CC DS Starter-Generator Operation

JohnAJohnson

No prior experience with golf carts... Not even driving one

I've recently purchased a 92 gas Club Car. It had some bad microswitches and a few other misadjustments, but it appears to be close to stock now. My question...

Does the solenoid always stay engaged when the engine is running? This appears to keep the starter-generator in "start" mode continuously, which doesn't seem right, but I don't really understand the starter-generator concept. According to the Maintenance and Service Manual page 10-5, "At any engine RPM over 1215, the starter-generator functions as a generator...

Makes sense, but can someone please confirm that the solenoid will remain energized even when the starter-generator is in generator mode?

Thanks in advance!

BGW

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stinger5

Yes John, the solenoid is permanently energised when the cart is running. The S/G is just an electric motor and like any electric motor (read alternator) it can be made to run by the application of electric current or to produce electric current when driven externally. By use of a diode pack the AC current it produces is converted to DC which regenerates the battery when the SG is spinning at over 1200 rpm's. In order for it to return the supply to the battery and thus keep it charged it requires the solenoid to be permanently energised to keep the return path to battery open via the voltage regulator.

JohnAJohnson

Thanks Stinger, for the detailed response!

blackcherry

Hi im kind new on this, and im trying to understand how the electrical system works step by step, but now im kind of confused in this part, i understand that at certain rpms the s/g starts to produce power and sends it to the battery via the regulator/solenoid (that its always engaged while the engine its running),
so my question its, the electrical system its always sending power to the starter part of the s/g??? if it is that way, the starter its pulling the engine every-time it is under 1200 rpm???

I want to make my ezgo key start, so will work good if i use another solenoid (a standard automotive one) to start the "starter" part of the S/G, and use the stock solenoid to keep the battery charging??? my idea to use a 2nd solenoid its cause i don't want the starter to be pulling the engine while the cart its at idle

Thanks

fastercarter

The starter isn't pulling the cart at at idle since the engine has taken over at this point. It's just that the S/G starts to make enough voltage to charge the system at 1200 rpm (roughly). Below that rpm the voltage output is lower. These things run for years in this configuration and very reliably as well. Your idea will still require the S/G to be connected to the battery via the original solenoid therefore there will still be a return path and since electricity flows freely in both directions I really don't see what this will accomplish. Perhaps an electrical expert will chime in to explain it better but that's my general understanding of the system.

FC