Most golf carts have a 36V or 48V power supply, usually from a set of 6x 6V batteries or 4x 12V batteries. Whereas the lights that are added to the cart are usually 12V, so direct power from the batteries would oversupply the lights and can damage them, or can even be hazardous.
Full Answer
What voltage do golf cart lights come in?
If you want to use the golf cart lights a lot but don’t want to spring for a voltage reducer (see below), order a pair of 36 or 48-volt head & tail lights. These golf cart lights wire up to all the batteries in the pack and draw them all down evenly. The battery charger then recharges them all evenly and life is good!
Do I need a voltage reducer for my golf cart?
A voltage reducer is necessary if your golf cart’s power supply is 36 volt or 48 volt and you are looking to install additional 12 volt accessories. This voltage reducer will regulate the amount of power being sent to your 12 volt accessories so that they are not over supplied.
How do you convert 48 volt to 12 volt on golf cart?
When installing a 48 volt to 12 volt voltage reducer on your golf cart’s 48 power supply you will connect the voltage reducer to the main positive and main negative on batteries to achieve the required 48 volts of voltage input that can then be reduced to 12 volts of voltage output.
Why do my lights keep blowing on my golf cart?
Because ALL electrical golf cart accessories run on ONLY 12V’s. If you own a 48V or 36V golf cart, and if you do not install or properly hook up a voltage reducer, you will put too much voltage through your lights, resulting in blown lights (and generally voiding all warranties - see blown board image below).
What voltage are golf cart lights?
36-volt or 48-volt Voltage Reducer Brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, horns, headlights, radios, GPS and similar accessories on your golf cart use 12-volts. But, most golf carts have either four 12-volt batteries, six 8-volt batteries or eight 6-volt batteries which are considered 48 volt system golf carts.
Why is my electric golf cart beeping?
Golf Cart Making Beeping Noise The beeping noise in the golf cart is because the battery is not fully charged, low battery voltage, or because the rear end fluid needs changing. The beeping noise may come during a regular drive, but most people hear it when the cart is being reversed.
How many volts should a 48v golf cart read?
The target voltage for a 48 volt charger for AGM or some flooded batteries is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 57.6 to 58.8 volts.
How many volts does a golf cart charger need to turn on?
20-35 voltsAn 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.
How do you stop a golf cart beeping?
Club Car beeps and stops runningTurn the Key Switch to Off.Change the Forward/Reverse to Neutral.Change the Tow/Run switch to Tow.The battery negative wire has to be disconnected from the battery pack.Change the mode of the cart to “Run”Turn the Key switch “On”Throttle peddle to be locked down.
What do the lights on a club car charger mean?
Excel System vehicles with the ERIC Charging system feature a dash mounted charge indicator light below the steering column that serves two functions: 1) Battery low state of charge warning, and 2) Charging confirmation.
What should my golf cart charger read when fully charged?
If the batteries are full, the ammeter reading will quickly drop below 15 amps. As the batteries charge the ammeter read out will eventually drop to about 2 or 3 amps. This indicates a near full charge in the batteries.
How do I check the voltage on my electric golf cart?
0:426:18How to Test Golf Cart Batteries - Troubleshooting Batteries - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe battery voltage can be buy tested by probing with a simple voltmeter by pushing the probesMoreThe battery voltage can be buy tested by probing with a simple voltmeter by pushing the probes deeply into the lead not in not into the stainless steel put into the lead.
How long should it take to charge a 48 volt golf cart?
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.
What should the voltage be on a fully charged 36v golf cart?
The target voltage for a 36 volt charger for AGM or some flooded batteries is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 43.2 to 44.1 volts.
Will a 48 volt charger work on a 36 volt golf cart?
No, should not use a 48 volt charger on a 36 volt golf cart. A 36v cart uses 12 volts for each phase (or leg) of its power system, while the 48v cart uses 24 volts per leg. That means that if you try to charge your vehicle with too high voltage, it can fry the electronics on your golf cart.
