Grounding question for reducer

[atrupiano]

If you are using a voltage reducer 36v to 12v, a three wire, black ground, red 36v in, yellow 12v out. Where do you ground your 12v accessory to? The 36v battery neg? I'm assuming the black ground on the reducer goes to the 36v negative. I'm debating if I should use two six volt batteries or go with a reducer.

[dougmcp]

All your assumptions are correct.
You can also use 2x6v batteries for your 12v accessories as long as it's not a great load like a stereo and external amplifier. Lights, horn and signals are OK without any problems.

[atrupiano]

If I use a reducer do I ground my 12v accessory back to the 36v negative?

[dougmcp]

Originally Posted by atrupiano

If I use a reducer do I ground my 12v accessory back to the 36v negative?

Yes, if you are using a 36v to 12v reducer.

[scottyb]

Never use the frame to ground any voltage in an electric cart ...

[atrupiano]

Thanks.

[scottyb]

I believe the answer is it depends upon how much you will use the 12v accessories. If you will use them seldom, tap into 2 & it is no big deal. If you use them a lot they will be more depleted than the rest of the pack. (lower voltage) Each time you recharge these 2 will require more time to recharge & since the charger can not put more back into just one pair it put more back into all the batteries until the sum voltage reaches the preset shut off voltage. The charger doesn't care how it reaches this shut off number. 2 low and 4 high? It can't see this...& this imbalance can hurt the other 4. Club Car draws off of the two under the drivers seat... ask the guys in the CC section and they will tell unanimously that the 2 batteries under the drivers seat weaken first and their weakness draws the rest of the pack down again and again....It really depends upon how much you will use them.

[Gale Hawkins]

scottyb would not the cart have to be parked with the lights on for an inbalance to develop? I will check this on our next ride using head/tail lights.

Just like when jumping two cars if you leave the cables hooked up both try to become equal in voltage will not all 6 in a 36v system in motion stay about equal in voltage if all are healthy?

[dougmcp]

scottyb would not the cart have to be parked with the lights on for an inbalance to develop? I will check this on our next ride using head/tail lights.
Any time you have the accessories on you are taking away from the batteries that supply them regardless of whether you are driving or not.

Just like when jumping two cars if you leave the cables hooked up both try to become equal in voltage will not all 6 in a 36v system in motion stay about equal in voltage if all are healthy?
Not in a series system, batteries will only level themselves to each other in a parallel configuration.

[Gale Hawkins]

Thanks Doug. I will run down the two of the six so they measure a few points lower then go for a ride and recheck to see if what difference still exist.