[AT] OK, oddball question...

Tue Jul 16 04:40:17 PDT 2019

The problem with trying to operate while charging (presumably, charging off
a 36-volt alternator driven by a small engine) is that, basically, your
alternator is supplying some/most/all of the cart's electric motor
current.  How much depends on the batteries' state of discharge as well as
the demands of the cart, so it's a pretty big variable.  But the problem is
that you risk overloading the alternator.  Now if it is sized appropriately
then you minimize or eliminate the problem.

Have you ever put a tractor battery (obligatory tractor reference) on a
small, say 10-amp charger, forget to disconnect it later, and try to start
the tractor?  Well OK at least *I* have made that mistake.  What happens?
Even with a pretty well-charged battery, the internal circuit breaker in
the charger trips.  That is pretty much analagous to what I'm talking about
above.

SO

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 10:57 PM Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Some good stuff here... The batteries are a matched set just under 2 years
> old. None have ever been low on water or even discharged very badly or sat
> for any length time while low on charge.  I've spent a fair amount of time
> on cart sites but they had not discussed these particular things.
> Stephen, I had read on one of those sites that you should never use a
> frame ground for anything for the reason you said.
> I don't actually have any power drawing accessory items installed on the
> cart, not even a backup alarm. If it had one somebody took it off. I have
> an older 3 wheel EZ-Go that we are not currently using that has one. It is
> "in-line" for a set of batteries and a general go-through but it is low
> priority and is so far back in line it may be in the next county...  :-)
> One of those kind of projects... "Maybe someday if I get to it but no big
> deal if I can't.
> Even my horn on the Club Car isn't electric, it is an above average chrome
> bike horn with a squeeze bulb.
> I do have a set of lights for it but not installed yet. They are all LED
> so low power needs. Still, I think the voltage reducer Bo mentioned is the
> best answer for tapping 12 volts. I have considered several times
> (especially this week  :-)  ) putting a couple of fans in the front up
> under the roof.
> Now, my original question was really based more on being able to extend
> range especially if I am using more power than normal. You know, like
> running the air conditioner...  :-)  :-)  :-)
> My old chargers are big and heavy but I've noticed that many new cart
> chargers are quite small (and far less expensive) than the old style. I had
> considered a 36 volt alternator regulator like Cecil mentioned but I think
> I might consider just charging one separate 12 volt deep cycle with the
> built in regulator in the alternator and then using one of those small new
> chargers powered by one of several power inverters I have. I think I would
> get more use out of a 12 volt system for other things since most camping
> stuff is 12 volt. Sometimes when travelling you end up some place
> completely without power...
> Does anybody know if it would be problematic for any reason to operate a
> golf cart while it is charging?
>
>
> .
>
> On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 1:41 PM Spencer Yost <spencer at rdfarms.com> wrote:
>
>> I second Bo’s idea....
>>
>> Every other idea would be a nearly as expensive or more so, add
>> unnecessary complication and create additional work that detracts from
>> tractor time.   I do understand that rigging something up that is original
>> and ingenious is a badge of honor.   But I suspect this is one project that
>> screams for a plug-n-play solution.
>>
>> I’d pull out some green shims($20 bills) and install the reducer.
>>
>>
>> Spencer Yost
>>
>> On Jul 15, 2019, at 10:29 AM, Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Bo, sounds like a fine idea to me.  30 amps is a pretty decent supply.
>> Here's a direct link:
>>
>>
>> https://www.buggiesunlimited.com/golf-cart/reliance-36v-48v-12v-power-converter-(universal-fit)/13-030
>>
>>
>>
>> SO
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 10:01 AM Bo Hinch <bohinch at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> If it were me , I would use a voltage reducer like below that cost
>>> around $100.00 dollars and draws equal voltage from ALL the batteries never
>>> making any two batteries weaker than the others . I have installed many of
>>> them in my life time and years down the road , it pays off big time .Reliance
>>> 36V/48V-12V Voltage Reducer/Converter (Universal Fit) on sale now from
>>> Buggies Unlimited . Normally 174.95 , sale price is 97.95 .
>>> Just my opinion for whatever its worth .
>>> Bo Hinch in S/W louisiana watching Berry as its passing through
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 6:28 AM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi farmer:
>>>>
>>>> Batteries in parallel will try to equalize each other.  Yours, of
>>>> course, are in series.  In a series string, if one battery is discharged,
>>>> it will limit the performance of the whole string.  It will not be
>>>> recharged by the other batteries however.  That's because you're trying to
>>>> pull current from the whole string, and recharge requires a push in the
>>>> other direction.  Your idea to feed recharge to the center two batteries
>>>> will work fine *IF* you are very careful to isolate the whole thing from
>>>> the golf cart chassis. Otherwise you'll have some unintended arc welding
>>>> going on.
>>>>
>>>> SO
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Jul 14, 2019 at 10:45 PM Indiana Robinson <
>>>> robinson46176 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> One of my "old tractors" is IIRC about a 1996 Club Car 36 volt golf
>>>>> cart. With chevron tires (like tractor rears) they will get around well and
>>>>> will pull a lawn trailer about anywhere. I try to not over do it but I have
>>>>> in a pinch pulled one of my smaller tractors a very short distance or for a
>>>>> quick pull start.
>>>>> It is as I said a 36 volt one using six 6 volt deep cycle batteries.
>>>>> Now for the question... Hoping that some are better at theory etc.
>>>>> than I am. It's been a long hot day and my brain is in granny gear and I
>>>>> can't find what I want on-line. There are a number of golf cart accessories
>>>>> that operate on 12 volts like the back-up alarm, radio, lights, fan etc.
>>>>> You can pull 12 volts from any 2 adjoining batteries. I have read that you
>>>>> shouldn't draw too hard from any one pair or they will not always recharge
>>>>> evenly but apparently if those two do drop some power there is some
>>>>> balancing from the other batteries. Supposedly they try to find a common
>>>>> level with the weakest battery. (shrug)
>>>>> What I want to know  is what would be happening if I were to connect a
>>>>> 12 volt alternator powered by a very small gasoline engine to feed 12 volts
>>>>> to the center 2 batteries? Would it move to the other batteries some?
>>>>> Sometimes when we are working horse fences a lot we get might get a
>>>>> bit low on go juice when back in a back corner of the farm especially if
>>>>> running in deep snow. Not this week.  :-)
>>>>> I fed the question into my boiled brain and it came back "error 404,
>>>>> page not found"...  :-)
>>>>>
>>>>> .
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> Francis Robinson
>>>>> aka "farmer"
>>>>> Central Indiana USA
>>>>> robinson46176 at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>
>
> --
> --
>
> Francis Robinson
> aka "farmer"
> Central Indiana USA
> robinson46176 at gmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
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