Custom golf cart

[Oldskool 6,644]

8 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Are you thinking about "reactivating" the rear drum brakes?

Yes I am. I'm also thinking of reactivating the parking brake as well.

[Oldskool 6,644]

@slim67 I just snagged a freebie Yamaha cart today.

 

It's electric though.

 

Do you know the range of one of these on a full charge?

 

[ebinmaine 67,497]

1 minute ago, Oldskool said:

@slim67 I just snagged a freebie Yamaha cart today.

 

It's electric though.

 

Do you know the range of one of these on a full charge?

 

Usually until just about the time that the battery is dead...

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 minute ago, Oldskool said:

 

 

[slim67 2,735]

Good one Eric. I think they are supposed to last the equivalent of a couple rounds of golf but I only messed with gas. Performance wise ,you can do quite a bit with an electric. Be prepared to spend some money on batteries. That’s probably why it’s free but a gas conversion would be right up your alley. I don’t mind diagnosing electrical problems but some of the threads I read on the GC forums were nightmarish. Yamah makes the best golf cart IMO.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

8 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

Do you know the range of one of these on a full charge?

I have an electric one as well, with 6 batteries. These things will outlast you. 

 

I have worked all day, driving back into the woods, back and forth for 10+ hours... it still has juice.

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

I should add... it also depends on how hard you are working the motor, what speed you are running, etc...

 

I think... if you are running full speed for 3 hours, it would drain the batteries...

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

OH... and also depends on the amp/hours of the batteries... (they have ALL kinds...)

 

Don

[slim67 2,735]

Just now, Snoopy11 said:

OH... and also depends on the amp/hours of the batteries... (they have ALL kinds...)

 

Don

Trojans seem to be the brand of choice for a lot of the electric GC guys. I’ve seen some nicely done clone conversions on electric carts so I’d probably lean that way. Especially with all the clone performance stuff out there.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Trojan and Dakota, main groups...

 

There are some other performance ones out there though!

 

Don

[Oldskool 6,644]

13 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

I have an electric one as well, with 6 batteries. These things will outlast you. 

 

I have worked all day, driving back into the woods, back and forth for 10+ hours... it still has juice.

 

Don

10hrs is quite a while. The travel time I'm thinking would be 45min then stop a bit then 45min back. Quite possibly a 10min ride here and there in-between 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Just now, Oldskool said:

10hrs is quite a while. The travel time I'm thinking would be 45min then stop a bit then 45min back. Quite possibly a 10min ride here and there in-between 

I 'tink you will be pretty happy with an E-cart in that case.

 

Just keep in mind... these things take a while to charge... and need to be charged in a well-ventilated area. 

 

Don

[Oldskool 6,644]

2 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

Trojan and Dakota, main groups...

 

There are some other performance ones out there though!

 

Don

Is there any reason I couldn't swap the 6-6volt batteries for 3-12volt batteries?

I assume it may effect run time?

 

The thing is I picked it up with the thought of flipping it.

WELLLLLL the wife claimed it.

We all know what's happens when THAT happens. lol

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Just now, Oldskool said:

Is there any reason I couldn't swap the 6-6volt batteries for 3-12volt batteries?

I assume it may effect run time?

 

The thing is I picked it up with the thought of flipping it.

WELLLLLL the wife claimed it.

We all know what's happens when THAT happens. lol

I... would not go that route if runtime is your concern. Your run time will indeed be effected. I realize that it would cut down on cost immensely... but if you compare the amp-hours of the 6-6 batteries to 3-12 volt deep cycle batteries, the 6-6 batteries will have QUITE a bit more amp-hours when added up together. 

 

Good question though.... something to consider. 

 

Don

[Oldskool 6,644]

I actually was lucky enought to get the charger with it 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

If you aren't aware, when you charge these batteries, you will have a very VERY strong smell of rotten eggs. This is normal. It is gas, so thus why it needs to be in a ventilated area. If you have gas detectors in the vicinity, they will go off. 

 

The gas is a little flammable, and can cause breathing problems if you are enclosed with the gas. Just an important note. 

