Golf-FAQ.com

for club car golf cars should switch be set to tow when charging

by Trevor Dicki Sr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

The tow run switches are used in golf carts with separately excited motor and corresponding controller. Any time the cart is going to be stored for significant periods of time without being attended or charged, the vehicle should first be fully charged, and then the switch should be turned to “ TOW ”.

Any time the cart is going to be stored for significant periods of time without being attended or charged, the vehicle should first be fully charged, and then the switch should be turned to “TOW”. This will ensure that your charge lasts as long as possible during your absence without the controller draining them.Apr 23, 2013

Full Answer

Where is the tow switch on a club car golf cart?

Where is the tow switch on a Club Car golf cart? The tow run switches are typically found inside the battery compartment of the cart in plain sight. The tow run switches are used in golf carts with separately excited motor and corresponding controller. Moreover, what happens if you tow a golf cart in run mode?

Will a golf cart charge in tow mode?

Depending upon the amount of time you are away, your golf cart’s battery could still be drained upon your return. If you are ever working with your battery cables, you should ensure tow mode is activated to cut voltage to sensitive electronics. Some will refer to tow mode as storage mode. Will a Golf Cart Charge in Tow Mode?

Why is my club car golf not charging?

The cause of a Club Car golf not charging is either a dead battery, a damaged power cable, or a faulty charger.

How do you tow a golf cart when it dies?

Any time your cart dies or is in need to being towed, you MUST utilize the tow run switch and flip it to the “TOW” position. Otherwise, the cart will think it is rolling downhill and will try to activate the roll away feature described above. Basically, you’ll be trying to tow a cart which is fighting you to slow itself down.

What is a tow run switch?

Can you tow a golf cart on a trailer?

Do you need to charge a golf cart in run?

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Should golf cart be running or towing when charging?

Your golf cart needs to be charged in Run. Tow should only be used in long term storage or if you are going to remove the battery.

Do Club cars charge in tow mode?

Yes, you can charge your golf cart in tow mode. Though this mode does cause your cart to switch off its computer, that doesn't mean that it affects the battery or other elements of your cart.

What does tow switch on golf cart do?

TOW / RUN switches are basically kill switches designed to disable the golf cart. there are several reasons for this switch. Usually, a TOW / RUN switch is only used on electric golf carts, specifically those with a separately excited electrical system with regenerative braking.

How do you put a club car in tow mode?

On the older Club cars, the tow/run switch is located at the top of the battery compartment toward the front under the seat and also at the top in the middle of the four twelve volt batteries. The later Precedents have the tow/run switch located in the lower middle in the rear of the battery compartment.

Should golf cart be on while charging?

No. You should turn your golf cart off when charging its batteries. Trying to charge a golf cart while it is running is a pointless exercise, as the battery will be draining while you're trying to charge it. A golf cart should only be turned on once its batteries are fully charged.

How do you charge a Club car golf cart?

0:002:42You pull it into the garage on the left like you found it and on the left side up here you'll noticeMoreYou pull it into the garage on the left like you found it and on the left side up here you'll notice a charger. And there's a cord.

How do you use a golf cart battery charger?

Plug the battery charger plug into a wall socket or other equivalent power source. Then, insert the charger plug into the golf cart's charging receptacle. Verify the amperage readout on your battery charger. This should read in the vicinity of 21 amps.

How do you use a golf cart tow bar?

2:053:36This is the same tow bar link from the ark seat to install it we simply slide it over the frontMoreThis is the same tow bar link from the ark seat to install it we simply slide it over the front pivot arm push. The pin in place guide the vehicle into the receiver. And that one is.

How long should it take to charge my golf cart batteries?

Charge your batteries for 8 to 10 hours with the proper style of golf cart battery charger. The best practice is to charge overnight after you are done using your cart for the day. Even if you only used the cart for 5 minutes, you'll want to give the golf cart batteries a good charge.

How do you tow a golf cart on a trailer?

You'll need a tow dolly with room for your golf cart to sit on the trailer. The front of your vehicle attaches to the dolly while the back wheels trail on the highway. You could attach the dolly to an RV, truck or another vehicle that can withstand the weight of two vehicles.

How often should you charge golf cart batteries?

Still, golf cart batteries should be recharged after four hours of use. Nobody likes to be stranded. It takes several hours to re-charge golf cart batteries that have gone completely dead. To lengthen the lifespan of batteries, make sure they are fully charged before each use.

Where is the tow run switch on a ezgo golf cart?

The Run/Tow switch in an EZGO TXT golf cart is located below the seat on the passenger side of the cart. The toggle switch is usually protected with a black cover above it.

Club Car Towed With the Tow Switch In Run Position

Normally I would worry about the motor and the controller on a golf cart that's been towed with the run tow switch in the run position. You might get lucky seeing how it was only towed a 1/4 mile depending on how fast they were going when it was towed.

