36v to 12v Reducer

Mooncarter

Just hooked up a 36 to 12 volt reducer per instructions. Got a pretty good spark when connected to pack. Output is steady 12v. No heat, smoke etc. Is this normal when energizing the reducer? Thanks for all replies.

BGW

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scottyb

Yes, first time. Make sure the reducer turns off when the cart is not use or it will drain the battery pack.

Mooncarter

Thanks Scottyb. Hoped that was the case. Will put a switch between reducer and pack positive to save batteries.

yamahaguy97

Your reducer didn't come with a key switch wire? Reminds me of a couple days ago the customer I was helping did not want me to install the key switch wire lol. Once I told them there would be a continuous drain on the batteries they changed their mind

Mooncarter

Hey yamahaguy. I think I glanced over that thread and none of it made sense to me. I thought it must have had something to do with a different FNR switch that I am unfamiliar with. I wired this thing for lights, and a USB charger port. Both activated all the time unless reducer is deactivated. What does the key switch have to do with any of that? I'm using a Bluetooth speaker for radio and of course nothing goes to that unless I plug into USB to recharge it. What does a key switch have to do with any of this?

yamahaguy97

Did not realize you hooked up USB port too. On reducers that have them, the key switch wire is tied into the ignition so that when your finished driving and turn the key off, the lights and the USB port and reducer would be deactivated. That's what the key switch wire would have to do with it. You mentioned your going to add a switch between reducer and the batteries to cut the reducers power so that implies your reducer did not come with a control/ key switch wire

yamahaguy97

That is all I was saying...I saw your comment about adding a switch between reducer and batteries so I thought to myself you didn't get a reducer with keyswitch wire. Not meant to be an argument, just an observation

Mooncarter

No, no argument. Thanks for your input. I'm learning about these things. As a general rule, from working on boats, cars, etc, it is not good practice to power anything from the key switch. The key switch wiring is designed to carry enough current to do its job, not power accessories. Is it different with a golf cart? I could be totally wrong.

yamahaguy97

Well that may not be wrong thinking, but the fact that they include a key/control wire on the reducer, it's a safe bet it is not a huge burden to the key switch . And remember, the key switch wire is not actually powering your accessories, but allowing the reducer to get energy to then output your 12 volts, and of course power your lights etc through the reducer

Mooncarter

Makes sense now. My reducer is simply a 36 to 12v reducer, stays powered all the time unless power to reducer is interrupted from battery pack. You are talking about another, and more sophisticated reducer that is energized only when the key switch is on. The next one of these things I install I will probably go that route. Installation done and it works. Now I have to come up with a switch that manually turns the thing off so I don't drain batteries. Thanks!