How does a golf cart electrical system work?
The electric motor receives electric current through the electrical system to move faster or slow down. When the electric motor receives the electric current, it turns the wheel to get the golf cart to move. The more current it produces, the faster it turns!
How a golf cart is wired?
Technically, most electric golf cart battery banks use series wiring. The 36-volts club car golf cart wiring requires a set of six batteries of 6 volts capacity each. You will also need five equal size connection cables.
How does a golf cart motor controller work?
The controller meters out current and voltage on your battery based on user input, whether that be a gas pedal, a throttle, or even pedals on a bicycle. With the controller you are able to control your acceleration and deceleration, as well as the speed at which your vehicle moves.
What are the 4 terminals on a golf cart motor?
If you're unsure if it is working, it is simple to test. There are four terminals on a solenoid: usually two large and two small. The small terminals are connected to the battery, and the large terminals are connected to the motor. Disconnect all wires from the two large terminals.
How do you test a golf cart electric motor?
3:5410:28Testing 36 volt golf cart motor with 12 volt battery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou just want to connect the two together with this again a2 to s1 with this jumper cable. And youMoreYou just want to connect the two together with this again a2 to s1 with this jumper cable. And you want to take the battery box or positive cable and put it on the s2.
How do you get 12 volts from a 48 volt system?
Attach terminal connectors to two insulated wires and then connect one wire to each terminal on the battery. Depending on the type of terminal, tighten the terminals using a wrench or screwdriver. Run the wires to the location where you need a 12-volt supply. Attach a switch to the wire from the positive terminal.
What controls the speed on a golf cart?
Essentially, your golf cart's speed controller sends its current and battery voltage to its motor. This process depends on your golf cart's input device, which includes its throttle. That's how your golf cart's speed controller lets you operate its acceleration rate, as well as its deceleration rate.
How does an electric golf cart solenoid work?
Solenoids are Simple, But Powerful Every time you turn your cart on or press the pedal, a small amount of voltage passes along the wire coil and triggers the steel plunger to close. This process allows energy from the battery to directly contact your golf cart's motor so that it can run properly.
Why does my electric golf cart have no power?
The main reason why a EZGO golf cart can lose power is because the battery is not charging due to loose cables or the corrosion of the connecting terminals. If they become loose or some of the electrical circuits' connecting wires snap, the battery loses power.
How do you know if a golf cart is AC or DC?
The easiest way to know if your golf cart has an AC motor is to read its description online. Check out the various items highlighted by the manufacturer and find the engine listing. Here, you'll find a description of the engine that should read “AC” or “DC.”
Where is the reset button on an electric golf cart motor?
First, you'll want to reset your motor. It should have a small reset button (Usually it will be red) located near the main battery supply. Hit the reset button and then put the cover back on the motor. The next step would be to recharge your cart and try turning it on again. If it starts up then you're in luck!
How do you bypass a solenoid on a golf cart?
Bypassing Golf Cart Solenoid Method If you do decide to bypass the solenoid, this is what you need to do: Take the two larger wires that connect to the solenoid and connect them directly (keeping all safety precautions in place). This should do the trick and if it does not work then the solenoid is not the problem.
What is a golf cart?
A golf cart is a small mechanized vehicle powered either by an electric motor or a small gasoline engine.
Which is better, a gas or electric golf cart?
Gasoline golf carts can also be fitted with more powerful motors, beefed-up suspensions and four-wheel drive, making them ideal for work in rugged...
Are golf carts street legal?
Golf carts can be used almost anywhere a car can't — and even in some places where cars can.
How much does an electric golf cart cost?
The average price for an electric golf cart is between $5,000 and $7,000.
How much is a used golf cart?
You can find used golf carts for between $2,500 and $5,000.
How does a golf cart work?
Gasoline golf carts work just like little cars. A small engine, running on gasoline, powers the cart's wheels. However, one major difference between a typical car and a gasoline-powered golf cart is when the engine runs. In a car, the engine starts when you turn the key, and it keeps running until you switch the ignition off.
How do electric golf carts work?
Electric golf carts use batteries to power an electric motor. The batteries are typically charged by plugging the cart into a wall outlet, just like the ones you have in your house. However, some golf carts are now being fitted with solar panels on their roofs to help charge the batteries.
What is the difference between a golf cart and a golf cart?
