Full Answer
How do electric golf carts 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 many volts does an electric golf cart have?
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.
Why won’t my club car golf cart move?
A Club Car golf cart will not move if power from the battery pack is not reaching the motor. Faulty parts such as the solenoid, OBC and wiring can also cause a golf cart to not move. There are several reasons why your club car won’t move: Batteries; in a pack of 3 or 4 batteries even if one fails, the required power won’t reach the motor
How does a golf cart solenoid work?
After turning on the solenoid, it starts to supply power. When you will push the pedal the cart will get power and it will speed up, and when you will release the pedal the cart will speed down. This is how it works.
What would cause an electric golf cart not to move?
Solenoid Wear When there is a disruption in the flow of the electrical current, your cart will not operate. A common reason for current disruption is solenoid wear. Each time the solenoid activates as you press down on the gas pedal, the solenoid compounds down onto a thin metal contact plate.
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!
Why won't my golf cart go forward or backwards?
The problem could be with either the Run/Tow switch or Forward/Reverse switch or both. Check the switches to ensure that they aren't stuck midway. If they are, getting them released should help. However, if they show signs of wear and tear, you must get them replaced.
How do you fix a golf cart that won't move?
When the cart won't move, you have to be sure that the batteries are sending sufficient power to the circuit. You must check the fuse. Use the voltmeter to check the voltage at the key switch. In a cart with batteries rated at 48V, it must show 48V at the key switch.
What does a solenoid do on an electric golf cart?
The solenoid is the small unit that rides on top of the starter in the engine. The solenoid brings power from the battery to the rest of your golf cart. With the use of an electric charge, a solenoid may generate a magnetic field.
Does an electric golf cart have a voltage regulator?
A golf car voltage regulator is one of the most important parts of a golf cart. The voltage regulator helps to limit and regulate the power that is sent to a golf cart battery for its recharge. When you start your golf cart, the starter generator performs the role of a starter motor and causes the engine to start.
Where is tow switch on golf cart?
The tow run switches are typically found inside the battery compartment of the cart in plain sight.
Do all electric golf cart motors have a reset button?
Electric golf cart motors have a reset button on their chassis which is designed to put your motor back into its original factory state. While it doesn't repair damage that may have occurred to the motor over the years, obviously, it does help to overturn any changes to the operation which may have occurred.
Why does my golf cart go forward in reverse?
The simplest and most likely cause of reverse problems in a golf cart is a malfunctioning F&R switch. This switch – which stands for forward and reverse – is common on most golf carts and makes it easier for you to go forward and in reverse without requiring a lot of complex machinery or levers.
Why does my golf cart click but not move?
A Club Car golf cart can start clicking but not move, due to dust accumulating inside the battery ports. Opening the battery ports and checking whether there is any dust accumulation can tell you if this is the case. Cleaning it thoroughly with a cloth can resolve the problem.
Where are the fuses on a Club Car golf cart?
In a 1997 Club Car, the fuse is located in the electrical components black box that is present near the battery. On the other hand, in a 2005 Club Car Precedent, the fuse is connected to a blue wire under the golf cart seat.
Where is the reset button on EZGO golf cart?
Locate the motor Remove the panel so the electric motor is visible. Electric motors usually include reset buttons that can perform similar to circuit breakers. Look in the area where several electrical wires enter the motor and locate a small red button. This is the reset button.
How are electric golf carts 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 are golf cart batteries wired?
The main positive lead for the battery bank coming from the frame of the cart will connect to the positive terminal of the first battery in the bank. Then, connect a cable from the negative terminal of the first battery to the positive terminal of the subsequent battery in the bank.
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 does a golf cart motor controller work?
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.
Why should I upgrade to disc brakes?
Your Yamaha, E-Z-GO, or Club Car golf cart was designed with drum brakes, because they can handle any application of your stock golf cart.
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 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 ...
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 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.
What is a speed controller?
The speed controller is essentially a variable resistor. You have them in most electrical systems. They’re a pretty simple concept. Depending on some type of input, the variable resistor will consume different amounts of energy. In the case of your golf cart speed controller, the input is the signal from your accelerator pedal.
What is a speed controller?
The speed controller measures out current and battery voltage to the electric vehicles' motor to raise and lower speed on the golf cart. It monitors the state of the motor and generates signals to...
What is a golf cart?
Golf carts are also known as golf cars. The term "cart", in its purest sense, refers to a vehicle that does not travel under its own power. Golf cars, however, are most commonly referred to as golf...
When did golf carts evolve?