How to replace Club Car DS Run/Tow Switch

That switch is SIMPLE to replace. The rubber boot screws onto the switch. It keeps the switch water resistant. After you get the rubber boot off, there is a nut holding the switch onto the plate.

towed cart in run mode - Golf Cart - iFixit

I had to tow an older ezgo golf cart due to low battery. I forgot to switch from run to maintence/tow mode. Now i get no electric/battery. did I break something electrical due to towing in run mode? thx de - Golf Cart

Most Common Golf Cart Problems and Simple Repair Tips

Whether you own an electric or gas golf cart, it’s going to face some technical issues down the road. With frequent use, problems with the battery, tires, and other parts are extremely common.

Where is the tow switch on a golf cart?

Most likely, the tow run switch for your golf cart is located in the battery compartment. As you are probably aware, this compartment is almost always under a golf cart’s seat. The tow run switch should be in plain sight. Normally the switch will include a diagram that displays which side of the toggle is designated for ‘run’ and which side is designated for ‘tow’. If you are having trouble locating the switch on your golf cart you can look for a ‘warning’ label which is occasionally printed around the tow switch by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

What is tow mode on a golf cart?

In general, a golf cart’s tow mode is activated via a tow run switch, which occasionally is referred to as a tow/ maintenance switch . This switch is common among modern golf carts and is rarely present on older models. The reason for this variance is that tow run switches are only installed on golf carts with a separately excited motor. Normally, a golf cart with this type of motor also possesses the ability for regenerative braking and roll away protection.

How to stop golf cart from draining battery?

The only way to disable this continued drain on the battery is by flipping the tow run switch to tow.

What is tow mode?

Tow mode is a mode golf cart manufacturers allow users to enable in case they need to work on the electronics of their golf cart or tow their golf cart. Tow mode will deactivate the computer which cuts voltage to sensitive electronics and any roll away function that will enable the brakes for towing.

Why do you need to make sure your tow run switch is switched to tow?

If you are ever performing battery maintenance or working on your solenoid, you will want to make sure your tow run switch is switched to tow to protect the electronics in case of a short.

Is it better to charge your golf cart in tow mode or run mode?

Therefore, your golf cart’s battery will charge faster and more efficiently. Now, this charging difference may be very minimal between ‘tow’ and ‘ run’ mode, but if you are becoming annoyed with your vehicle’s tendency to constantly need charging you may find charging in ‘tow’ mode to alleviate some frustration.

Will a Golf Cart Charge in Tow Mode?

The simple answer to this question is, yes, your golf cart will charge while tow mode is activated. Yes, activating tow mode will disable your cart’s computer, but it does not affect your battery or its charging capabilities. However, you can also charge your golf cart while it’s tow maintenance switch is toggled to ‘run’. The difference between charging a golf cart in ‘tow’ mode or ‘run’ mode is very minimal, but it is worth exploring.

Tow Run

The tow run switch, also sometimes called a tow maintenance switch, is present in many brands and models of modern golf carts. This switch is only installed into golf carts with a separately excited motor which produces regenerative braking. They are not used in traditional golf carts with a series wound motor.

Separately Excited Systems

The tow run switches are used in golf carts with separately excited motor and corresponding controller. The electronic speed controllers used in this application have a bit of logic memory within, similar to your automobile’s stereo when it saves your favorite preset stations.

Roll Away Feature

There is also another use for the tow run switches used in golf carts with a sepex controllers and motors. Most carts with this type of system also have a special feature built into the programming of the controller, called the “Roll Away” feature.

Where is the tow switch on a golf cart?

The tow switch is housed inside a golf cart’s battery compartment and can help it to move freely. However, you must remember to remove the negative battery cable connection.

Why does my golf cart go into tow mode?

Your golf cart usually runs in tow mode when it does not have enough power to get moving on its own. One reason may be that the batteries are old and do not have the same power as new ones. If this happens with new batteries, the most likely reason is that they don’t have enough charge.

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Golf Cart Battery?

A new golf cart battery that is fully discharged will take 2-4 hours to completely charge. On the other hand, a 5 year old battery may take up to 10 hours to fully charge.

How to turn off golf cart battery?

Turn the ignition key of the golf cart to the OFF position. Although there is no battery draw when the key is left on, doing this is considered to be a safe practice.

How many volts does a golf cart charger have?

There are about 8 different types of charger plugs that you can find across various golf cart models. While some of plugs are exclusively for either 36 volts or 48 volts carts, others will work with both voltages.

How to choose a golf cart battery charger?

How to Choose the Best golf Cart Battery Charger. You must choose a battery charger according to the voltage of your cart to prevent the possibility of damage to your batteries. Check the charging receptacle of your golf cart and select your charger accordingly.

What is the power of a golf cart generator?

The generator can charge the batteries that supply the power to an electric motor responsible for moving the cart. The 48 volts system in a golf cart usually features an onboard computer (OBC) that controls the battery pack charging process and restricts the charging when the cart is moving.

How long does it take to charge a golf cart?

It depends on three factors, 1) the quality of your batteries, 2) how discharged your batteries are and 3) the quality of your charger. If you have 5 year old batteries that are very discharged and you have a lightweight 2-5 amp charger, it may take a very long time (10 hours or more). If you have brand new batteries, they are 20-30% discharged and you've got a heavy-duty charger, it can be pretty quick (1-3 hours). Again, it depends on all of the above factors, so it really could vary quite a bit.

