Not Sure If Regen Braking Is Working

[Rickochet]

I have an '07 TXT PDS with the steep hill J-2 installed. Diagnostic mode gives me the proper 2 beeps and no other beeps. The cart came from a country club in the "all terrain" mode. I can run at full speed, let off of the pedal and not sure if I am getting proper motor breaking? I do notice a wee change in the sound but I expected much more noticeable breaking. Is there any way to check to see if the regen braking is doing it's job other than a "seat of the pants" check? I just don't notice much difference between the steep hill and the all terrain modes.

[JohnnieB]

I occasionally use "Mild Hill" and the regen braking is noticeable. Sort of like downshifting and using engine braking in your family sedan, but not nearly as strong as when I've been coasting down an incline in "Freedom" mode and exceeded the top speed limit. My guess is that "Steep Hill" would be about the same as what is felt when the cart exceeds the respective speed limit for the mode it's in, but I don't know for sure.

A couple things come to mind.
The controller senses battery voltage and doesn't allow, or reduces, regen braking if the voltage is above some level, so it doesn't over charge the batteries.
I don't know what that voltage is, but if your batteries are fresh off the charger, they might be hitting it. Try after you've driven a couple miles or more.

The current generated by regen barking is dumped in the battery pack, so watch you dash mounted DVM while coasting in both Steep Hill and All terrain modes. Regen braking should cause the DVM to climb a bit, or at least climb faster.

Find a smooth level unused road and coast to a stop from full speed in both modes. Take foot off pedal at the same point and the difference in where cart comes to rest should indicate if regen braking occurred.

Another way of finding out if the regen braking is working or not, is to release the parking brake and push the cart by hand. If you can push it faster than 2-3 MPH, the regen isn't working.

Also, if you've got a DC amp probe you can clamp over a battery cable and read while running cart, look for negative current flow while coasting.

Hope this helps.

[Rickochet]

Thanks for the tips Johnnie. They are new batteries at full charge so that may the case. I will check the DVM next time out.

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by Rickochet

Thanks for the tips Johnnie. They are new batteries at full charge so that may the case. I will check the DVM next time out.

Hopefully, it is the new batteries at full charge keeping the regen from kicking in.
My batteries will only take a 95% charge, so I've never had that happen.