If your golf cart is working on a Brushless DC or AC motor, you will not be going anywhere without a speed controller. When there is no controller, it means battery drainage is at its peak, as motors can operate independently at their high speed, which increases stress on the mechanical and electrical components.
Is it dangerous to ride a golf cart with a speed controller?
Be very careful when messing with the controller settings, any small mistake can make your golf cart dangerous to ride. Before you program your new speed controller, you must first decide the best speed controller for your vehicle. This choice can be based on numerous factors, and should begin with your motor type.
How does a club car golf cart speed controller work?
The speed controller helps the rider adjust the current going to the golf cart motor, therefore adjusting the speed. This adjustment is performed by modulating voltage by the controller such that the user has full control over their club car golf cart. How to Test a Club Car Golf Cart Speed Controller?
What happens if there is no voltage on a golf cart controller?
If there is no voltage, the controller is bad and must be replaced. It's important to remember that if you are not fully confident in the work you are trying to perform on your E-Z-GO golf cart, consult with your local E-Z-GO dealer to be sure your work gets done properly.
What happens if you don’t use your golf cart?
But usage is not the only factor, controllers and the Club Car parts may also degrade in case of non-usage. For example, if a golf cart is left for no use for a longer period, then capacitors used in the golf cart controller tends to dry up which leads to a malfunction of the controller internally.
Does a golf cart need a speed sensor?
A golf cart motor speed sensor is not needed with DC series wound motors since they do not utilize many features of separately excited shunt wound motors, such as regenerative (regen) braking or roll away protection. Most, but not all, DC powered separately excited motors have a golf cart motor speed sensor.
How do you bypass a golf cart controller?
1:594:09So let's just go ahead and bypass the solenoid by putting one alligator clip on that bolt.MoreSo let's just go ahead and bypass the solenoid by putting one alligator clip on that bolt.
What is the purpose of a speed sensor on a golf cart?
A golf cart speed sensor interprets the rpm of the motor and passes on this detail to a speed controller present in the golf cart. This helps to keep control over several motor functions including roll-away protection and regenerative braking.
How do you take a speed limiter off a golf cart?
0:040:46So the farther you bend that normally the faster it goes and then that's it basically when you wantMoreSo the farther you bend that normally the faster it goes and then that's it basically when you want to return your heart you just bend that back down and go back to normal speed.
What does a golf cart controller do?
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.
Can you make a electric golf cart go faster?
Simply put, most types of golf carts are designed to work with a range of different batteries. A new battery will increase a golf cart's motor output. The result of the motor output increase is higher speed. Purchasing new batteries with a higher voltage maximum will increase your golf cart's speed dramatically.
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 do you test a speed controller on a golf cart?
How to Test a Club Car Golf Cart Speed Controller? The simplest test to ascertain your golf cart controller's performance is to to watch whether it runs when the batteries are fully charged with a slight push of the pedal. If you hear a distinct clicking noise, then your golf cart is running correctly.
How do you adjust the speed on a golf cart?
Tighten the governor spring located in the engine of most golf carts to adjust your cart's top speed. 90% of EZ Go Carts have simple springs which limit the speed of the engine. To raise the top speed of your golf cart, all you need to do is locate this spring and tighten it slightly.
What does removing the governor do?
Removing the governor will increase the maximum rpm of the engine, but the internal parts of the Predator 212 are designed for 3600 rpm. Generally, this isn't an issue with just the governor removal, the internal parts can usually withstand 5000 rpm without breaking apart (unless you go full throttle for too long).
How do I turn off speed governor?
0:102:00Up. So go to program vehicle strategy tune and then it'll ask you to turn the car on press ContinueMoreUp. So go to program vehicle strategy tune and then it'll ask you to turn the car on press Continue turn the car off press Continue remember that's not starting the car just turning it to ignition.
How do you make a gas golf cart go faster?
Increase the RPM An increase in the input shaft rpm for all differential ratios will produce a higher speed. For a gas golf cart, other than adjusting the governor, the speed may be enhanced by replacing the engine with a higher rpm output model.
How to tell if your cart controller is failing?
2. Sudden and Unexpected Slowing. The most common symptom that your cart’s controller is failing is sudden and unexpected slowing while you are driving. This issue occurs when your cart suddenly starts to lose power even when you have your pedal down as far as it can go – and can be rather frustrating and upsetting.
Why is a golf cart controller important?
