Voltage reducer

[skipsmith521]

With a 36 to 12 volt reducer, do you wire it direct from the 36 volt pack?

Should it be wired to a switch so the reducer is not always on?

Reducer would be used just to run lights.

Thx

Skip

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[meimk]

There must be dozens of threads on the subject if you want more thoughts and options, but yes the reducer works off of the full pack of batteries. The idea is that it takes power evenly from all the batteries. It allows them discharge evenly so when you charge them again they come to full charge together as well. Gives better performance and longer useful life to that expensive set of batteries. If lights are truly all you need and intend to power from the reducer you can even use a switch for the reducer as your light switch. Otherwise, yes the reducer will cause some power drain all the time if it is not switched.

[skipsmith521]

After posting this...I started thinking about the switch to the reducer being the same switch that turns off the lights.

I guess you could use just one switch that turns off the reducer and this would turn off the lights as well...If all this was for lights.

Couple follow up questions...

If you use a toggle switch, I guess it would need to be rated for 36 volts?

If you tied it into the key switch, where do you make this connection? Do you have to run a wire all the way back to the key switch in the dashboard?

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[Golfer24/7]

Check this thread out
http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...cer-setup.html


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[scottyb]

Originally Posted by skipsmith521

After posting this...I started thinking about the switch to the reducer being the same switch that turns off the lights.

I guess you could use just one switch that turns off the reducer and this would turn off the lights as well...If all this was for lights.

Couple follow up questions...

If you use a toggle switch, I guess it would need to be rated for 36 volts?

If you tied it into the key switch, where do you make this connection? Do you have to run a wire all the way back to the key switch in the dashboard?

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Easy to do - Just hard wire the lights to the reducer and when you switch the reducer on the lights will come on..... and when you turn the reducer off... the light turn off too. This way the reducer is not on all the time when the cart is on, just when you want lights.

[orangeman6]

Skip, like meimk said, there's a bunch of threads on this that will be very helpful to you. The one I linked here is actually directly below yours as of when I'm writing this. Check that one out, it will help.

IMHO opinion, I wouldn't put them on the same switch. There's no chance you'll ever add another 12v accessory, other than lights? It's not that much more effort to separate them now, so you're ready if you decide you need it later.

As far as the switch goes, I never found any rated high enough that had the "look" I wanted. I used some push button switches that were pretty pricey. I didn't want to ruin them so I ran a relay for the one controlling the reducer. During my research, I was told that probably wasn't necessary but I didn't want all of that current running through my pretty, but weak switches. If I remember correctly, you actually calculate the load (ohm's law??) going through the switch, but for me installing the relay was worth it.

Check out the link below. Crash shows how to wire it through the key, or a separate toggle, if that's what you decide to do. For me, I wanted access to 12v with the cart off, so controlling the reducer separate from the key switch was important.

Good luck.



http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...cer-setup.html

[yurtle]

I have a 3 position key switch. Off, on, on with accessories. Each accessory has its own separate switch, but when I turn my key off, all but two turn off; flashlight charger, and power outlet.

[scottyb]

See post #5
You can hard wire the lights now & still add switched accessories later.