A golf cart, on the other hand, is a small mechanized vehicle powered either by an electric motor or a small gasoline engine . On the golf course, golf carts carry two players and their bags.
What are the different types of golf carts?
Plus, your golf cart allows you to express yourself in a way that's rare in sports. There are two main types of golf carts: gasoline and electric. Gasoline golf carts work just like little cars.
Why are golf cart paths used?
These communities aren't just built around golf courses, either. Instead, golf cart paths are used to promote a car-free lifestyle for the residents. Instead of hopping in their cars to go wherever they need to go, residents in these areas jump into their own personal golf carts.
Can you carry more than two people on a golf cart?
However, you can also get modified golf carts that can carry more than two people and move supplies, like food or luggage, from place to place. Gasoline golf carts can also be fitted with more powerful motors, beefed-up suspensions and four-wheel drive, making them ideal for work in rugged areas.
Do golf carts have air conditioning?
In colder climates, heaters make sense. But no matter where you live, rain curtains are almost always a good idea -- especially since most golf carts have open cabins.
How does an electric golf cart work?
How Does a Golf Cart Work. In the most basic sense, your electric golf cart works by providing electric power from a battery pack to a motor that turns your wheels. Everything else involved is just a way of controlling when and how much of that power is being delivered. The battery pack is pretty basic.
How do golf cart batteries work?
Batteries work by changing chemical energy into electrical energy. Different types of batteries use different types of chemical reactions to do this, but for the most part they’re all very similar. We did a whole article on golf cart batteries ...
What is a golf cart solenoid?
We did a write up on golf cart solenoids if you want to get deeper knowledge, or learn how to test them. Like I said before, a solenoid is basically a switch, but more specifically, it’s a relay, meaning that it’s a switch that uses one circuit to control another.
What is an inductive throttle sensor?
What that really means is when you push down your electric golf cart accelerator, you’re actually pushing a rod through an inductive sensor coil. The sensor coil uses this to tell the speed controller how much voltage to consume.
How many volts does a golf cart battery pack have?
The battery pack is pretty basic. It could be anywhere from 6 to 48 volts, but it’s usually 36 or 48 volts on most newer electric golf carts. The battery pack’s power is routed to the motor, but along the way, it is changed by a solenoid and a speed controller to give you only the power you’re asking for and only when you’re asking for it.
How long have electric golf carts been around?
Electric motors have been around for a couple hundred years, and honestly after around the 1890s, not a whole lot has changed.
What is the part of a motor that moves?
The part that is moving is called the rotor. It’s essentially a rod wrapped in copper wire that reacts to the electromagnetic forces in the stator. With only those two parts, the rotor would find the attractant pole of the stator, and then the motor would stop. That’s what the commutator is for.
Drive
The drive, or primary, clutch is found on the crankshaft of the engine. A thick, heavy ‘drive’ belt is wrapped around it and links it to the driven clutch, on the differential. At rest, the drive clutch sheaves (or pulley halves) are separated enough that the drive belt rests in between the sheaves & against the center shaft of this clutch.
Driven
The other half of this system is the driven, or secondary, clutch. At rest the driven clutch sheaves are spring loaded together, so the belt sits up at the outer edge of this clutch, NOT down toward the center shaft. It, too, spins around and has a sheave that sides in & out along it’s main shaft but this clutch has no flyweights.
Belt Operation
As the drive belt forces the driven clutch sheaves to separate, the PULLING ratio of the engine changes from maximum (when the belt is at the outer edge of the driven unit) to minimum PULLING power, or top cruising speed (when the sheaves are completely apart).
Driven Issues
The driven clutch can misbehave in many ways. It has one main shaft and the sliding sheave has an internal bushing that will wear, and it has several inclined metal ramps (usually aluminum) with small plastic buttons that protect the ramps as they glide against one another.
Buttons
OK picture this: The engine revs up and the drive belt starts to ride down into the pulley faces of the driven clutch forcing them to separate. The inboard pulley half begins to slide along the main shaft compressing the spring and bringing the funky cup ends and their respective ramps up against one another.
Driven Spring
While we are on the Yamaha driven clutch another failure that occurs is almost impossible to detect but it also impairs the hill pulling power of the car. Keep looking inboard to where the funky spring cap butts up against the differential housing. The spring cap doesn’t actually touch the differential case.