How Do I Troubleshoot My Golf Cart Battery Charger if It Isn't Working?

Just so you know, this situation happens EVERYDAY. The first question we always ask is, how long has it been since you've charged your batteries? We ask this because often times if it has been a while (a couple weeks or more), or if you just got brand new batteries, or if your batteries have been really run down recently, it is possible that the batteries may not have enough voltage in them for the charger to start working. An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.

What are some symptoms of a bad golf cart battery charger vs. bad batteries?

Bad Batteries: IN GENERAL, if the charger doesn't kick on or show any signs of life when you plug it into your cart, this is most likely a battery/connection issue. Learn more about the signs of a bad golf cart battery.

Will the golf cart charger automatically stop charging once the batteries are fully charged?

Yes. All automatic chargers are designed to charge your batteries until they are fully charged and then stop charging. So you do not need to manually shut off the charger or worry about overcharging your batteries. All Lester chargers are made with a number of internal safety mechanisms that ensure that they will never overcharge batteries.

What if I charge my batteries until my battery charger stops charging, but my golf cart won’t drive very far?

You probably need to test your batteries and likely will need to get new golf cart batteries.

Should I charge the golf cart after each use?

Yes. It is healthy for the batteries to be fully charged at all times. So, you should charge your golf cart every night. Automatic golf cart chargers will shut off once the batteries are fully charged, so there isn't a concern that they will be over charged.

Where is my User’s Manual for my golf cart battery charger?

Our manufacturer does not provide owner’s manuals. Here are the links to the Lester charger manuals (they are also linked to on our product pages):

Why is my Club Car golf cart, not charging?

The cause of a Club Car golf not charging is either a dead battery, a damaged power cable, or a faulty charger.

Why won't my club car golf cart shut off?

A Club Car golf cart will not shut off if the OBC is outdated or faulty.

What is the OBC on a 48V club car?

In the 48V club cars, the OBC is primarily responsible for the batteries’ charge. It controls the batteries charging, which is why the 48V requires a fully functional OBC all the time. Connect the batteries to a voltmeter and check if the charger is generating enough power.

Why is my golf cart not charging?

Before declaring your battery or the charger as the bad ones, make sure that the charger supplies enough power to your car. Not getting enough power supply can be the reason why your vehicle is not charging. Minimum 20-25 volts are required to set a standard golf cart.

How to keep car batteries charged when idle?

Try to keep specific chargers, which will help your batteries to stay charged even when the car is idle. Enough power supply is critical to keep the charger working and keep the batteries charging. Check your connections, and then turn on your charger.

What does it mean when a charger is bad?

Bad charger: if the charger turns on but there is no sign of charging. If the charger is making noises like a loud click, before kicking off. If the charger keeps charging even after turning the switch off then, without any doubt, it’s time to replace the charger.

How many VDC does a golf cart need?

At first, use a voltmeter to check if the charger is supplying proper power to your batteries. It must be from 14 to 15 VDC. The lack of power supply can be an obstacle to the golf cart’s charging. The DC motor turns to a generator when the car is driven.

How to store golf car batteries?

Remove the batteries from the golf car and store them in a cool, dry place that stays between 0°C (32°F) and 30°C (90°F).

What is an OBC in a club car?

The Club Car’s On-Board Computer (OBC) is designed to detect low battery pack voltage and automatically start the charger to recharge the batteries.

What happens if battery charger is disconnected?

If power to the electrical source is disconnected or interrupted the battery charger will continue to check the charge on the battery pack, this will draw power from the battery pack and eventually drain the batteries if power is not restored in a timely manner.

Does Club Car have a lithium battery?

Club Car currently only offers new golf cars with either a 48V Lead Acid battery pack, or the Lithium. Historically, they offered a 36V golf car as well, as evidenced by the 1991 Club Car sitting on my lot that I just took in on trade.

Should battery chargers be plugged in during storage?

This is what the manufacturer recommends: Leave battery chargers plugged in during storage. The onboard computer will automatically activate the charger when necessary. If the battery charger is left plugged in during extended storage, the electrolyte should be checked monthly to ensure that proper level is maintained.

Do you disconnect the wiring harness from the battery?

If you have a golf car, or utility vehicle with an on-board charger, and are planning to store the vehicle for an extended period of time you should disconnect the wiring harness from the batteries.

Can you take the batteries out of a golf car?

Yamaha recommends completely removing the golf car batteries and storing them externally from the golf car.

What is a tow run switch?

The tow run switches are used in golf carts with separately excited motor and corresponding controller. Click to see full answer. Keeping this in view, what happens if you tow a golf cart in run mode? Towing in run backfeeds through the system and can damage the controller and also can cause motor windings to be damaged.

Can you tow a golf cart on a trailer?

Beside above, can you tow a golf cart? Thanks to a tow dolly, now you can tow your golf cart and your car onto the trailers bed. The rear wheels of the car and golf cart will remain on the ground when you start the towing procedure. This procedure will work perfectly if you're towing vehicles coming with front wheel drives.

Do you need to charge a golf cart in run?

Your golf cart needs to be charged in Run. Tow should only be used in long term storage or if the battery is being removed.

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