ASK THE MECHANIC

ASK THE MECHANIC ASK THE MECHANIC

Q: I want to upgrade my 36-volt cart to 48-volt, what will I need to do this?

A: Going from 36v to 48v will provide you with more power and range. First things first; you would need to get 8-volt batteries as well as a 48-volt charger. Keep in mind, you also may need to change your charging port to accept a different charger receptacle. Some motors will handle the extra voltage but to be safe, I highly recommend going with a 48v rated motor and controller combo. Brands like Curtis, Navitas and Alltrax manufacture upgraded controllers and Plum Quick, D&D, and White Lightening brands offer upgraded motors. Be sure to also upgrade your solenoid to 48v as well. It's a bit of a process to get everything changed over, but it certainly will be worth it in the long run.

Q: How do I install a lithium battery in place of my leadacids?

A: There are several choices as far as upgrading your leadacids to lithium. The main choice you must make is deciding between "drop in" style lithium which is the same as replacing the individual batteries but with lithium versions now. While these are generally easier to install, you will have to wire them exactly as your replaced ones. The alternative is to go with one big pack rather than individual batteries. These types can give you extra space in your battery tray as they typically only use half the tray for installation. The manufacturer generally supplies brackets to mount the battery to and then you simply wire up your main positive and negative wires and your done for the most part. This way you eliminate the extra wires from the connection points going from one battery to the next. Either way you go, lithium is certainly an upgrade in many ways.

Q: What is the better option: on-board or off-board chargers?

A: The answer is both chargers have advantages. On-board chargers offer the convenience by always having the charger in the cart so you get more flexibility to where you can charge it with a simple extension cord. There is no charging receptacle used and the charger will have to be mounted securely in a space to which it will get enough airflow when charging. Off board chargers can be moved around and are able to be replaced much easier if in fact you need to replace a charger due to malfunctions. The good thing about off board chargers though is that they are not susceptible to being bounced around inside a cart nor exposed to the elements as much. Both have advantages over the other, but it comes down to what is most convenient for your purpose.