Batteries connected in reverse

[Tezzadactyl]

Hi all,
I have a 95 Medalist 36v cart. During my battery maintenance today whereby I remove and clean all cables and battery terminals, I connected the positive and negative cables that go to the solenoid/controller in reverse.
I didn't realize this until I went to move the car back in to the shed and when I turned the key, selected forward and pressed the accelerator, nothing happened. Put it in reverse and tried again, nothing. It was then that I thought "What have I done wrong?", lifted the seat to see smoke coming from one terminal on the controller. I immediately disconnected the battery leads.
I left it sit for a while then connected the leads correctly but it won't move in forward or reverse. The reverse beeper is the only thing that works, but it keeps going when I select forward, although it is definitely quieter when in forward.
I have started looking for a new controller, but I can't find anything that looks like the controller in my cart.
Before I start to freak out over what this stuff up has cost me, is there a way that I can check to see if I've fried the controller, or if it is something else? My only hope is that the smoke I saw was coming only from where the cable is connected to the terminal, not from any other part of the controller.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Terry

[scottyb]

Polarity reversal smoked the controller. It's time to upgrade !

A new Alltrax Control has reverse polarity protection so this type of an incident or even a catastrophic motor failure will not harm the controller.

In this year Ezgo made a Series model and a sepex model called DCS.

They both have lever F&Rs. But there are some identifiable differences.

DCS has a silver round disc behind the lever and a Run/Maintenance switch on the controller cover. (use Alltrax XCT controller)

SERIES has a linkage rod behind the F&R lever. THis rod connects to a rotary switch mounted on the floor in front of the controller. (use Alltrax SR controller)

[Tezzadactyl]

Thanks for the reply Scotty B, I did some further testing today and confirmed that the controller is baked. I feel so stupid messing up something so simple.
I would love to upgrade to an Alltrax controller but they are difficult and expensive to get hold of these in Australia. I have been able to find a Curtis controller available for considerably less $. It is a 36/48v 1205M-5613 500A.
Are these controllers suitable or do you know where and how I can get my hands on a good deal for an Alltrax setup.

[bronsonj]

I bought my controller from ScottyB. https://www.cartsunlimited.net/

Also, make sure that the Curtis controller you're looking at is not a remanufactured/refurbished unit. The refurbed units are smoked units that they go in and replace the one bad part so the rest of the unit is still abused.

The first thing you need to do is what Scotty said to ID if you have a series or sepex cart. Series and Sepex carts require different controllers. Also, if you want so splice in a different controller you'll have to figure out all the wiring and also likely need to change the throttle, it is likely to be a heck of a project.

Lastly, you can look for a good used controller in the classified section: https://www.buggiesgonewild.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26