11-14-2010, 10:43 PM | #1 |
Let's go racin' boyz!!
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Springdale, AR
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Obvious upgrade for '78?
Pardon my newebieness but what is/are the obvious upgrades to an '78 electric cart? Do I gain perfomance by simply upsizing cables? The cart has '09 Interstate batteries that seem strong so I think I have that covered for now but I'm just wondering if there is something simple and fairly easy for the 'lectricaly challenged new guy that would boost the performance of the cart. Cart does fine now but.....well....you know.....
TIA, Terry |
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11-15-2010, 12:12 AM | #2 |
Happy Carting
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Location: Southern California
Posts: 73,419
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
There is no silver bullet for improving performance.
Up sizing cable can help deliver the amps your motor craves but it is not going to make a seat of the pants improvement in the way the cart performs..... that would take a 48v conversion. Enjoy the forum and reading all this electric cart stuff. |
11-15-2010, 07:46 AM | #3 | |
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
Quote:
t |
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11-15-2010, 08:36 AM | #4 |
Happy Carting
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Location: Southern California
Posts: 73,419
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
Those old carts are heavy and slow. really the only way to improve them is to modernize their drive system. You can mess around with having the motor rewound for speed but you will give up torque .... I think the conversion to 48v and modern electronics is the only big improvement you will ever need for one of these. GL
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11-15-2010, 08:15 PM | #5 | |
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
Quote:
Just thinkin' t |
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11-15-2010, 08:50 PM | #6 |
Happy Carting
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 73,419
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
A lot of members have upgraded their old resistor coil cart to a solid state speed control.... first step is understanding why you would want to do this
Early carts ( pre 89-90ish) use a series of graduated sizes of speed resistor coils to regulate speed. Each coil in the group offered less resistance than the previous one. When you stepped on the gas 100% of the available battery power (amperage) was drawn and speed was regulated by how much of this amperage was burned off (wasted) by the resistor coils. So even if you push the peddle a little it drains the batteries same as wide open throttle. The gas peddle operated a wiper which swept a contact across stationary lugs which connected to the resistors. The solenoid merely switched power on /off to the speed wiper. This is why it does you no good to just upgrade the solenoid.... Modern carts use solid state speed control. These controllers only draw as many amps as you ask for with the peddle.... If you push the peddle down 10% they deliver 10% of their capacity. I say their capacity because a controller is like a gate valve (or a hose bib) to the amperage stored in the batteries... We have different size controllers(valves) available so 10% of a 400 amp is less than 10% of a 650 amp controller. Amperage = Torque. The solid state controller does not waste any amps and this increases the run time.Hope this helps? Add to that the increase in voltage from 36 to 48v and you have a a cart that will smoke most all factory carts. The standard motor will run on 48v and deliver 25-30% more torque and power. Search around for 36v conversion: 36 to 48v conversion; solid state conversion... use those tag lines in your search... |
11-15-2010, 09:05 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Springdale, AR
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
With ya so far. Makes good sense to me. What's the next lesson?
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11-15-2010, 10:45 PM | #8 |
Happy Carting
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 73,419
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
Electric car speed improvements aren't cheap... what kind of budget are you working with? $1000 $2000? Things you are gonna need to convert to 48v controller mode...
48v worth of batteries (Find a few ways to get here) 48v charger (Find 2 ways to get here) 48v controller ( Choose a size and make) a throttle input device (must talk to controller) 48v Solenoid ( matched to the controller) A Towel (to wipe the grin off of your face) Alright go out and read~read~read |
11-15-2010, 11:06 PM | #9 | |
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
Quote:
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11-15-2010, 11:27 PM | #10 |
Happy Carting
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Location: Southern California
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Re: Obvious upgrade for '78?
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