This step is critical because it ensures that your cart remains strong and secure without running into any issues. In most cases, this process is one that your controller can handle easily without suffering ...
Why is it important to slow down a golf cart?
Just as importantly, the controller will distribute more power if a cart needs it. Typically, this occurs if the cart is going downhill or when you accelerate it.
What is a golf cart controller?
The golf cart controller is part of what is known as the speed sensor. This part of your cart helps to interpret the speed of your motor and passes this information to the controller of your cart. The cart then helps to keep your cart running smoothly and avoid the kinds of speed interruptions that can be frustrating and hard to manage.
What is the most important part of a golf cart?
And one of the most important of these parts is likely the speed controller . This item is available on all types of golf carts and provides high-quality speed control that keeps your cart from going too fast or too slow.
Why is my cart slow?
It may believe that a lower electrical surge means that the cart should drive slower.
What happens if the battery is higher than the solenoid?
But if the battery is higher than the solenoid by at least three volts, there may be a fault resistor in your cart that may require you to replace it to manage your controller. By contrast, if the speed controller and the negative probe connection shows no voltage, your speed controller is at fault.
How does a golf cart speed controller work?
The golf cart's speed controller sends its current and battery voltage to its motor. This entire process depends on your golf cart's input device, which includes its throttle. That's how the golf cart's speed controller allows you to operate its acceleration rate, as well as its deceleration rate.
Why replace club car speed controller?
There are several reasons why you might want to replace or repair your Club Car speed controller, including customization of Club Car, adjustment or upgrade of the motor, or upgrading Club Car controller to better fit your needs.
Why is a speed controller important?
Why Club Car Speed Controllers are Important. The basic function of a speed controller is, as the name implies, to control and manage the cart's speed. If your golf cart is working on a Brushless DC or AC motor, you will not be going anywhere without a speed controller.
How to control a cart's speed?
In addition to controlling the cart’s speed, there are a few other functions that speed controllers can offer. Limit the current to the motor to protect both engine and controller in case of overloading. Determine the battery current so that battery is protected from excessive discharging. Monitor battery health and charge.
What does it mean when there is no controller?
When there is no controller, it means battery drainage is at its peak, as motors can operate independently at their high speed, which increases stress on the mechanical and electrical components. A speed controller notes the battery voltage and current to the motor based on operator input types like the throttle, twist grip, or pedal force.
Is a speed controller always fully understood?
Even though it is one of the essential parts of any electric vehicle, the speed controller is not always completely understood. Here's everything you should know about Club Car's speed controller and its adjustment.
Can you program a speed controller yourself?
There are many other features available while programming the controller yourself. Most modern speed controllers are easy to program by a computer or a handheld programmer. This allows users to manage various controller settings and enables you to tune the controller's performance to match with the motor.
How to remove speed limiter from golf cart?
How do you remove a speed limiter from a golf cart? Locate the golf cart's governor; you can find the governor by tracing the thickest cable running from the gas pedal. This cable runs through the governor on its way to the carburetor. Use a screwdriver—or in some cases a wrench—to loosen the tension on the governor's springs. ...
How to adjust top speed on golf cart?
Steps. Tighten the governor spring located in the engine of most golf carts to adjust your cart's top speed. Lift up the seat. Remove the screws from the black plastic cover at the rear of the seat. Follow the thickest cable coming from the gas pedal until your find a small spring wrapped around a metal rod.
How to make a golf cart ride smoother?
How do I make my golf cart ride smoother? Springs are what give the deflection on the suspension, shocks are there to slow the deflection. To get a smooth ride use tall sidewall tires with low air pressure, springs that will hold the weight but not stiff, then the shocks can smooth the bounce of the springs.
Why is my golf cart speed controller not working?
There are many reasons behind a speed controller malfunction. The most common problem that happens in the controller has aged due to infrequent use. These are just some of the issues that could be affecting your vehicle's acceleration. If you have trouble finding the issue of your golf cart accelerator, don't be afraid to take it to the mechanic.
What happens if your golf cart doesn't accelerate?
Bad Solenoid. If your golf cart does not accelerate, there is a possibility of the damaged solenoid. The solenoid is basically an electrical switch that enables the battery's flow from the battery into the motor. Check out the signs of the bad solenoid.
How does a golf cart solenoid work?
