Headlights will not come on, but toggle switch is lit up?

[BamaDozier]

I installed some cheap running lights from Autozone today.
I ran the lights to the switch, the switch positive and ground to the batteries. I grounded the black wires on the lights to the cart frame. The toggle switch lights up but the lights do not come on? Can anyone help me out with this? Is the problem the lights being grounded to the cart? thanks... Clark

[Gorhad]

There is no ground actually on the cart, you have to use the negative on the battery pack.

[BamaDozier]

okay. so for clarification cause im not real handy. the red from the lights goes to the switch. the black from the lights goes to the neg battery. the red from the switch goes to the pos battery and the black from the switch goes to the neg battery as well? Thank you for your quick response bud.

[Gorhad]

This is a very simple diagram, but it should help

What voltage cart do you have?

Remember on 36 volt cart you would need to wire across 2 of the 6 volt batteries, however on a 48 volt cart you would need a voltage converter from 48 volt to 12 volt

Example

36 volt cart (6, 6 volt batteries)

2 of the pack batteries that are wired in series would give you 12 volts


48 volt cart (6, 8 volt batteries)

1 of the pack batteries would give you 8 volts so your lights would be dim, however 2 of the pack batteries that are wired in series would give you 16 volts, which would be too much and the bulbs would not last very long.

[BamaDozier]

Thanks very helpful! I have a 48V. 4 x 12's.

[OLD MEC]

Check your running light bulbs as I think you blew them out the first time you turned 48 volts into 12 volt bulbs?

[BamaDozier]

I burnt out the light.... But, they were only $20 at autozone so I picked up a new set this morning. I will be putting the one that I didnt burn out on the back of my ride for a rear light during hunting season when loading game up on the back. That one is a long thin fog light with 10 LEDs. The new set I put on are 55 watt halogen bulbs and have a meatier profile. I liked how it turned out. Here is a pic. I also painted it this weekend. I will post those pics in a new thread of my ride as I am doing lots of stuff to it. Thanks for all of the help guys. This site is awesome!