Western Electric Cart mid 80's

tfbtfb

I have a Western Electric 36 volt electric cart. I have not seen any posts about a cart with two solenoids. One of which appears to be for a high speed mode. I am trying to trouble shoot my cart but am struggling becasue I havent found any wiring diagram with this included.

I also am wondering if it ok to have the battery side of a solenoid jumpered to one side of the coil of the solenoid with the other negativer side of the coil circuit being completed by a mocroswitch closing in my pedal control.

Thanks for the help.

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

tfbtfb

attached are some pics of the cart.

Attached Images

	EZ Go Western Electric2.jpg (85.7 KB, 7 views)
	western wiring.jpg (77.3 KB, 9 views)
	western wiring2.jpg (79.4 KB, 10 views)

rabbitreborn

I have a feeling the second solenoid is for a shunt on the motor. Can you tell us where the wires from the large posts on the second solenoid go to?

as for switching a solenoid using the ground instead of the hot, that is perfectly alright to do.

tfbtfb

I just bought the cart and it presently only has one solenoid. The guy I bought it from said it used to have two and I can see where it was bolted on. Presently the large post of the solenoid has two large wires on it. One going to the controller and one going straight to the motor.
I think I have a bad solenoid too. I have installed a couple of others have lying around but still can't get voltage on the no battery large post. If I jumper across the large posts I can get the cart to move.

tfbtfb

I attached a picture of the controller- I have no clue what type this is. Also included a picture of the solenoid. It doesnt have a voltage rating or polarity shown on the solenoid. How do I know which way to hook it up and how do I ensure that it is the right voltage?

Attached Images

	western wiring3.jpg (69.3 KB, 4 views)
	western wiring4.jpg (36.0 KB, 3 views)

scottyb

Test the solenoid activation circuit. Stay away from the second solenoid (motor shunt) set up.

How the Solenoid works:
The solenoid is a HD on/off switch or Contactor
the connection is made /broken between the 2 large terminals. The 2 small terminals are the activation circuit. Typically one terminal will have a constant negative connection to the pack. When Positive power is applied to the second small terminal the contact is drawn up against the spring to make contact. When power from either side of the activation circuit is removed then contact is released and the spring pushes it away interrupting the circuit ...It doesn't matter which small terminal is neg or pos on the activation circuit so long as you have both.... The solenoid is just a switch making and breaking the contact between the 2 large posts when the 2 small posts have pack voltage.
I hope this helps.

tfbtfb

Thanks for the help! I thought I read somewhere about have the solenoid polarity correct. Thanks for the clarification.

I am hearing a strange humming sound coming from the controller as it is just sitting there- am I hearing things or is this something you have heard?