In the event that you're wondering how do you winterize an electric golf cart, you're most likely starting to feel that first actual chill up plus realizing your times of golf are over for your season. It's a chore, I know, but taking the period to prep your cart for your off-season is the distinction between hopping within and driving away next spring or facing a substantial repair bill intended for dead batteries.
Electric carts are a little more sensitive to the cool than their gas-powered cousins, mostly mainly because batteries are finicky creatures when the particular temperature drops. You can't just park your car it in the particular shed and neglect it exists till April. Let's walk through what you actually need to do to maintain your investment safe and sound while the snow flies.
It Almost all Starts With all the Electric batteries
The batteries are the coronary heart of your electric cart, and they're also the nearly all expensive part to replace. If you screw up the winterization process, you're basically looking at a four-figure error. The most essential thing to remember is the fact that a completely charged battery pack is not going to freeze , but a discharged one can freeze at temperatures just slightly below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whenever a battery will be low on fruit juice, the electrolyte option inside becomes mostly water. We all know what happens to water when it will get cold—it expands. That will expansion can break the battery casing, and once that happens, the battery is definitely toast.
Get a Total Charge First
Before you also think about putting the cover upon, make sure your batteries are usually topped off. Give them a full charge cycle. If you have a clever charger that functions a "winter mode" or perhaps a trickle cost setting, that's your best friend. These types of chargers will stop on periodically to keep the ac electricity up without emptying and "boiling" the particular batteries dry.
Check the Water Levels
If you're running traditional lead-acid batteries, you have to check the water levels. Just use distilled water—tap water has minerals that will crud up the china inside. You would like water level in order to be about 1/4 inch above the plates. Don't overfill them before the charge, though, due to the fact the fluid grows during the getting process and might overflow. Fill all of them after they've been charged unless the plates are totally exposed.
Clean the Terminals
Corrosion is usually a silent monster. Over the summer time, a bit of acid mist may have settled for the terminals, creating that white, crusty things. Mix some baking soda and water, grab an outdated toothbrush, and scrub those terminals till they're clean. Wash them off (carefully) and dry all of them. A quick squirt of battery terminal protector or a dab of petroleum jelly can assist avoid more corrosion through forming while the cart sits in storage space.
The "Tow" Switch is crucial
This is the step a lot of people miss. Of all modern electric golf carts (specifically those with regenerative braking system or "PDS" systems), there's a switch beneath the seat tagged Tow/Run .
When you're keeping the cart intended for a long time period, flip that change to the Tow position. In the "Run" place, the cart's controller stays active, waiting for input. This makes a small but continuous "parasitic" drain on your own batteries. Over a few months, that tiny drain can pull your batteries down in order to a dangerous level. Switching it to Tow line effectively puts the particular electronics to rest helping preserve your charge.
Provide It a Strong Clean
It might seem silly to wash something you're about in order to put away for years, but dirt plus grime hold wetness. Moisture leads to corrosion and rust on the particular frame and electric components.
Take the period to wash the particular body, but moreover, spray out the particular underside. Get just about all the dried mud and grass off the suspension and motor housing. In the event that you've been driving on a training course that uses fertilizers or chemicals, all those can be surprisingly corrosive if left in order to sit all winter.
Create sure the cart is completely dry before you put a cover on it. Trapping moisture under a plastic cover is a recipe with regard to mold on your chairs and rust on your metal pieces.
Tire Pressure and Flat Places
Tires drop pressure when it gets cold. It's just basic physics. If your tires sit down under the weight associated with the cart whilst they're low on air, they could create "flat spots. " This creates a very bumpy plus annoying ride whenever you bring the cart out in the spring.
Check your wheel pressure and push them up in order to the recommended POUND-FORCE PER SQUARE INCH (usually located on the sidewall). Some people really prefer to overinflate them by simply a couple associated with pounds during storage to help all of them keep their form. If you actually want to go the extra mile, you can put the cart up on jack stands to consider the weight from the tires entirely, however for most people, simply keeping them correctly inflated is plenty of.
Where Are usually You Parking It?
Location matters. Ideally, you would like to store your own electric golf cart in a dried out, cool place. A garage is perfect, but a lost works too. When you're storing this on a concrete floor, some old-school golf cart owners swear by putting some plywood or even some rubber rugs underneath the tires. The idea is that the frosty concrete can pull heat out of the batteries or cause humidity issues, though modern battery casings make this less of a concern than it used to be.
To Cover or Not to Protect?
A good, breathable cover will be a great investment decision. It keeps the dust off and helps prevent critters from choosing your floor mats best place in order to build a home. Avoid using the cheap plastic tarp if you may help it; they will don't breathe, and they tend to trap condensation underneath, which can result in mildew on your vinyl seats.
Don't Forget the Brakes
Before you walk away for the particular winter, ensure you do not leave the parking brake engaged .
I know that sounds counterintuitive—you don't want the cart rolling away. Nevertheless, if you leave the brake secured for three or even four months, the brake pads can in fact bond towards the drums. When you go to drive this in the spring, the brakes might be frozen close. Instead, leave the brake off plus use wheel chocks (or only a couple of bricks) to keep the cart from moving.
The Occasional Check-In
Winterizing isn't strictly a "set it plus forget it" circumstance. If you aren't using a clever charger that stays plugged in, you should probably check on the cart once a month. Work with a voltmeter in order to check the battery power pack's health. When the voltage provides dropped significantly, provide a "refresh" cost for a several hours.
Checking in also gives you a chance to make sure mice haven't started chewing on your wiring. For whatever reason, rodents love the particular insulation on golf cart wires. A few people toss the few dryer bedding or mothballs underneath the seat to decrease them—it's an aged trick, but it often works.
Summary Checklist
If you're nevertheless humming and hawing about how do you winterize an electric golf cart, just keep this particular simple mental register: 1. Charge it fully (and keep it charged if possible). 2. Clear the batteries and check the water. 3. Flip the Tow switch to the particular Tow position. four. Wash and dry the entire cart. 5. Inflate the particular tires to the proper pressure. 6. Chock the wheels instead of making use of the parking brake.
It will take probably an hour of your time, yet it saves you from the head ache of a cart that won't start once the sun lastly returns out. Treat your batteries properly, and they'll come back the favor by lasting for many years instead of just a few seasons. See you on the links the coming year!