Can I jump 2 x 8V to power my 12V light bar? (EZGo electric)

Shufigo

I need to put a light bar on my EZGo electric. I don't have a 12 V source and would like to avoid the expense of a voltage reducer. Will a 12 V light bar hold up under the power supplied by 2 of my 8V Trojans? (If this is a totally idiotic question, please be gentle. I'm a brand newbie at this)
Shuf

BGW

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LukeL

I would not recommend that. First of all, you might wreck the light bar, second of all and most importantly, even the smallest bit of uneven drain will ruin your batteries over time.

A cheap Amazon voltage reducer is preferable to nothing. Of course, those sometimes don’t last.

meimk

Consider this: a voltage reducer will cost less than the 2 8 volt batteries you will kill off

Sir Nuke

as the other 2 guys stated.....don't do it.....get yourself a voltage reducer to run your light bar.

Shufigo

Well, that's a pretty unanimous "don't do it, Newbie". Thanks for prompt responses.
Shuf

nickdalzell1

While a horn can work on 16 volts a light bar or any light kit at all will get bright very quick and dark very quick. Think flash bulb. Many have learned the hard way.

Put car in TOW before doing ANY wiring unless you want to see some rather interesting smoke emit from the controller.

coosa

If you haven't already bought the light bar, you might save money by finding one that is rated for a different voltage. I found an LED headlight for my 36 volt hunting buggy that was rated for 24 volts, and it is very bright and serves my purpose very well. I had planned to use my 24 volt charger to even out the batteries, but I've never found enough difference in the batteries to do it.

Keep in mind that I use this light 5 or 6 times a year, and never more than 10 minutes at a time. The LED light uses very little power, but it meets the limited need that I have for it. It may not be a good idea for your situation, but it has worked ok for me.

Shufigo

Coosa,
I think my usage would be very much like yours - - use sparingly out to or back from my hunting. I looked at the various light bars and have bought one with the appropriate harness. No sense trying to reinvent the wheel. Thanks for your input.
Shuf

kgsc

I was going to suggest the same. I have seen many bars that will run at the higher voltage. Not ideal but if used that little, not usually a problem. Could get 2 and run them in series..

coosa

Glad you found something that would work. I use my cart often, but the only time I need a light is returning from an afternoon hunt in deer season. Our property is under 700 acres, so there is nowhere I can go that takes more than 10 minutes, and many times I leave early enough that I don't need the light. But on those days that I need it, I need for it to work.

I'm sure it's possible to damage your battery pack if you pull some of the batteries down unevenly, and do it often. Keep a check on the batteries that you are using to power the light, and charge them separately if they are lower than the rest of the pack.

I have never been able to find a difference in mine that I could attribute to the light, but I also have a winch wired into mine and I have needed to charge them separately after heavy use of the winch. But I use the winch 3 or 4 times a year, so it's not much of a hassle to check after using it.

I've owned 3 different hunting buggies over the last 25 years and I have never failed to get at least 7 years out of a battery pack. But I keep a close eye on the individual battery voltage and will break out the 6 volt charger if one ever gets lower than the others after charging. I think it's good to do that even if you don't have accessories set up this way. Good luck with it.