Cushman industrial cart...

[StevenPaul]

Hello All!

First time in this forum. I recently acquired a Cushman electric cart. It's has a 36 volt motor. My question is, does anybody know what kind of mods I can do to this thing. I don't know to much about 36 volt stuff and I was wanting to add lights, heater/fan, radio, etc. Is there some special kind of wiring, circuit breakers, or amp specified things I need to look for? And how does one hook up all these extras? Will adding more things drain the batteries quicker?

here's a picture of the beast right before I bought it, I've since put a new solenoid, battery cables, etc and it runs like a champ. The wife wants me to paint and get it lookin halfway respectable, but in the mean time, it's fun!

Thanks for the input and I hope I have this question in the right forum.
Steve

 

[Raddad]

That Cushman looks new to me here's an old cushman.

It's actualy my Grandfather with a cat he built back in 1910.

 

[SimS]

Steve;

I am also an owner of a Cushman cart (gas). I have found a wealth of info in the Yahoo group "cushman4wheels". There are a bunch of photos and schematics that might help you out. The guys on that board are very helpful.
Good Luck

SimS

 

[StevenPaul]

Wow! now thats an old Cushman, great picture too. And thanks for the "cushman4wheels" group reference. I've joined it and I'm scanning thru the messages. Funny thing about new toys that are old, ya just can't enough instructions on them, ya think this might be becasue of men not needing instructions, hahaha!

thanks again!
Steve

 

[jinman]

The wife wants me to paint and get it lookin halfway respectable, but in the mean time, it's fun!

Get a paint brush and go paint "White Tornado" on the side of it, and tell her you are done.

I think you are gonna have lots of fun and uses for that. If you get it looking too nice, you won't want to scratch it.

 

[js5020]

SP,, essentially everthing would hook up as normal, except for the negative,,, electric equipment does not use the frame as a ground, it uses battery negative which is isolated from the frame. Anything you hook up and power will deplete the batteries faster, how fast depends on the draw of the item. You could put a dc converter in for 12 volts, which would be best, or take a meter out on the batteries , they are wired in series and with the neg lead of the meter on bat neg move the other probe out the pos till you get 12 volts and tap in for adds there, although it works the converter is the way to go.

 

[StevenPaul]

Ok, I hope Larry(SPYDERLK) gets this as I've moved my topic over this thread so as not to get off track on Eddie's. Before I actually hook them up, I've attached a diagram as to what I think Larry has written on how to hook up the gauges. I'm still a little confused on the other 2 wire hook up off the jumpers to make the "individual" metering of the 3 pairs so please check to see if this is right. If its not right you can just tell me the "dashed" lines go here or there. I think everything else is hooked up right. If this is all right, then we move on to hooking up the accessories.

js5020,
I'd like to go 12V converter but after checking the price of them, I'd have more money in the converter then the cart itself ($175). I was hoping there was an alternative (meaning cheaper) kind of converter out there but I haven't found one. Thanks for your input.

jinman,
I showed the wife your comment and she busted out laughing. Don't know if we'll name it "white tornado" or not, she is wanting me to paint the good ol' green and yellow and put the farm name on it.

BTW, our website for our farm is BareFoot Farms
we are in our humbling beginnings, yet we are making progess, one step at a time.

thanks!
Steve