How many volts should a 36v golf cart have?
For example: a 36v battery pack will read 38.2v fully charged. Maximum drop under load should not be more than 6v below 38.2v equal to 32 volts or less.
Where is the reset button on a Club Car golf cart?
Identify your main battery supply (usually the largest battery) on your motor. Check around this supply for a small red button that may or may not be labeled “Reset”. Press and hold this button for a few moments and then release it to reset the motor.
Where is the speed sensor located on a Club Car golf cart?
The speed sensor in a Club Car Precedent golf cart is located on the back of the motor. To remove the sensor, unplug the cables behind the motor. You can use a 5/16-inch socket to remove the pigtail connector and pop off the plastic housing that encases the speed sensor.
How do you troubleshoot an electric club car?
There are a few simple problems that you can fix yourself that will not necessitate professional maintenance.Test the wall socket where you charge your cart. ... Expose your golf cart batteries. ... Test the batteries for voltage. ... Replace dead batteries. ... Expose the motor for inspection. ... Reset the motor. ... Test the cart.
How do I reset my EZ GO battery meter?
Battery Meter Always Shows Full Reset the battery meter. Unhook power to the battery meter for 10 minutes. This will reset the battery meter.
How many volts does a golf cart take?
Even the most basic voltage reducer will do the job, taking 16,18, 36 or 48 volts down to 12. Check out Golf Cart Voltage Reducers for more information.
What happens if you don't hook up a golf cart?
If you own a 48V or 36V golf cart, and if you do not install or properly hook up a voltage reducer, you will put too much voltage through your lights, resulting in blown lights (and generally voiding all warranties - see blown board image below).
Why are my lights blown out?
If the voltage reducer was hooked up improperly, the lights may have been blown out due to over-voltage. What you will need to do is check what voltage your cart is running at. Because all electrical accessories run on 12V, and the reducer's job is to take higher voltages down to 12V.
What to do before taking a golf cart out on the street?
The cardinal rule before taking your golf cart out on the street, EVEN WITH the proper lighting/indicators is: CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS. Laws and rules are constantly changing, so before taking your golf cart out on the roads, ALWAYS check with your local municipality.
Do you have to engage the parking brake on a gas golf cart?
Yes. If you have a gas golf cart, you will need to engage the parking brake prior to installation. This ensures that your golf cart stays put while you’re working on it. I’ve hooked up the light kit and voltage reducer, but some of the lights are not coming on or came on for a minute and went off.
Should a golf cart be in the TOW position?
Your golf cart should always be in the TOW position when installing electrical accessories such as lights. I want to upgrade my headlights and taillights and already have the holes/cut-outs where the lights should go on my cart.
How many volts does a golf cart need?
If your golf cart is equipped with a 48 volt power supply then you will have the easiest time purchasing and installing a voltage reducer. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a 48 volt to 12 volt voltage reducer. This power supply will reduce the received voltage of 48 volts to 12 volts to safely power 12 volt accessories. This model is highly used by many golf cart users and it is important to buy a reducer that can produce enough amperage to power all of your accessories.
What type of battery does a golf cart use?
Most likely your golf cart’s power supply matches one of the following configurations. If your golf cart is equipped with a 48 volt power supply, it is likely that your golf cart is equipped with four 12 volt batteries or six 8 volt batteries. In the event that your golf cart is equipped with a 36 volt power supply, the power supply configuration likely consists of six 6 volt batteries. A 36 volt power supply is less common than the two previous 48 volt power supply configurations. These equations for these configurations are listed in the table below:
What is a voltage reducer?
As you now know, a voltage reducer is a very important piece of equipment if you are planning to install various 12 volt accessories onto your golf cart. As previously touched upon, voltage reducers will not only allow you to safely equip and run a variety of 12 volt accessories including aftermarket light kits and radios, but a voltage reducer will also maintain the integrity of your golf cart’s power supply.
How many volts are in a golf cart battery?
