What is a resistor cart?

[dellenbu]

I have a ezgo 36 volt cart. How can I tell if it's a resistor cart?
Thanks

[kernal]

First, production stopped about 1992 or possibly 1993. If your cart is newer than that, then it has a controller. Late model resister carts (1988-1992/3) look like the picture. The resister coils are in the box between the batteries. In earlier carts the coils were on the driver side behind the batteries and exposed I believe.

[cgtech]

Look directly between the batteries, middle of cart. If you have a black "mystery box" with 3 or 4 large cables & 3 or 4 small wires, you have a "solid state" or "controller" cart (not a "resistor cart"). If you have a perforated box behind the batteries with some large cables going to it, you have a "resistor cart". This means it uses coiled resistors to reduce power flow to motor during low speed operation. "solid state" is more efficient than "resistor", which uses the same amount of energy to go 2mph or 12mph. Controller looks like this.