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Old 12-15-2010, 09:59 PM   #1
semo67
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Smile excessive power usage

I have a 2007 Club Car precedent. I added a high speed motor, high speed gears a 500 amp controller, new 4 ga cables and new batteries. I played 1 round of golf and my yellow battery light came on before I got home. It might be a half a mile to the course, I used to use about 2-3 bars on my guage when I played the same course with just the high speed motor. What is draining my power so I can replace it?
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Old 12-15-2010, 10:05 PM   #2
scottyb
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Welcome to BGW!
2 things factor in .....
1. the bigger controller allows the motor to draw more amps.
2. the new batteries are yet up to full power.
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Old 12-15-2010, 10:09 PM   #3
semo67
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Default Re: excessive power usage

how long does it take to get the batteries up to snuff and do you think this set-up will work or should I change the controller?
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Old 12-16-2010, 02:49 AM   #4
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Quote:
Originally Posted by semo67 View Post
how long does it take to get the batteries up to snuff and do you think this set-up will work or should I change the controller?
roughly 20 or so charge cycles.

the last thing you want to do is use your controller as a bottle neck! excessive current consumption is most likely due to a poorly optimized powertrain. i would look into either gearing down or having your motor rewound with not so hot of a wind. cheers!
-sj
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Old 12-16-2010, 06:29 AM   #5
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Quote:
Originally Posted by semo67 View Post
I have a 2007 Club Car precedent. I added a high speed motor, high speed gears a 500 amp controller, new 4 ga cables and new batteries. I played 1 round of golf and my yellow battery light came on before I got home. It might be a half a mile to the course, I used to use about 2-3 bars on my guage when I played the same course with just the high speed motor. What is draining my power so I can replace it?
Out of curiosity, how fast will your cart go and how tall are your tires? How fast before the gear change? Does your cart have a hard time taking off with those higher gears then before, especially going up and down hills of a golf course? The visual I'm trying to create is if you use second or third gear to take off in a car instead of using first gear. You'll use much more power that way and if you are doing a lot of start and stops and having a 500 amp controller needed to compensate for those high speed gears... (sending more amps now needed to get your cart moving)... you'll be using more battery power to accomplish what your cart did before the gears.

I also have a high speed motor and my cart can always do 15 to 20+ miles on a charge.
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Old 12-16-2010, 09:09 AM   #6
semo67
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I have 10" tires. I probably picked up 4-5 miles per hour with the gears. The cart is about to drive me nuts. I have had the motor replaced 3 times because they would lose speed after about 3 months but no one could figure out why-(about 2-3 mph) so to make up the speed I got the gears and it worked but after about 2-3 months my 2 1/2 year old batteries wouldn't get me to the golf course and back-thus the new batteries. I was told not to just put gears and motor without controller upgrade, thus the new controller. I'm hoping with enough recharges the batteries will get me the run time I need to play a couple of rounds without the lights coming on. The cart is much faster up and down hills and on level ground, probably around 30mph on level ground. bottom line it's quick but won't go very far.
thanks again to everyone for the help--headed to the cart shop today to discuss options with them.
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Old 12-16-2010, 09:27 AM   #7
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Your cart has a Sepex motor. With the speed gears +speed motor you never get out of a high torque situation on the course. Your cart is set up for 30pmh and not creeping up to the greens or tees ... Extended run time in torque mode is killing your speed motor with the heat generated by too much low speed operation. I would change the motor back to a torque motor and give up a few MPH on the flats.

P.S. you are not breaking your batteries in nicely by running them down so much either. Improper break in & use will diminish battery useful life.
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Old 12-16-2010, 09:35 AM   #8
semo67
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Thanks again..not sure what a sepex motor is-the last one they put in was a GE. I ran the cart yesterday about 3 miles and it went down 3 bars on the battery gauge and I put it back on the charger. The cart shop suggested going to a less powerful motor, I don't remember the name, maybe a mantec or something like that.
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Old 12-16-2010, 09:39 AM   #9
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Default Re: excessive power usage

Sepex ( separately excited ) is the type of motor it is. Well a more 'wound for torque' motor is what you need... and read the battery break in procedures. Battery break in done right increases performance and lifespan.
Good Luck!
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Old 12-16-2010, 09:42 AM   #10
semo67
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Default Re: excessive power usage

thanks for the help--as you surely have figured out by now, I am very mechanically challenged in the are of golf carts.
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