Need to Upgrade;/What to do???

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

Personally, I would use at least a 500A controller, Super-Duty solenoid (400A continuous - 1000A peak), 2Ga cables and a Heavy Duty F/R switch. And then up the pack voltage to either 42V or 48V.

EDD, JohnnieB has hit the Nail on the Head for ya....like always. You already have ScottyB's website (Carts Unlimited) and he can hook you up, as he has for so many of us.....He has a few packages that fit the bill exactly.

[Edd]

You guys are great! JohnnieB, between the time you gave me the link and my return I did a lot of reading on that website (a ton of information) and learned quite a bit. It seems for what I am looking to get in the end upgrading to a 48V system is a must. I'm still not sure if 500A is enough. I have already had a stall out (not good and did not realize how detrimental it was going to be) on one of the hills with four adults. That cost me a battery and controller. I did the quick repair rather than upgrading then, to get me through the season. How much amperage can the stock motor safely take? As stated before I am not as interested in speed (but going to 48V I may see some speed due to reduction from tires) as I am torque and if I understand correctly the more torque I apply the shorter my run time. Are there higher amp/hr batteries available? I was thinking 6x8V.

[JohnnieB]

Going to 48V will effectively increase the size of the controller because it take fewer amps to do the same amount of work when the voltage is higher.

Going from 36V to 48V, you increase the voltage by 1/3 and reduced the amps by 1/3, so a controller that will pass 500A at 36V will effectively pass 667A at 48V. (Technically, work done by and electric motor is measured in Watts and Watts = Volts X Amps, so the Watts sent to motor increases rather than amps, but hopefully you get the idea.)

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The run time with a 48V battery pack made up from six 8V 170AH batteries is roughly the same as that of a 36V pack made up of six 6V 225AH (typical stock battery pack) batteries. However, it is human nature to drive an upgraded cart harder, so the run-time is often less.

Here is a list of various 8V batteries showing relative increased storage capacity based on published AH ratings.