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

2 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

I actually was lucky enought to get the charger with it

Yep, that looks almost identical to the one I have. It has an internal fuse... so if that ever blows... it has to be opened up by professionals. 

 

Not the cheapest thing ever... 

 

Don 

[Oldskool 6,644]

2 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

I... would not go that route if runtime is your concern. Your run time will indeed be effected. I realize that it would cut down on cost immensely... but if you compare the amp-hours of the 6-6 batteries to 3-12 volt deep cycle batteries, the 6-6 batteries will have QUITE a bit more amp-hours when added up together. 

 

Good question though.... something to consider. 

 

Don

I know this is a stretch and I know nothing of what I'm asking but here it goes.

 

If 12v deep cycle batteries were available could 6 be used? 3 sets of 2 in tandem then the 3 sets wired in series?

Or is that a hydrogen bomb waiting to happen???

[SylvanLakeWH 25,557]

21 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

Is there any reason I couldn't swap the 6-6volt batteries for 3-12volt batteries?

I assume it may effect run time?

Yes you can. 36 v is 36 v whether 6x6 or 3x12…  

 

Yes it could effect run time… Amp hours are the key…

 

12 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

If 12v deep cycle batteries were available could 6 be used? 3 sets of 2 in tandem then the 3 sets wired in series?

No expert, but I think You would wire 3 in series, another 3 in series, then those two banks in parallel. That keeps it 36 volts. That is how my E 141 was originally wired. I bought it and continue to run it with three 12 v batteries in series (instead of 6) for cost reasons…

 

A lot of excellent tutorials online… I would check them out before I changed up anything…

Edited December 8, 2021 by SylvanLakeWH

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Just now, Oldskool said:

I know this is a stretch and I know nothing of what I'm asking but here it goes.

 

If 12v deep cycle batteries were available could 6 be used? 3 sets of 2 in tandem then the 3 sets wired in series?

Or is that a hydrogen bomb waiting to happen???

The good thing about me is... I also have solar power experience, so my understanding of batteries is pretty good. 

 

Your charger will cook automotive or marine deep cycle batteries if used in 2-3 parallel paring sets. 

 

If you wired 6-12 volt batteries positive to negative, you would have 72 volts. No, it wouldn't be a hydrogen bomb... yes it would blow your electronics and motor.

 

Using 6 volt batteries accomplishes the goal of getting 36 volts, and also achieving a amp-hour relationship that you will never achieve with parallel paring 12 volt.

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

4 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

No expert, but I think You would wire 3 in series, another 3 in series, then those two banks in parallel. That keeps it 36 volts. That is how my E 141 was originally wired. I bought it and continue to run it with three 12 v batteries in series (instead of 6) for cost reasons…

You are correct. I do think the amp-hour relationships for the 12 v batteries would still be less than 6-6 volt batteries in parallel. 

 

Don

[Oldskool 6,644]

I'm thinking when the wife sees the cost of 6 good 6volt batteries she is going to relinquish ownership and opt to flip it.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

My 6 volt batteries are 225 ah each... I have a couple GIANT deep cycle 12 volt marine deep cycle batteries that are around the same ah, but they literally eclipse the 6 volt batteries. 

 

I have Trojan Motive brand.

 

Don

Edited December 8, 2021 by Snoopy11

[Snoopy11 5,714]

3 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

I'm thinking when the wife sees the cost of 6 good 6volt batteries she is going to relinquish ownership and opt to flip it.

$1,200-$1,700....

 

Like I said, you could do the 3-12 volt battery idea... but runtime is going to be very limited... and your charger will fry them...

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Trojan T-105

 

This is exactly what I bought...

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/382663605343?epid=4033697363&hash=item5918873c5f:g:JNoAAOSwHGxcDF6P

 

Don

[Oldskool 6,644]

5 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

$1,200-$1,700....

 

Like I said, you could do the 3-12 volt battery idea... but runtime is going to be very limited... and your charger will fry them...

 

Don

If she could get four 1hr trips out of the 12v batteries before charging then it may be worth it. Then I guess I would have to unhook the batteries to charge them properly.