Is this carzy or has someone done it?

azhondarider · 10-04-2008, 12:14 AM

So this is my first posting. I just accuired a Columbia/par car electric cart. I think its a 94. I was going to convert it to gas, but since it has a brand new electric motor in it I was thinking about doing an electric drive set up where I would use a small gas engine to run some sort of generator setup to power my electric motor. I know this is complicated but I work in the field and I am a very capable fabricator so I know its possible. Just wanted to see if anyone else has ever done this??

ruredy · 10-04-2008, 07:22 AM

I have a Lincoln pipeliner welder that puts out the appropriate amount of amps needed to do this. The only problem is it weighs 1100lbs, I think you'll need some heavy duty springs.

scottyb · 10-04-2008, 07:34 AM

Long story / the short = sell the electric and buy the gas cart

Lots of people have tried various versions of his including a guy who recently burned up his motor running it directly off of a welder.......use the site search to find similar topics like ' gas conversion'

ruredy · 10-04-2008, 08:13 AM

If your wanting to do this with a small engine/generator, you need to also have batteries to store up power. from the best I can figure most carts need around 200amps dc 36v and up, to run right. A generator capable of producing that kind of power on a 100% duty cycle is going to be huge.

azhondarider · 10-04-2008, 12:09 PM

Well I work for CAT so I know we have alternators capable of putting out over 200 amps and 24 volts, but my cart is 36 volts, I could combine 2 of them to get 48 volts but then I would have to regulate it down to 36. Like you said im sure ill have to have at least one battery.

Fishing Dude · 10-04-2008, 06:47 PM

Do what you want but when you burn somthing up, blow yourself up, or build a rolling electric chair, post the video and let us all laugh how much cheeper a set of batteries would have been.

azhondarider · 10-04-2008, 11:38 PM

Im sorry I dont recall saying anything about doing anything cheap. how about when I build a cart that is different from whatever every other person is doing and it works, because Im not an idiot, and I work on multi-million dollar machines every day, Ill post a video of that! Try looking up Caterpillars newest electric drive D7E dozer and tell me I dont know what im doing you jack ***.

scottyb · 10-05-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azhondarider

Well I work for CAT so I know we have alternators capable of putting out over 200 amps and 24 volts, but my cart is 36 volts, I could combine 2 of them to get 48 volts but then I would have to regulate it down to 36. Like you said im sure ill have to have at least one battery.

First off, Name calling isn't tolerated. Secondly, welcome to BGW, I think.
Third, if one of those generators is on each 235HP turbo diesel tractor (yes, I googled D7E) then how are you going to run 2 of them on a golf cart? Just curious.

Fishing Dude · 10-05-2008, 06:20 AM

Ok here is what you need to think of was not saying it could not be done, safty is 1st concern. I do know that it can be done locamotives, and mine trucks have done it for years. They are large, heavy, heavy duty vehicles where weight, and size are not an issue.
The main advantage to me of the electric is no or low noise so putting a gas engine on the back of it to produce the power defeats the noise issue. Lets then address the issue of saving gas, or batteries would cost more to run a gen than an engine to run the cart. Now if you want to do this would be better off with ac, veri speed drive, and a 220 volt gen would be a system redesign but very do able.
As far as distance you can go on a charge if not far enough then go with a gasser.

ruredy · 10-05-2008, 06:58 AM

Just guessing but I think your cart may still be a resistor cart, jumping to 48v shouldn't be a problem. The motor can handle that. You should ask about this in the Extreme DC part of the forum, They have a better grasp on stuff like this.

10-04-2008, 12:14 AM	#1
azhondarider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19	Is this carzy or has someone done it? So this is my first posting. I just accuired a Columbia/par car electric cart. I think its a 94. I was going to convert it to gas, but since it has a brand new electric motor in it I was thinking about doing an electric drive set up where I would use a small gas engine to run some sort of generator setup to power my electric motor. I know this is complicated but I work in the field and I am a very capable fabricator so I know its possible. Just wanted to see if anyone else has ever done this??
azhondarider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19

10-04-2008, 07:22 AM	#2
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? I have a Lincoln pipeliner welder that puts out the appropriate amount of amps needed to do this. The only problem is it weighs 1100lbs, I think you'll need some heavy duty springs.

10-04-2008, 07:34 AM	#3
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,419	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? Long story / the short = sell the electric and buy the gas cart Lots of people have tried various versions of his including a guy who recently burned up his motor running it directly off of a welder.......use the site search to find similar topics like ' gas conversion'

10-04-2008, 08:13 AM	#4
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? If your wanting to do this with a small engine/generator, you need to also have batteries to store up power. from the best I can figure most carts need around 200amps dc 36v and up, to run right. A generator capable of producing that kind of power on a 100% duty cycle is going to be huge.

10-04-2008, 12:09 PM	#5
azhondarider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? Well I work for CAT so I know we have alternators capable of putting out over 200 amps and 24 volts, but my cart is 36 volts, I could combine 2 of them to get 48 volts but then I would have to regulate it down to 36. Like you said im sure ill have to have at least one battery.
azhondarider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19

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10-04-2008, 06:47 PM	#6
Fishing Dude Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Slums of Lake Erie Posts: 3,721	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? Do what you want but when you burn somthing up, blow yourself up, or build a rolling electric chair, post the video and let us all laugh how much cheeper a set of batteries would have been.

10-04-2008, 11:38 PM	#7
azhondarider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? Im sorry I dont recall saying anything about doing anything cheap. how about when I build a cart that is different from whatever every other person is doing and it works, because Im not an idiot, and I work on multi-million dollar machines every day, Ill post a video of that! Try looking up Caterpillars newest electric drive D7E dozer and tell me I dont know what im doing you jack ***.
azhondarider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 19

10-05-2008, 06:20 AM	#9
Fishing Dude Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Slums of Lake Erie Posts: 3,721	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? Ok here is what you need to think of was not saying it could not be done, safty is 1st concern. I do know that it can be done locamotives, and mine trucks have done it for years. They are large, heavy, heavy duty vehicles where weight, and size are not an issue. The main advantage to me of the electric is no or low noise so putting a gas engine on the back of it to produce the power defeats the noise issue. Lets then address the issue of saving gas, or batteries would cost more to run a gen than an engine to run the cart. Now if you want to do this would be better off with ac, veri speed drive, and a 220 volt gen would be a system redesign but very do able. As far as distance you can go on a charge if not far enough then go with a gasser.

10-05-2008, 06:58 AM	#10
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Is this carzy or has someone done it? Just guessing but I think your cart may still be a resistor cart, jumping to 48v shouldn't be a problem. The motor can handle that. You should ask about this in the Extreme DC part of the forum, They have a better grasp on stuff like this.