Wiring for lights shorting and melting

Doc's BoneCracker · 09-16-2013, 06:07 PM

Hi All, I have a Friends 03' C.C. and after running the lights for a short drive of about 3 or 4 blocks the wiring shorts out and melts. I checked all wires and replaced the entire set up (New light kit and fuse housing, and switch) left lights turned on for 3 hours with no trouble at all then took cart out for a ride and after ten min. or so the wiring melted again. Anyone have a solution? I did check voltage in maint. mode revving for about 5 to 10 min and it topped out and held at 14.8 volts never got higher than that so I think the reg is ok. What else should I check?

09-16-2013, 06:28 PM

if it's only doing it when cart is moving , my guess is you are shorting out the positive wire to the frame , check for any spots this can happen

Doc's BoneCracker · 09-16-2013, 07:12 PM

It's an aluminum frame so it can't short out there, but even rewired the entire light system and made sure it didn't touch.

Volt_Ampere · 09-16-2013, 07:30 PM

Why can't it short out to an aluminum frame??? Last time I checked aluminum is conductive. :-)

1989Marathon · 09-16-2013, 07:37 PM

What is the wattage rating of each light, and what size wire are you using? Are you picking up 12v at the battery and grounding back to the battery?

09-16-2013, 07:46 PM

looks like the system is grounded to something

Wylie_Tunes · 09-16-2013, 07:54 PM

Um, yes, aluminum is conductive. 2nd, id be wondering why the fuse, located right off the battery is not blowing. Time to test the voltage on the circuit.

Doc's BoneCracker · 09-17-2013, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1989Marathon

What is the wattage rating of each light, and what size wire are you using? Are you picking up 12v at the battery and grounding back to the battery?

I'm not sure of the watts they are the same lights that have been on it for several years just just replacements and the wire I used is the wire that came in the kit. I have the ground going back to battery and it does keep blowing the fuse but the wire from the fuse to battery is melted. The voltage with cart off is 12.7 and running is 14.8

Carryall47456 · 09-17-2013, 08:30 AM

Sounds like you have a short to ground somewhere in the lighting circuit (could be around the switch) or you are using the wrong gauge wire and fuse for the lights. As others have mentioned, aluminum is a conductor and the frame is the ground point for a Club Car.

09-16-2013, 06:07 PM	#1
Doc's BoneCracker Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Kansas City, Mo Posts: 544	Wiring for lights shorting and melting Hi All, I have a Friends 03' C.C. and after running the lights for a short drive of about 3 or 4 blocks the wiring shorts out and melts. I checked all wires and replaced the entire set up (New light kit and fuse housing, and switch) left lights turned on for 3 hours with no trouble at all then took cart out for a ride and after ten min. or so the wiring melted again. Anyone have a solution? I did check voltage in maint. mode revving for about 5 to 10 min and it topped out and held at 14.8 volts never got higher than that so I think the reg is ok. What else should I check?

09-16-2013, 06:28 PM	#2
crash test dummy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting if it's only doing it when cart is moving , my guess is you are shorting out the positive wire to the frame , check for any spots this can happen
crash test dummy Guest Posts: n/a

09-16-2013, 07:12 PM	#3
Doc's BoneCracker Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Kansas City, Mo Posts: 544	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting It's an aluminum frame so it can't short out there, but even rewired the entire light system and made sure it didn't touch.

09-16-2013, 07:30 PM	#4
Volt_Ampere Gone Wild Join Date: May 2012 Location: Rio Verde, Az Posts: 7,192	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting Why can't it short out to an aluminum frame??? Last time I checked aluminum is conductive. :-)

09-16-2013, 07:37 PM	#5
1989Marathon Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6,730	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting What is the wattage rating of each light, and what size wire are you using? Are you picking up 12v at the battery and grounding back to the battery?
1989Marathon Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6,730

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09-16-2013, 07:46 PM	#6
crash test dummy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting looks like the system is grounded to something
crash test dummy Guest Posts: n/a

09-16-2013, 07:54 PM	#7
Wylie_Tunes Getting Wild Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Lake Wylie NC area Posts: 141	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting Um, yes, aluminum is conductive. 2nd, id be wondering why the fuse, located right off the battery is not blowing. Time to test the voltage on the circuit.

09-17-2013, 08:30 AM	#9
Carryall47456 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9	Re: Wiring for lights shorting and melting Sounds like you have a short to ground somewhere in the lighting circuit (could be around the switch) or you are using the wrong gauge wire and fuse for the lights. As others have mentioned, aluminum is a conductor and the frame is the ground point for a Club Car.
Carryall47456 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9

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