Radio static

77OMEGA

Hey,
I have a 48 volt EZGO with 750amp controller. My stereo gets static on FM at any speed between stop and full throttle. I have an external antenna. IT is not close to any wiring. CD and ipod plays perfect. Has anyone had this problem? Any ideas on how to fix?

Thanks

BGW

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gornoman

We ALL have the same problem, and there are many things you can TRY, but in 6 years of forums I have not seen the universal fix-it step yet.

bolter

The static comes from your controller, we have the same problems at work with our "walkie talkies" . My understanding is the controller is essentially a variable frequency drive. The way the connections are and how the controller is housed allows interference to escape and play havoc with radio's. I have seen the the interference from my cart at work affect a radio up to 25' away. I have been messing with different materials to surround the controller box, but no luck yet..

arcitech

Not to mention that all the wires going from the controller to the motor are acting like transmitter antennas! At a 200 amp draw, it is the equivalent of a 7200 watt transmitter (Low Frequency, not in the radio spectrum, but still interferes due to electro-magnetic field around the wires and motor) You could try to RF proof your cart, but that would require a lot of thin metal sheeting, and lots of patience, then it probably wouldn't work.

Best bet is to get a separate power source (not part of the cart batteries) and make sure that you don't have any electrical connections going from ANY part of the cart to your radio, including ground to chassis. Once you are isolated from the carts source of power, you will still have bad reception, but there may be a little less than before. My radio (via MP3 Player) will totally drop out until the cart gets moving and then it still has a lot of noise.

Pocono Country Boy

gornoman

It's not a dirty power issue, it's being picked up by the antennae and the FM receiver from the air. The controllers are actually generating RF, and the bigger controllers are worse yet.

scrunner

"....especially any chassis grounds"

You shouldn't have ANY chassis grounds on a cart! All terminations need to be at the fuse block or the battery, both positive and negative.

arcitech

Welcome to BGW Pocono!

Please don't ever ground any electric cart cables or wires directly to the chassis.
This will cause small problems to become big fires (actual flames and stuff). Like Gorno said, the controllers are making the interference, by the way they regulate current. Basically the controller is a variable duty cycle, square wave generator. They operate around 15-17kHz I believe, and there is a lot of amperage. The effect is the same as a small electromagnetic pulse going off next to your radio(actually under your seat) several thousand times a second. It will block the incoming transmission, and give a high pitch whining sound through the speakers. It gets especially worse for carts that are tapping 12v off of 2 6v batteries to power a car stereo, but it effectively blocks FM reception until the cart is stopped or the motor is at speed and is using less current. It is not the same as an altenator having dirty ac ripple on the dc regulated side, a choke will not isolate the noise source in this case.
Sorry to blast at your reply, but grounds are very troublesome in a sparky.

kernal

I installed a Poly Planar MP3 kit about a month ago. Intended to use an MP3 player with FM radio with it. While shopping for one, came across this little Sony unit which is a AM/FM/WX band radio with presets. (about $30 at wallyworld) Runs on a single AAA battery. The connection cable (standard MP3 connection cable) becomes the antenna when connected. I made a bracket out of scrap aluminum for dash mounting. Great sound thru the poly planar unit and NO issues with static from the cart electronics or "cut out" during acceleration. Speakers are mounted under the cup holder.
Cart is a 2000 EZGO series with the original 400amp controller. I have moved the 12V part of the cart electronics to a separate battery using the original fuse block for the positive(+) connections.

The Poly Planar is a small marine grade amp and with the MP3 kit comes with two marine speakers an MP3 connector and volume control for dash mounting.

attached pictures didn't post for some reason. I will try again later.
Here is a link to the Sony unit: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Digit...uning/14912313

bolter

Arcitech, that is a great explanation, way better then mine. The interference it causes on my handheld is unreal, sometimes it sounds like I am flying a crop duster.