Q: 36 to 48 Volt Conversion -- Car Battery?

3wheelezgo

I've got a 1989 36 volt EZ-GO Resistor Cart with Plum Quick motor. I've decided to add a 12 volt battery and convert to 48 volts.

My question is -- what would be the impact of using a regular 12 volt car battery versus a Trojan cart battery?

Either way I'd have to use a separate charger for the new battery. I'm just curious if a regular car battery (which I already own) would give me a lift in speed.

Or could it damage my other batteries.

Thank you!
Bryan

BGW

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scottyb

The added 12v battery will give you an increase in speed, for as long as the weakest link in the 36v system lasts.

The battery itself will not last but, it may last up to 6 months if you minimize the deep discharges a cart will put on the cranking battery. While you can modify the cart to do this, you can not modify the battery plates to do this.

Basically the car battery is not designed for this type of use.... and the marathon was not designed for that much voltage.

3wheelezgo

Thanks for the quick reply. I may cable it into the battery pack just to see what it will do. It definitely wouldn't be a permanent addition.

scottyb

Good luck with this

Here is some info you may find helpful about trying to use cranking batteries in golf carts;
3/12v = 36v?
Or can I use 3 12v batteries in my 36v golf cart?
You can use 3/12v batteries in series to create a 36v power supply. However this supply will be lacking in amperage capacity and deep cycle ability. The result will be poor run time and shortened battery lifetime.
The batteries used in your cart should be golf cart specific batteries.
Golf cart batteries are designed to hold a large amount of amperage and to be discharged relatively low over a long period of time.
Automotive batteries do not store as much amperage and are designed for shallow discharge and immediate recharge. Like starting a car and having the alternator immediately begin recharging.
Battery construction differs and plate thickness and count per cell varies with regard to discharge characteristics and designed usage. The thinner plates of automotive or marine batteries give up their amperage much quicker than Golf cart batteries.
You can connect 3 automotive 12v batteries in series and get 36v. You will not have the same amperage reserve or operational characteristics needed to make the batteries perform well or last satisfactorily in a golf cart.
But, it will work for testing or short run usage...
I hope this helps ...

JohnnieB

If the resistors in your cart got red hot at 36V, they'll glow yellow or white at 48V and most likely burn out in the near future.
(A 33% increase in voltage will give you a 33% increase in current, which in turn gives you a 1,089% increase in heat across the resistors)
That will leave you with a one speed cart. All or nothing.

You might consider converting it to a controller cart, which could be built with components that can handle 48V, but if the cart is a 3-wheeler, as you username implies, it might wise to consider the fact 3-wheel ATVs were outlawed for a reason.

schley_cat_65

what if I were to use a deep cell marine battery, and wire it as a way to increase the speed of the cart (1992 Marathon) if someone has done this project please let me know...

scottyb

There is always somebody .... somebody had one they could hit a button and get a few seconds of power before something bad happened?
If it was something that worked well and was a worthwhile mod then the forum would be full of information about it and people singing it's praises..... you know what I mean?
Like rejuvenating batteries instead of buying new ones? That's another one.

schley_cat_65

ah i got ya... thanks