Club Car Golf carts have evolved many times since 1975, and although the basic electrical design has stayed close to the same, there are small differences. These differences are important when troubleshooting your cart.
How does a golf cart battery work?
The battery pack is the thing that provides the energy to make the golf cart going. Battery basically works by changing the chemical energy into electrical energy. Different types of batteries use different types of chemicals. But most of the parts are the same.
How many volts does a golf cart battery pack have?
The battery pack is a really basic thing. It can be 6-48 volts in a golf cart. Well, we will discuss all the facts about how a golf cart motor works and what components are connected with it.
What is the solenoid on a golf cart?
For that reason, an electric golf cart has a speed controller and a solenoid. In a simple word, a solenoid is a switch but technically it is a relay. That helps to use one circuit to control another.
How does an electric golf cart work?
Basically, an electric golf cart works in this process, firstly the electric power goes from the battery to the motor, and then the motor runs the wheels of the cart. The whole thing is about when and what power should be delivered. The battery pack is a really basic thing. It can be 6-48 volts in a golf cart.
Why does a solenoid help with speed?
So, a solenoid helps to control the speed, right? When you will push the pedal down, your cart will speed up because the solenoid will send more energy to the motor through the circuits. When you will release the pedal the cart will be slow down because the solenoid does so.
How to make a golf cart faster?
How can I make my golf cart faster? 1 Adding more torque to your golf cart 2 You may upgrade your golf cart motor 3 Improving the high-speed controller of your golf cart 4 Adding the better golf cart tires 5 Using the high-powered golf cart batteries 6 Try to make your golf cart lighter in weight
What is an inductive throttle sensor?
That means when you are pushing the pedal for acceleration, that time you are actually through the inductive sensor coil by pushing a rod. The sensor basically says to the speed controller that how much voltage has to consume.
Why Won’t My Club Car Move?
A Club Car golf cart will not move if power from the battery pack is not reaching the motor. Faulty parts such as the solenoid, OBC and wiring can also cause a golf cart to not move.
How to bypass OBC?
The way to bypass the OBC is to run the 10ga black negative wire from the charger receptacle to the negative battery post (designated controller B-).
What voltage should a 36V battery be?
You must check your battery pack thoroughly. A 36V battery must show 38.3V on a full charge, while e a 48V battery reading must be 50.3V. If you are not getting these readings, change your batteries.
How to check if a controller is corroded?
To check the controller, these are the steps: You will need a digital voltmeter (DVM) to check the 16-pin connector at the controller. Lift one wheel of the cart on a jack. The black probe from the DVM should be on the pack negative post.
What happens if you get uniform voltage across pins?
If you get uniform voltage across these pins then the controller is getting the correct power from the battery.
What happens if one of the batteries fails?
So, if one of the batteries were to fail then the movement in that direction will be curtailed. Checking individual batteries is very important to avoid such a situation. Controller: The design and functioning of the controller are similarly divided into forward and reverse movements of the golf cart.
Why won't my club car golf cart go forward?
If the power from the battery pack is not reaching the motor , then the Club Car golf cart won’t move forward or reverse.
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.
What Makes for Great Tires?
The quality of rubber and beads (the steel belt in the tire) are going to directly affect the quality of your golf cart tire. We recommend choosing a tire from a trusted manufacturer that has dedicated their business to providing those with the best golf cart tires. Below we list some of our favorite companies that make golf cart tires.
What are knobby tires?
Knobby Tires – Knobby tires can come in hundreds of different tread patterns. Most of the differences are very slight, but the shapes of the knobs will help you depending on the terrain they are being used in. Sand Tires – These are going to be a little different from your standard golf cart tires.
What does it mean when a golf cart tire is DOT approved?
DOT Approved. If your tires are DOT approved, this means that they are certified through the Department of Transportation. The treads are designed for road use, and will come in sizes such as 8”, 10”, 12” and 14” for your golf cart wheels.
How much air pressure does a golf cart tire need?
Generally golf cart tires run around 20-22 PSI. This of course will change depending on the tire and the amount of air that it’s rated for.
How long do golf cart tires last?
Depending on the amount of use they get, and how hard you ride, tires will last anywhere between 2 and 4 years.
Why are golf cart wheels so popular?
Golf cart wheels are becoming more popular in the custom golf cart industry, and for good reason. They make the golf cart stand out, and add a level of awesomeness that turns heads when it rolls down the road.
What is sand tire?
Sand Tires – These are going to be a little different from your standard golf cart tires. The tread on sand tires are lateral, creating “flaps” in your tire. Sand tends to slip, so the odd design of these tires help to add traction so you aren’t slipping in moving sand.