The golf cart speed controller and solenoid are both controlled by the accelerator. The pedal is connected to the potentiometer. That means when you are pressing the pedal for acceleration, you are actually going through the potentiometer by pushing a rod. The potentiometer works as a communicator and tells the speed controller how much voltage it ...
Why is my golf cart not accelerating?
When your electric golf cart does not accelerate, the first thing you need to keep in mind is that it is not a regular vehicle like your car . That's why the methods and solutions you use to get your car to start are not the same as the solutions you can apply to your cart.
What is a speed controller?
Speed Controller. The speed controller manages the speed of the golf cart. There are some situations when the speed controller fails, but the cart will still start and move ahead. But, as it runs for a while, it will start malfunctioning.
Where is the controller on a golf cart?
This controller is typically located under the seat on your golf cart. Determining if the controller is bad is a relatively simple procedure. Lift the golf cart's bench seat to gain access to the engine. Locate the governor on the engine. This is the small “T”-shaped metallic rod around the top of the golf cart’s motor.
How fast does a golf cart go?
The speed controller, also known as the “governor,” generally keeps a golf cart from exceeding 10 miles per hour.
How to find the governor on a golf cart?
Locate the governor on the engine. This is the small “T”-shaped metallic rod around the top of the golf cart’s motor. Look for the carburetor in the engine. The carburetor is the cylindrical shaped object in the engine that has valves pointing up and out of the motor. Pull on the governor closer to the carburetor.
What happens if the governor is not moving?
Pull on the governor closer to the carburetor. If the governor is moving with no resistance, then it is bad and needs to be replaced. If the governor cannot be moved, it is also bad and needs to be replaced. Charles Poole holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Appalachian State University.
How to troubleshoot a golf cart?
GOLF CART CONTROLLER TROUBLESHOOTING 1 Make sure it isn’t your batteries! If your batteries are old and dead, then your golf cart will not operate. Charge them fully first and attempt to drive the unit. 2 If your batteries are fully charged and your vehicle won’t run, when you press on the accelerator pedal, then you should hear a clicking sound which will indicate the solenoid is engaging and allowing power to flow to your controller. If there is no distinct clicking sound, then check your solenoid. Also, it could have to do with something in the accelerator device as well. But, we can eliminate the controller as being defective. 3 If your batteries are fully charged and you get a clicking sound ensuring the solenoid is allowing power to flow to the controller, then you can begin inspecting the controller 4 Check all the wiring and signs of disconnection or damage. Also, most controllers will have an operation light that will begin to flash a morse code that will unveil the secrets of the problem. If that is the case and all of the above have been eliminated, then you are getting closer to determining it is the controller.
Why won't my club car run?
Due to their expense, you want to be sure your controller is the major reason and problem with your Club Car. First off, if your controller is bad, your vehicle won’t run. However, there are other reasons that could lead to your vehicle not running. Here are a few quick troubleshooting tips.
What does it mean when there is no controller?
When there is no controller, it means batteries drainage is at its peak, as motors can operate independently at their high speed, which would gradually increase stress on the mechanical and electrical components and let motors and batteries degrade quicker.
What is the function of a motor controller?
Following are some of the main functions of the controller, irrespective of the type of the motor: Limiting the current to the motor so that both motor and the controller could be protected in case of motor stalling and overloading.
Does a golf cart controller degrade?
As a controller in the Club Car or golf cart is made up of electrical and electronics components, it degrades gradually over time with the frequency of usage. But usage is not the only factor, controllers and the Club Car parts may also degrade in case of non-usage. For example, if a golf cart is left for no use for a longer period, ...
Can you trust aftermarket controllers?
price difference. Generally, Club Cars are made with highly precise and quality ensured engineering practices, so you can easily trust the aftermarket controllers if you don’t want to spend much.
Do golf carts have solenoids?
In the old days of golf carts, a series of solenoids were used which was not an efficient means for battery management. As today’s technology does not use full-on DC Motors, instead there exist Brushless DC Motors and AC Motors by way of which operators have the option to drive the Club Car at varying speeds.
How to check if golf cart battery is working?
Connect a voltmeter to the negative terminal on the battery. Connect the voltmeter to the M terminal on the controller. Push down on the golf cart pedal. A clicking sound should be heard. The batteries show a full charge. You must determine whether your golf cart batteries are working properly or not.
How to tell if a golf cart is running?
