Wires Hot

[In Utopia]

Just started to have a problem with on my 36v system on my TXT. The wire from the + side of the battery and going to the solenoid and the wire coming out of the solenoid and going to the controller are getting hot when I go up a steep hill.
The solenoid (White Rodgers 200amp) is cool and engages as it should. All connections are tight and clean, and the wiring is 2g welding wire.
I do have a lot of steep hills and have been pulling a trailer on these hills for years with no problems.
Is this a sign of the solenoid going bad?

[cgtech]

Sure sounds like it to me.

[In Utopia]

Found the original solenoid and put it on.
Drove up some extreme hills, wires got warm, not hot, solenoid got a little warm.
Ordered a replacement, won't be here till Wed.
Got a question though. I put the resistor back, but not sure which way the diode goes on since the two solenoids are different. I do remember there is a band on one end of it, found it, but not quite sure which way to mount it.
Does the band go on the #1 post or #2 post?

[scottyb]

The banded end of the diode goes towards the + wire... which could be on either side with this particular solenoid since they are not marked. The heat could be caused by high amperage draw. If the cables continue to get hot after the new solenoid is installed then suspect the motor... and see if it is getting hot when the cables heat up.

[In Utopia]

Thanks for the input.
I'll use it to get around the property for now without pulling a trailer loaded with downed tree limbs.

[cgtech]

And, you might be using the terms/parts "diode" and "resistor" as the same things. (If I'm wrong about that assumption, I'm sorry) They are quite different. A "diode problem" might pop in your face like a firecracker. A "resistor problem" will just get hot. The diode has to go on the small terminals, with the silver band towards the B+ side.

[In Utopia]

Put the diode with the gray band on the post that was on the + side of the solenoid.
As soon as I hit the pedal, pop, it blew.
Removed it and tried to see if wheels would move (they did before I put the diode on), nothing. Can't even get the green light on the Altrax to come on.
What happened?

Where can I get a new diode and what is it's value...for lack of a better term?

Well that didn't go good, so I put the old solenoid back in to see if I could get anything to happen................no luck, so I'm guessing I fried the controller.

[cgtech]

You fried the gas pedal switch, or the reed switch in the charge port.

[In Utopia]

No reed switch, did away with it years ago.
Ran out of patents, carried to the golf cart hospital and told them to fix it.

Again, thanks for your input.

[scottyb]

Ugh so close yet so far