TXT 48 Lightning Strike Victim

[basshawk84]

Neighbor down the street called and said that he had a lightning strike close to his house a couple of weeks ago. The cart was plugged into the charger and is totally dead. No click or movement in either direction. It is a lifted TXT48 just not sure what year it is. I'm going by there this afternoon to take a look. Other than checking the battery voltage, any tips on what to check?

[yurtle]

I'm not familiar with TXT 48s, but I'd say check the charger and if there's an easy way to check controller, do that. Check Stickies for a manual. Take laptop and DMM.

[Imapled]

Wow. Lightning strikes seem to be a common issue with carts as of late. Here is hoping the controller isn't melted. :(

[kgsc]

I would check the wire coming off the bottom of the charger port for + pack voltage when the charger is unplugged. It is the charger interlock but involves a circuit board and internal fuse. Charger itself is probably toast. Attached is wiring diagram.

[basshawk84]

Checked it out. Charger works, wiring is good. Hooked up the back up buzzer and no sound in reverse. It does chirp one time when you flip the run/tow switch on. So it may not be a lightning victim, could be an unfortunate coincidence?

[BobBoyce]

Originally Posted by basshawk84

Checked it out. Charger works, wiring is good. Hooked up the back up buzzer and no sound in reverse. It does chirp one time when you flip the run/tow switch on. So it may not be a lightning victim, could be an unfortunate coincidence?

It could still be the charger interlock input. A lightning strike could initiate a spike in the charger interlock PCB that could have damaged that PCB or the controller input connected to that PCB without damaging the charger. These spikes travel over ground circuits as well as power circuits on the AC power system. It is a high voltage spike, spreading out in ALL directions from the area of the strike, to ALL areas away from the strike, until that energy is dissipated. It can also create a local EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse) that can damage electronics that are close to the strike, even if they are not connected to circuits directly affected by the strike. The charger being plugged in acts like an antenna, carrying strike energy into the cart, right at that charger interlock PCB, which is directly connected to the controller!

I would follow the advice of kgsc and check the status of the charger interlock output wire from the charger port to the controller. If it reads about +48V with the charger unplugged from the cart, then your controller may be damaged. If no +48V with the charger unplugged from it, then replace the charger port.

Bob