Wiring 12 volt lights to 48 volt cart

[milwaukeevtwin]

Have a 2007 Yamaha electric cart. Wanting to install under carriage lights. Will I need to purchase a 48 to 12 volt reducer? Or can I just wire to one battery? Never did on a electric cart and wanna make sure to do it correctly. TY

[gravelydude]

You want to install a reducer, or alternatively a small 12v battery that you would charge and wire separately from your 48v pack. Wiring to 1 of the batteries in your pack will cause premature degradation to that battery. There are many existing threads and posts on the subject.
Jack

[yamahaguy97]

Do it the proper way and get the 48v to 12v reducer. Buy one that includes a key switch wire to turn the unit off when the key is off..it also prevents someone from leaving the lights on when they put the cart away. As already mentioned, only using one of your 12v batteries will really drain it and negatively affect the carts performance. under the cup holder assembly there are two wires going to the key switch, a red with orange/yellow stripe and a red with white stripe. you want to tie into the red wire with a white stripe (it only supplies voltage when the key is on)

[JakeJones8]

Agreed with everyone above ^^^. Wire it to the WHOLE pack and get a converter. Picking one battery will cause them to drain uneven and ruin your pack. I attached a picture of the one I used on my cart. Worth every penny. Has remote on/off and memory wire (if you are installing radio down the road)

[Mrtosh]

Out of curiousity, with the memory wire do you have to worry about parasitic draw? I'm assuming you would since it has some power going to it for memory.

[Bama Brad]

This was an old post, but to answer your question, the memory shouldn't draw enough to be concerned.