Wiring Question on 84 Resistor Cart

coosa

Hello to the board. I don't know anyone on here, but stumbled across this board while looking for some info on my cart. I'm amazed at the info available here, and have already learned some things just reading the old posts.

I bought an 84 EZGO resistor cart in 1997 and converted it into a hunting and farm cart. I added a homemade rear bed and called it my electric truck. I've enjoyed using it over the years, and have had a lot of fun with it and done a lot of work with it. I didn't know much about an electric cart when I bought it, and much of what I've learned has been by trial and error. Most of the electrical components were burnt up when I bought it, so I had to replace a lot to ever get it to move.

I've never had anything more than a very general wiring diagram, but I thought that after 15 years I knew how it was supposed to work. Then I looked at the excellent wiring diagrams posted by ruredy in the sticky above, and saw a cable that mine doesn't have and doesn't appear on the diagram I've had. Its in the section "Speed control board/Accelerator switch for 83-93 resistor cart." There is cable that runs from the bottom of the speed control board to the solenoid and connects to the same terminal as the wiper. It is labeled number 53. Can anyone tell me its purpose? If its on the diagram, I guess I ought to add it, but its been working fine for 15 years without one. I wonder if its possible that not all of the resistor carts require this, and mine doesn't?

Thanks for any help.

BGW

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crash test dummy

welcome to BGW

do you have full speed in reverse or half speed ?

JohnnieB

If you are referring to the cable between the solenoid and the #1 contact on the attached schematic, its purpose is to reduce arcing between the wiper and the stationary contacts.

Without it, you have pack voltage between the wiper and contacts the instant they make or break contact.
With it, both the wiper contact and stationary contacts are at the pack voltage potential until current starts flowing.

The system performance is same with or without it, but the contacts should last longer with it.

Attached Images

Resistor cart - Schematic.JPG (87.4 KB, 0 views)

coosa

Many thanks for a great answer! It does arc pretty bad and I've replaced the board and wiper twice since I got it. I kinda suspected it might reduce arcing when I saw it in the diagram, and I appreciate you explaining it to me. I guess I've been getting excessive arcing for 15 years and never had a clue; just thought that was a characteristic of all resistor carts. I bought an 81 model in a junk yard for $25 and it was wired without that cable as well. I'll put one on the cart in the morning.

Crash Test, it has full power in reverse. I hadn't used it much in the past year. The second set of batteries were 7 yrs old and had gotten to the point that it would only run a few miles, and I had decided to retire it because I just didn't think it was worth the cost of a new set. My son-in-law wanted me to get it running again so he could use it in deer hunting this season. I got it going again this afternoon with a new set of batteries. It doesn't look like much, but its been very useful. Thanks for the help!

crash test dummy

i was thinking half speed like the cc

coosa

I guess ignorance is bliss. I ran the cart 15 years without cable #53 and never missed it. I hooked it up and now the cart creeps anytime I engage the F/R switch. It doesn't move far; just a few inches, but I don't like it doing that and took the cable off. I'd rather replace the board and wiper more often than deal with that.

I think I have a better understanding of some of the problems others have told me about with their resistor carts. One guy told me his cart ran out of control when his solenoid stuck. I couldn't understand how that happened. I've had solenoids stick several times and all it ever did was make the key switch useless - cart would run with key on or off. I couldn't understand how it could move without pushing the pedal and engaging the wiper. I guess cable #53 is the reason that happens.

Thanks again for the help, but I guess I will keep running it without that cable.