17

Sep

The Right Way to Store Batteries

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Storing your battery incorrectly can cause it to lose capacity, deteriorate faster, or even fail altogether. Fortunately, with the right storage practices, you can keep your battery healthy and ready to go when you hit the course again. Let’s walk through some of the most common storage mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Fully Charge Before Storage

One of the worst things you can do is store a battery that hasn’t been fully charged. When a battery sits in storage with a low charge, it starts to deteriorate due to sulfation—a process where lead sulfate crystals form on the battery’s internal plates. This permanently decreases the battery’s capacity and can lead to early failure.

Before you put your golf car away for the off-season, make sure to charge the battery fully. For best results, check the charge level every month during storage. If it drops below a certain threshold, give it a top-up charge. This simple step can prevent the need for a costly replacement next season.

2. Choose the Right Storage Location

Where you store your battery is just as important as how you store it. Batteries are sensitive to temperature extremes, and both excessive heat and cold can cause long-term damage. Storing a battery in a hot area can speed up internal chemical reactions, leading to faster wear. Meanwhile, freezing temperatures can cause a battery to lose capacity or even crack if it gets cold enough.

To avoid these problems, find a cool, dry location for storage. The ideal temperature range is between 50°F and 77°F (10°C to 25°C). A basement or insulated garage can be a great option. Just make sure the area is dry, as moisture can lead to corrosion on the terminals, further reducing battery life.

3. Use a Battery Tender or Disconnect the Battery

Another common mistake is leaving the battery connected to your golf car while it’s in storage. Even when the golf car is turned off, small electrical components can draw power from the battery. Over time, this can lead to a fully drained battery, which might not recover when you try to charge it again.

To prevent this, disconnect the battery before storage. If you’re using a lead-acid battery, check the water levels before disconnecting it and top them off if needed. For lithium-ion batteries, disconnecting them is even easier since you don’t need to worry about water levels.

For extra peace of mind, consider using a battery tender or trickle charger. These devices maintain your battery’s charge without overcharging it. They supply a small amount of power to keep the battery topped off during long storage periods. This can be a game-changer when you’re ready to fire up the golf car again, and your battery is already charged and ready to go.

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