What is this?? capacitor on Solenoid?

[lawnripper]

Having some issues with my 2000 PDS 36v cart.. While checking on things I came across this piece on my solenoid... What is it and is it needed?

[crash12888]

It's a Diode, the diode traps the voltage spike created by the magnetic field collapse created when power is removed from the solenoid coil.
It protects the gas pedal microswitch from the spike.

(As per, cgtech!)

[kgsc]

That would be a resistor not a diode. It is there to allow the capacitors in the controller to charge up so when the solenoid closes it doesn’t spike.

[JohnnieB]

That is a pre-charge resistor show in the picture.

As mentioned, its function is to keep the filter capacitors in the controller charge to near the battery pack voltage so the solenoid contacts don't arc as much as the bounce to a close. The contacts in the solenoids usually used in gold carts typically bounce for about 3ms before they stay fully closed, so arcing is unavoidable, but the intensity of it can be reduced.

[crash12888]

That's what I thought, I was just testing ya'll!! you passed.

Really, sorry for the missed call, diode just flew out of my brain.....

[lawnripper]

Mine broke.. one side of the metal wire came off.. I believe I was able to solder it back together.. can someone point me to a replacement resistor? I can no longer read the numbers on mine.

So it is a necessary part?

Thanks again!!

[kgsc]

Replacement is a 250 ohm resistor. Not 100% required but keeps solenoid from arcing when it closes.

[lawnripper]

Nice!! Thank you very much!!

[lawnripper]

While I got you guys on here.. I think my ITS Sensor May be bad..
I tested the two tabs (+\- terminals) and am not getting any continuity.

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by lawnripper

While I got you guys on here.. I think my ITS Sensor May be bad..
I tested the two tabs (+\- terminals) and am not getting any continuity.

The tabs on an ITS sensor are not polarized. There is a bridge circuit at the input that allows the black or white wires to be connected to either tab.

If the continuity function on your DMM has a diode symbol associated with it, it might not register any continuity since there are two diodes in series with about 50kΩ between the two tabs.

I get an Ohms reading (3 or 4 Megaohm) with some, but not all, of my DMMs and no continuity readings with any of them.

Years ago, I tried to come up with a simple bench test for an ITS sensor and couldn't find one. Ohmmeters simply do not supply enough voltage to get the 555 timer and the two 4049 hex inverters inside the sensor to work.

I connected a 1kΩ resistor in series with a 12V source and a Milli-ammeter and got the voltage across the resistor to fluctuate when I inserted a ferrous rod into the sensor tunnel, but that only proved it worked, not that it worked properly. The best (only?) way to test them is connected in the pedal box like they are when in use and measuring the voltage across them with pedal up and pedal down. Even then, the voltage is determined by the make/model of the controller it is connected to, so you cannot check a ITS sensor in a series drive and know it'll work right in a sepex drive cart. Chances are good it will, but not 100% sure.