Winterizing / Battery Maintenance

[fenderjake]

Hello all,

First post here. Recently took ownernship of a 2011 (i think, is there a stamped sign anywhere?) ez go txt 48. It has six new 8v batteries. My question is what is the best way to winterize the cart (I'm in NY) and keep the batteries charged or just properly maintained through the winter. It is in a heated garage (stays about 50deg.) It does not have a inline power gauge yet, thats on my list to install (recommendation anyone?) i do have a trickle charger for other things that i could use on it if its what you recommend.

Also during the warmer weather when it is in use, plug in all the time? only before using? keep trickle on it? I don't want to see my electric bill go through the roof! Maybe there's no way around that!

Thanks in advance for your help...
-Scott

[golfcartg]

Scott, it’s great that you’re thinking ahead about winter storage especially in New York where the cold season can be hard on batteries. For your lead acid batteries, maintaining a full charge during winter is key. Lead acid cells naturally self discharge over time and if they’re not kept fully charged they risk developing a condition called sulfation. This happens when lead sulfate crystals form on the plates inside the battery, which can gradually reduce capacity and make it harder for them to hold a charge over time. Imagine coming back to your cart after the winter only to find the batteries weakened or even unable to power up the cart properly. A situation nobody wants to start the season with. Recharging every 30 days can prevent this and extend the life of your batteries significantly.

For storage, the best approach is to give the batteries a fresh recharge every 30 days. A charger like a DPI model that comes standard with a “tender” feature can help here by automatically topping up the batteries every 28 days. This is convenient and removes the risk of forgetting a charge cycle. But if your charger doesn’t offer that, a manual recharge once a month is a simple way to keep those batteries healthy and avoid costly replacements.

Regarding a battery gauge, a voltage readout model is the best option for lead acid setups. For a 48V system keep the SOC charge above 50%, which for this setup means a resting voltage no lower than around 48.4V. Having that real time readout gives you an exact look at your battery health and helps avoid deep discharges, which can be tough on batteries.