Thermal Shutdown or Bad Driving?

offthehook

Newbie here...

Just bought a new old (2003) lifted Club Car. Happy for a week and then suddenly last night I loss power after about 20 min. of driving. If I let cart sit for a couple of minutes, I got full power back. Then I could run for about 30 seconds and then the same thing would happen. This cycle repeated until I was able to get home. After cart sat for an hour no problem - I took it for a 20 min ride with no loss of power.

I was driving the first time at a slow speed as I had kids on cart. The second time at moderate to full speed. Did I overheat the motor by driving slow or do I have a bigger problem?

Thanks for any advice. I have been reading these forums for answers and you all sound more knowledgeable than anyone else out on the web.

BGW

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phasetim

I would check tightness of battery wires..... or other similar connections...

offthehook

Thanks for the reply. I checked connections and all look ok. I did have some corrossion on one of the terminals. The batteries are new but the cables old. Question, when I moved the main cable which runs from the last battery to controller it sounded and felt really weird. It was squishy and sounded like I was breaking up corrossion inside the cable. Any ideas?

dcannow

I think you have found your problem. Slit the insulation at the "squishy" spot & take a look & if corroded there, replace the cable. Cable heats up then cools off, makes and loses good contact. Good luck & let us know what you found out.

rusty

Hello offthehook and Welcome to the forum.

I too, think you have found the problem.

offthehook

Pardon my ignorance - as I said I am new to this. Do I replace this cable with something off the shelf? It is marked "600v welding cable". I have a high speed motor - does it require heavy duty cable and if so where do I get it. Again thanks for the advice.

rusty

Definately replace the cable and with a cable of the same size wire inside the sheathing.

Welding supplies have it.

offthehook

I just saw a 600v Marine Grade cable at a local boating store. Will this work?

rusty

Is the wire itself the same diameter and same number of strands? If it is, then Ok.

tiggntaz

Someone correct me if I am wrong but as long as the cable and # of strands is the same you should be fine. The Marine should have a differant coating on the outside.