf cart, as well as how to remove and store them inside. We will also examine the consequences of not caring for your batteries during the winter.
Should I Bring My Electric Golf Cart Batteries Inside For Winter?
Removing your golf cart batteries and bringing them inside to a heated, conditioned area is the safest bet during winter. Electric golf cart batteries are more likely to lose their charge and get damaged when you leave them outside. By bringing them inside, you can watch your batteries closely, protect them from the elements, and recharge them when necessary.
How to Remove Your Golf Cart Batteries
Removing your golf cart batteries from the cart is an easy task.
- Disconnect the battery charger if you have it connected.
- Turn the key to the OFF position.
- Lift or remove the front seat to access the battery bay.
- Take a picture of how the various wires and terminals are connected to the battery so you can reconnect them the following spring.
- Disconnect the battery terminals, starting with the negative and moving to the positive.
- Disconnect any remaining wires or terminals from the battery.
- Be careful not to touch the terminals or post with the wrench or your hands to avoid electrical shock.
- Lift the battery or batteries out of the cart and move them to the storage area.
Will My Golf Cart Batteries Freeze in the Winter?
One of the biggest risks of leaving your golf cart batteries outside during the winter is that they’re prone to freezing. Most electric golf cart batteries require small amounts of water in each battery cell. Water is added to the individual cells to maintain alkalinity and electrolyte levels and keep the battery from overheating.
Unfortunately, the water compartments on batteries aren’t overly insulated, which means they’re prone to freezing. It’s also possible for the battery cells and electrolytes inside of them to freeze. When this happens, the cells die and reduce the quality and duration of your battery’s life.
Can You Leave Golf Cart Batteries Outside Over Winter?
While it’s safer to bring your golf cart batteries inside during winter, it’s possible to leave them outside. However, when you leave your golf cart batteries outside over winter, it’s important to winterize them properly. Here’s what you need to do.
- Fully charge the batteries.
- Clean the body and terminals of the battery.
- Ensure that the battery is completely dry.
- Top off the water levels with distilled water.
- Check the batteries periodically and recharge them as necessary.
In addition to winterizing your golf cart batteries, we’ll discuss more outside storage tips in the next section.
How to Keep Golf Cart Batteries Warm in Winter
Whether you decide to keep your golf cart batteries inside or outside, it’s important to store and prepare them properly.
Storing Your Golf Cart Batteries Outside
If you’re keeping your golf cart batteries outside, then you’re likely keeping them hooked up inside the golf cart. If you’re going to go to the trouble of removing them, you might as well bring them indoors. The advantage of leaving your batteries outside in your golf cart is that they’re already hooked up, which means that charging is easy.
Full guide on maintaining your electric golf cart batteries in winter
Here are a few additional tips for keeping your batteries warm and safe when storing them outdoors.
- Keep the batteries and golf cart in a dry area where moisture can’t get to the batteries.
- Cover the cart with a thermal golf cart cover for extra protection.
- Store the golf cart in a heated, conditioned area where you can monitor the temperature.
- If a heated area isn’t an option, place a heat lamp close to the batteries to keep them from freezing.
- While you don’t want them to freeze, you also don’t want your batteries to get too warm because it could drain the battery charge.
- Install electric battery blankets to insulate each of your batteries.
- Recheck the batteries every two to four weeks and recharge them as necessary.
Storing Your Golf Cart Batteries Inside
If you decide to remove your golf cart batteries and store them inside during winter, here are a few tips and tricks to follow.
- Never stack multiple batteries on top of one another.
- Store the batteries on a shelf, counter, table, or elsewhere off the ground to protect them from spills and moisture.
- Don’t let the area where you’re storing your batteries get too warm, as it will drain the battery.
- Check the batteries regularly to ensure they remain charged.
- The optimal storage temperature for golf cart batteries is between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Following these tips and tricks will keep your golf cart batteries safe and warm this winter.