Now that we understand the differences between Amperage and Voltage, we can begin to break this down so we can locate the differences between various battery packs. For standard golf carts, we will typically see a Six Eight Volt Battery System. This can be visually determined by locating six batteries with 8 cells per battery. A cell is distinguished by a battery cap that is used for watering the batteries. With batteries used in Golf Carts, each cell will represent 2 Volts. Let’s take a look at the 5 most common battery packs we see in the market:
How does amperage affect golf carts?
It determines how far you can travel before having to fill up the tank. Well, Amperage in a golf cart is like the gas tank in your car. It will determine how far you can travel on a single charge in an electric Golf Car. The more amperage in a battery pack, the further you can drive before having to charge. Click here to learn how ...
What is the relationship between horsepower and MPG?
To get a better idea of what amperage is like in a car, let us discuss the relationship between Horsepower and MPG. Horsepower within a car determines the acceleration and power of your car . If there is no fuel in the car though, then the vehicle is not going to go anywhere. That is the importance of MPG and also how big your gas tank is in your ...
Why is it important to know the difference between golf cart batteries?
The reason understanding their differences is so important is due to the large expense of replacement batteries. By knowing their differences ahead of time, you will be able to decipher which battery pack is suitable for you when making your golf cart purchase.
Is voltage in a golf cart battery similar to horsepower?
Therefore, Voltage in a battery pack inside of an electric vehicle has to do with power. It does not have to do with fuel. Therefore, voltage in a battery pack within a golf cart will be comparable to the horsepower in a car.
How to install golf cart lights?
Step 1. Disconnect the chassis black wire from the negative battery terminal on your golf cart. Then, mount your lights on either the front bumper or top of your golf cart if your cart has a roll bar. If it does not have a roll bar, then clamping the lights to the front bumper is the next best place to install the lights. Step 2.
Why don't golf carts have lights?
By Jackson Lewis. Most golf carts do not come with lights because their primary use is for the day on golf courses. A lot of people have begun using golf carts to get around large areas at work and at homes with large yards.
Do you need a mechanic to install lights on a golf cart?
If you use your golf cart at night for transportation, you should install lights to help you see where you are driving. You do not need to hire a mechanic to install lights on your golf cart. You can install lights on your cart in an afternoon.
What are the lights on a golf cart?
From headlamps to more decorative lighting options, lights are a must-have accessory for your golf carts. Light kits for golf carts fit into one of two categories, namely, non-street legal kits and street-legal kits. How you decide to use your cart for transportation will determine which of the two varieties will be best suited to you and your needs.
What is a non street legal lighting kit for golf carts?
Non-street legal lighting kits for golf carts are generally great for driving around a campsite or around your property, around your community -particularly if your community is a golf cart community.
How much does a G14 light cost?
The Yamaha G14-G22 non-street and street-legal light kits are made for the Yamaha G14, G16, G19, and G22 models. Both the LED and Halogen options of the non-street legal light kit averages up to $300 in cost, and the Yamaha G14-G22 street-legal (LED and Halogen) light kit averages up to $400.
How much does a non street light kit cost?
As expected, the non-street light kits is more affordable than the street-legal option. The Club Car Precedent models have a non-street legal light kit that can cost up to $300 and the street-legal kit options can cost an average of up to $390.
Do you need a street legal golf cart?
If you need to (or usually do) use your cart for public road travel, then you are likely to need a street-legal kit . Of course, the opposite is true if you only use your cart within the confines of your own property or a private golf cart friendly neighborhood.
Do LED lights burn more energy?
LED lights tend to burn brighter, be more energy-efficient, and have a longer lifespan. Of course, the increased energy efficiency is a great feature for the batteries as this means it takes less energy to run these lights. Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, may prove to be less energy efficient. Consequently, they are likely to place ...
Do you have to install a light kit on a cart?
In addition to the standard headlights and backlights, there are also other options for the inside, outside, and underside of your cart. So, be sure to consider all your options in that regard. Of course, after purchasing your light kit, you will have to install it.