The simplest test to ascertain your golf cart controller’s performance is to to watch whether it runs when the batteries are fully charged with a slight push of the pedal. If you hear a distinct clicking noise, then your golf cart is running correctly. If there is no clicking sound, then the solenoid is not allowing power to flow to your controller.
Why is my cart not starting?
If your cart doesn’t start even when your batteries are full, and no clicking sound comes from the solenoid, it means your solenoid is defective or accelerator. If you hear a distinct clicking sound, this means that there is nothing wrong with solenoid as it allows power to flow to the controller.
What is the third pin on a club car charger?
There are several sources for a specific club car charger, and you need to find out what suits your cart best. For the external charger, it is the third pin that is connected with the negative of the charger or 3-pin plug.
How to reset club car OBC?
The best way to reset your club car OBC is first to switch off the key switch. Then you put your cart to neutral and then put tow run switch to the low position. After this, you should disconnect the negative of the battery terminal from the battery set.
What is a speed controller?
The speed controller helps the rider adjust the current going to the golf cart motor, therefore adjusting the speed. This adjustment is performed by modulating voltage by the controller such that the user has full control over their club car golf cart.
What voltage should a 48V club car battery be?
For your 48 volt club car all batteries should read 9.3v so as to give the pack its optimal performance. However, if any one or more batteries give a reading below 7.0v and the same differs much more than the standard tolerable limit of 0.5v against other batteries in the pack, then such batteries are stated to be bad.
Flip the Maintenance Switch
Both types of E-Z-GO controllers have a maintenance switch which should be flipped when servicing or troubleshooting. The switch is under the seat and should be changed to "Tow-maintenance" mode.
Reconnect the Battery Cable
Disconnect the black battery cable (negative) from the battery, open the cover to the speed controller and then reconnect the negative battery cable.
Inspect Wires and Check Voltage
Inspect all wires to ensure that they are attached and well connected, there are no breaks, corrosion or interference with the wires. Take the reading of the battery voltage by connecting the positive and negative probes to the battery. Write down the voltage reading.
Test the Solenoid
Place the positive probe on the solenoid post that is closest to the battery. The reading should be equal to battery's voltage. If not, there is a wiring issue in the solenoid. Connect the positive probe to the other post and take a reading.
Check Power Output From the Controller
Connect the negative probe to the controller's M terminal and positive probe to the B+ terminal. Press the accelerator and watch to see if the voltage increases. It should increase from a reading of 0 to the full voltage of the battery. If the motor is not turning, the problem may be in the directional switch or motor.
Next Steps
It's important to remember that if you are not fully confident in the work you are trying to perform on your E-Z-GO golf cart, consult with your local E-Z-GO dealer to be sure your work gets done properly.
About the Author
Steve Smith has published hundreds of articles on a wide range of topics, including cars, travel, lifestyle, business, golf, weddings and careers. His articles, features and news stories have appeared in newspapers, consumer magazines and on various websites, including Trails.com and eHow.com.
Speed Controller Functions
- In addition to controlling the vehicles speed, there are a few other functions that speed controllers can offer, regardless of the motor you are using. 1. Battery Current Limiter:This protects the battery from excessive discharge. This also pulls back the battery current as it depletes, which …
Programming Your Speed Controller
- Beyond the already mentioned functions of the speed controller, there are many other features available when programming the controller yourself. If you have a computer or a handheld programmer, then changing the settings on your speed controller is super easy. Easily access settings for your controller in order to customize the operation. You can even tune the performa…
Determining Your Power Rating Needed
- After you have figured out your motor type and battery voltage, consider looking deeper into the current and power rating of your speed controller. This will be based on multiple aspects including the weight and size of the vehicle (load included), your average vehicle speed, and the environment in which your vehicle will be riding in. The power provided by the controller will obvi…
Choosing The Right Controller
- Like I previously stated, you need to make sure you know what your vehicle is going to be used for! If your golf cart is going to be used for transporting 2 people or light loads on flat ground, and smooth roads, a small 200-300 AMP controller with a 2-5 horsepower motor should adequately perform. You’ll find that most vehicles in this category run with 24 to 36 Volt battery packs. If yo…
Final Thoughts
- As you can see, the speed controller is the center of your golf cart, and most of the other modern day electric vehicles. Making sure you choose the right controller for your new custom cart makes all the difference in the vehicle running safely, and smoothly. When upgrading your controller for your golf cart, we suggest working with manufacturers that have spent the time building controll…