Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo

BuggyFletch · 09-07-2022, 07:08 PM

Maybe I'm old school, but I'm trying to put some 12v rock lights and a little bluetooth stereo into my new EZGO S4 Elite 56v lithium.

It looks like some folks are using various sized DC-DC converters, I found one on Amazon that is 30-70v input and 12v output, up to 20amps...

But I noticed underneath the front seat there's several unused wire harnesses just sitting there not plugged into anything (molex looking 4-wire and 2-wire spade type connectors). Are any of those 12v by chance?? What are they all for???

I guess I need to find my voltmeter, or just install one of these DC-DC converters... Thoughts??

GolfSA · 09-10-2022, 07:09 AM

I’m not an expert but as far as I’m aware everything is 48v hence everyone installs step down converters. If they were 12v I’m sure it would have been posted and people wouldn’t be buying the convert.

BuggyFletch · 09-10-2022, 04:32 PM

yeah, well mine is 56v, and I hear some are even more... but, it seems like a stepdown DC-DC will work.. I was just trying to tap into some existing wiring harness vs. messing with the battery terminals

GolfSA · 09-10-2022, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuggyFletch

yeah, well mine is 56v, and I hear some are even more... but, it seems like a stepdown DC-DC will work.. I was just trying to tap into some existing wiring harness vs. messing with the battery terminals

I know what your saying, I got the converter don’t have a stereo just little things light bar, USB ports, all go through a fuse box. If you find a 12v lead somewhere please let me know, would love to “loose” a few wires.

Pat911 · 09-10-2022, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuggyFletch

yeah, well mine is 56v, and I hear some are even more... but, it seems like a stepdown DC-DC will work.. I was just trying to tap into some existing wiring harness vs. messing with the battery terminals

56v maximum, 48v nominal, just like every other “48v” lithium battery, don’t let the marketing hype confuse you.

Most 48v converters will work up to around 60v as the designers designed them for 48v nominal systems, not 48v maximum systems.

BuggyFletch · 09-12-2022, 04:31 PM

yeah it seems like DC-DC converter is the only way to go.. not sure how the current OEM lights are working, maybe they are 56v capable.. or maybe there is some other step-down converter I'm not seeing in here somewhere..

Twinsdad · 09-12-2022, 06:45 PM

Converter definitely best way to go

bronsonj · 09-13-2022, 10:52 PM

If you want to add a 12v source you either have to put in a converter or a separate 12v battery. But with lithium the 12v batteries are smaller and lighter and easier to install than the old lead acids.

If you do the converter you will be pulling power from the battery that's used to move the cart, giving you a somewhat reduced range. But your charging is still very simple with one pack and one charger.

If you add a separate battery you get to keep all the power for moving your cart but a separate battery requires a separate charger to deal with.

I put a 12v LiFePo4 battery in my cart but I'm definitely the oddball since the vast majority of people go with a converter.

Volt_Ampere · 09-14-2022, 08:56 AM

Unless you have a very high demand 12V item, a converter is the way to go IMO. Modern lights are LED and their current draw is minimal. I would go with a converter capable of 30 amps at 12V - and one that has a trigger wire to shut it down when the key is off.

BuggyFletch · 09-14-2022, 09:24 AM

Yeah mine did not have the trigger wire (5th wire) so I rigged it up so that the power input is on a switch, and that switch is capable of 250VAC power, so it should be fine here..

09-07-2022, 07:08 PM	#1
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4	Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo Maybe I'm old school, but I'm trying to put some 12v rock lights and a little bluetooth stereo into my new EZGO S4 Elite 56v lithium. It looks like some folks are using various sized DC-DC converters, I found one on Amazon that is 30-70v input and 12v output, up to 20amps... But I noticed underneath the front seat there's several unused wire harnesses just sitting there not plugged into anything (molex looking 4-wire and 2-wire spade type connectors). Are any of those 12v by chance?? What are they all for??? I guess I need to find my voltmeter, or just install one of these DC-DC converters... Thoughts??
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4

09-10-2022, 07:09 AM	#2
GolfSA Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 8	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo I’m not an expert but as far as I’m aware everything is 48v hence everyone installs step down converters. If they were 12v I’m sure it would have been posted and people wouldn’t be buying the convert.
GolfSA Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 8

09-10-2022, 04:32 PM	#3
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo yeah, well mine is 56v, and I hear some are even more... but, it seems like a stepdown DC-DC will work.. I was just trying to tap into some existing wiring harness vs. messing with the battery terminals
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4

09-12-2022, 04:31 PM	#6
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo yeah it seems like DC-DC converter is the only way to go.. not sure how the current OEM lights are working, maybe they are 56v capable.. or maybe there is some other step-down converter I'm not seeing in here somewhere..
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4

09-12-2022, 06:45 PM	#7
Twinsdad Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Boca Raton Posts: 6	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo Converter definitely best way to go

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09-13-2022, 10:52 PM	#8
bronsonj Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Saint Petersburg, FL Posts: 2,089	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo If you want to add a 12v source you either have to put in a converter or a separate 12v battery. But with lithium the 12v batteries are smaller and lighter and easier to install than the old lead acids. If you do the converter you will be pulling power from the battery that's used to move the cart, giving you a somewhat reduced range. But your charging is still very simple with one pack and one charger. If you add a separate battery you get to keep all the power for moving your cart but a separate battery requires a separate charger to deal with. I put a 12v LiFePo4 battery in my cart but I'm definitely the oddball since the vast majority of people go with a converter.

09-14-2022, 08:56 AM	#9
Volt_Ampere Gone Wild Join Date: May 2012 Location: Rio Verde, Az Posts: 7,171	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo Unless you have a very high demand 12V item, a converter is the way to go IMO. Modern lights are LED and their current draw is minimal. I would go with a converter capable of 30 amps at 12V - and one that has a trigger wire to shut it down when the key is off.

09-14-2022, 09:24 AM	#10
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4	Re: Have 56v power but trying to power 12v lights and stereo Yeah mine did not have the trigger wire (5th wire) so I rigged it up so that the power input is on a switch, and that switch is capable of 250VAC power, so it should be fine here..
BuggyFletch Not Yet Wild Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 4

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