How stupid is this? Adding fins to aid in cooling

[bronsonj]

OK, so I don't normally have a heat issue with my 2010 ezgo txt 48v sepex.

But I pull a float in the Christmas parade each year. Last year my batteries were lagging and the motor got really hot by the time the parade was done. It never stopped, but it was hot enough that you couldn't put your finger on the motor.

I am getting a new pack before the parade this year, but the parade route is supposed to be longer this year too. It's not finalized yet.

I was thinking about dissipating some heat from the motor case and I came up with taking some 3/4 inch wide flat copper strips about a 16th of an inch thick. Wrap them half way around the motor and for all the even ones leave them hanging out into space behind the motor and all the odd ones leave them hanging out into space in front. Basically making fins somewhat similar to how they do it in RC racing on those tiny motors. I'm thinking the fins would stick out about 1.5 to 2 inches from the motor.

Now I have a couple questions.
1) *Assuming* the copper straps and additional surface area do effectively decrease case temp 15 degrees f, does that even matter? I know the case temp is far lower than the internal temp.
2) Do you think this would actually have any tangible effect on case temp?
3) Assuming the copper helps, is it critical that I do the same thing on the bottom of the motor as I do on the top, so to make any temperature difference more even across the motor? Or will the case of the motor conduct the temperature evenly enough that this is a non-issue?
4) Is there a better method to passively cool a motor that isn't going to cost a small fortune?

I'm trying to avoid adding another electrical load like a fan. So I'm hoping for a passive cooling solution that doesn't involve adding air scoops to the side of the cart!

Thanks all!

[yurtle]

I toyed with the idea to wrap a towel around mine, and fabricate a rectangular funnel out of plastic and shove the towel inside it. I planned on filling the hopper of the funnel with ice. Towel would only be used on high demand days. We typically hit several houses while out cruising, so I could refill with ice, if needed. I have no idea if this would even work. Once I upgraded my motor, I didn't have heat problems.

it is not a tractor ... its a golf cart

heat is bad in the motor

you can cool the outside all you want ... the inside is the problem

[Golf cart guy]

Motors normally can take the heat and will get too hot to touch even after a round of golf.

Something I did for a custom built cart was I installed a fan that operated when the cart was going. The fan blew on the controller as that was what I wanted to keep cool in 120 degree heat. You could do the same for the motor is you felt you really needed too.

120 degree heat in Florida ???
yea .. and swamp lands for sale

[Golf cart guy]

Originally Posted by crash test dummy

120 degree heat in Florida ???
yea .. and swamp lands for sale

Nope, Lake Havasu and Laughlin

[Raystar57]

Originally Posted by crash test dummy

it is not a tractor ... its a golf cart

heat is bad in the motor

you can cool the outside all you want ... the inside is the problem

LOL

[scottyb]

Last year my batteries were lagging and the motor got really hot by the time the parade was done.
When the voltage drops amperage draw increases. In this situation the motor pulls more amperage than it can convert into energy. The excess amperage is converted into heat. So this was a contributing factor in the problem.

[Gearhead1956]

I am not an electric guy, but I do know that resistance in the wiring creates heat.

You maybe just over working your system.

But any heat sink, new cables and maybe new brushes in motor would help.

Some times just taking the motor apart and cleaning the crud out helps a lot! Sand the brushes and the armature.

Don't know how much a air scoop under your cart would help at low speed.

[bronsonj]

Thanks for the replies all.

Scotty, my current pack is pretty weak now. My EZGO factory charger decided to keep undercharging them and they won't take a full charge. So a new pack it is.

Since I need a new charger anyway I think it makes sense to go lithium. I just need to get off my wallet to make that happen...