Advice on electric golf carts

[SPYDERLK]

spyderlk:

Connecting a voltage meter without an on/off switch will put a constant drain on the batteries. I assume it will not amount to much on a 36 Volt cart unless it sits for months, then the batteries would lose power anyway. Am I wrong on this assumption?

It seems to me that if accessories are hooked up to a pair of batteries, then the easy way to charge them separately would be a solar panel mounted on the roof of the cart. This may or may not keep ahead of the drain but it would keep that pair closer in power to the others. An expensive way to charge just the two.

A battery operated portable radio would provide the music without draining any pair of batteries.

Are the lights on carts connected to just two batteries or to all six thru some stepdown transformer

Joe1, yes the voltmeters would put a very smalldrain on the batterys - so small that it is not worth considering on that size of battery. Batteries should be charged occasionaly even when not in use because they self discharge about 5% a month due to internal leakage. A voltmeter added to this might increase it to 6 or 7% a month. Normal charging regimen of once a month for an idle battery with voltmeter on it would be plenty. And if youre using the cart the metersare a constant reminder of battery health by showing you how well they maintain V under load.
My lights are 12V and are powered by just 2 of the six batteries. Transformers dont work on DC so use of the whole pack is not an option without electronic sophistication. Anyway, unless lights are used a lot the batteries supplying them will be ok between charges AND you will be able to keep tabs on their relative discharge with the voltmeters. Its really only the heavy sustained drains, like from an inverter that will require special attention and again, a trio of meters provides the info for you to act on. Probably no special attention necessary other than more frequent standard charging of the full pack and maintaining correct electrolyte level, and occasional rotation of heavy 12V loads to other battery pairs.
Larry

 

[Joe1]

spyderlk: Thanks

 

[JoeR]

This is a great thread! I was out looking for a cart today! My neighbor has one, and that's all he uses on his property for transportation, etc... Anyway, I do have a question. On my neighbors electric cart, when he lets of the "gas pedal" the cart automatically starts slowing down like like my hydrostatic tractor. I went and looked at a EZGO today with 6" lift, and it will coast for a good distance. I had to use the break to stop it! So, what is normal for electric golf cart breaking system?

Thanks,

Joe

 

[SPYDERLK]

Joe, they coast very well normally. Ive heard there is circuitry available to use the motor as a brake tho when you let off. Mine is not set up that way and coasts like crazy. I keep my front wheels toed out some to give a little extra rolling resistance.
Larry

 

[EddieWalker]

No I meant I doubt he cares we are off topic.

I just noticed the thread was alive again and found it to be more interesting now then when I started it.

I don't think there is such a thing as being off topic. The more information out there, the better the thread!!!

Eddie

 

[patrick_g]

Eddie, My sis and BIL bought an electric cart to use during their 6 months or so in the mountains every year. Their only vehicle is a Diesel Truck used to tow 5th wheel and every other use prior to the cart. They were offered the opportunity to increase the power for faster running and souped up hill climbing but declined. They have been extremely pleased driving it daily up and down hills that are named cardiac I and cardiac II and are steep (Thousand Trails campground at Idylwild in the mountains above Palm Springs.)

As new users they were concerned about running out of charge, not having enough braking for steep hills, not having enough power for the hills, and such. Now they know their non-hotrodded cart will handle all the hills, up and down and carry enough charge to handle a full days running around.

During the winter they live in their "regular home" in Wickenburg, AZ where the BIL, almost daily, drives the cart from their neighborhood to the golf course, does his round and drives it home, a distance of a few miles.

They paid about $2000 for their used cart with a set of ramps to drive it up into the pickup bed. They have a windshield and surrey top but no doors or side curtains.

Pat

 

[HomeBrew2]

... They were offered the opportunity to increase the power for faster running and souped up hill climbing but declined.
Pat

In general, from personal experience, with gas or electric(yuck) carts, you can modify to get either torque or speed ... not both. If you have specific knowledge of getting BOTH from electric, I'm listening and might change my thinking (gas rules in a rural, harsh, topographically challenged setting). Of course, I'm interested in off the shelf components to get both speed and substantial hill climbing torque ... that I have with gas.
I installed a "torque spring" and lost 5 mph top end but got death-grip torque.

... As new users ... not having enough braking for steep hills, ...

Unless one does a radical mod to provide 4 wheel discs or at least, front breaks, everybody has the same lame drum rear brakes. A more important thought is to install a (now available from Buggies Unlimited) posi-traction differential ... an interesting phenom when climbing hills, that are beyond the abilities of the cart is that an "open" diff with only rear brakes is the cart will try it's hardest to roll over on top of you, either to the right or left. It's a cool feeling ... I've done it several times ... Now I have front ballast and keep my foot on the GO pedal when letting the hill whoop my cart. So, YES, the posi will make reverse braking equal ... very important for "new users" on hills

 

[patrick_g]

HomeBrew, My BIL and sis aren't serious offroaders and are mostly on prepared paths if not paved roads. They were somewhat surprised at the hill climbing ability of their stock cart and report no braking problems. I have never been in their cart and don't know what sort of brakes they have.

I had thought of getting an electric cart to run around our 160 ac but was afraid they wouldn't handle the off road challenge. I have a VW fiber glass beach buggy (street legal) which I use as a runabout on our place when not in one of the 4x4 trucks. Still, if I could get seriously wide tires and positraction I might go for an electric cart.

I do have empirical evidence as to the off road (mud) performance of a Toyota Prius. I also have a user report on the ease of use of the towing eyelet that is carried under the back deck and easily screws into a threaded hole behind a removable plastic plug in the front bumper.

There are 28 volt DC lights available (think aircraft.) Not sure how much the life of a 28 volt light would be shortened on 36 volts but you could run the lights on 24 volts just fine if just using 2 batts for lights really kept you awake at night.

Pat

 

[HomeBrew2]

Pat, boy oh boy, are you in for a treat. "Anything" you want to do is available for gas or electric in most cart brands. The only thing I would suggest is to research your specific mods relative to your specific brand of cart ... via the BuggiesUnlimited forum, I have gleened that some stuff that's "supposed to work", may NOT with a particular model and year. FYI, in addition to the posi, they also make "speed" gears or "torque" gears in case you need more of either after tire selection/ torque mods. Enjoy!

 

[hard_yakka01]

I'm about ready to go to and look at Buggies Unlimited site. Just got a couple of used 2003 EZ Go carts to use on property versus always starting RTV's up. We have over 400 hours each of the RTV's in under 2 years use.

My thoughts are to upgrade suspension and tires first since batteries are good and ground clearance non-existent. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,