How are factory headlights wired?

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by e-z-go1988

With or without a converter, any electrical accessory (attached to your cart batteries) will affect battery life!
Dennis

Technically, that is true, but connecting the 12V accessories via a DC to DC converter will drain all the batteries in the pack equally, and does not significantly reduce the battery pack's useful lifespan, while tapping the pack for 12V imbalances the pack and the batteries age rapidly from the resulting undercharging of some of the batteries while overcharging the others due to the imbalance.

The best way to power 12V accessories is with an entirely separate 12V battery, however that battery also has to be charged separately, so there is the expense of a 12V charger as well as remembering to use it.

Also, the space needed for a 12V accessory battery may be an issue is some carts (like mine), so a DC to DC converter becomes the best option.

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

I've had several txt's with factory lights. All were wired to two batteries, none had a converter.

You can mitigate, but not completely offset, the imbalance created by that arrangement by periodically giving the two batteries tapped for accessory power some additional charging with a 12V charger.

[firenfix]

Thanks everyone, I am going to check the wiring and look under the dash for the converter. I expect that I will not find one and at a minimum want to put my radio through a converter or direct to it's own battery so I do not have a constant drain from the memory.

[kellybell]

Just another question along these same lines. I have lights, because it is required to be street legal in my state, but I never use them. That doesn't hurt the 2 batteries that these lights are wired to, does it?

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by firenfix

Thanks everyone, I am going to check the wiring and look under the dash for the converter. I expect that I will not find one and at a minimum want to put my radio through a converter or direct to it's own battery so I do not have a constant drain from the memory.

Depends on the radio. Some of them need a constant power source or they lose their memory. Converters are typically switched on&off rather than being on constantly, so a separate battery is needed.

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by kellybell

Just another question along these same lines. I have lights, because it is required to be street legal in my state, but I never use them. That doesn't hurt the 2 batteries that these lights are wired to, does it?

Headlights only, or do you have brake lights and turn signals?

If you never draw power from the 12V tap, just having it doesn't harm the batteries.

[kellybell]

Georgia law says I need running lights and headlights only.....

[e-z-go1988]

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

Technically, that is true, but connecting the 12V accessories via a DC to DC converter will drain all the batteries in the pack equally, and does not significantly reduce the battery pack's useful lifespan, while tapping the pack for 12V imbalances the pack and the batteries age rapidly from the resulting undercharging of some of the batteries while overcharging the others due to the imbalance.

The best way to power 12V accessories is with an entirely separate 12V battery, however that battery also has to be charged separately, so there is the expense of a 12V charger as well as remembering to use it.

Also, the space needed for a 12V accessory battery may be an issue is some carts (like mine), so a DC to DC converter becomes the best option.

I have boost batteries (rhody89) that I run accessories from and before the boost was added I used a converter so that all the pack batteries were drained equally.
Dennnis

[JohnnieB]

Originally Posted by kellybell

Georgia law says I need running lights and headlights only.....

If you ever do have to run you running lights or headlight, give those two batteries a boost charge with a 12V charger before recharging the pack and you should be okay.

How long of a boost charge depends on how many amps were drawn at 12V and for how long, and the amp output of the 12V charger. Basically, you want to put back about 125% of what was taken out.

[kellybell]

Originally Posted by JohnnieB

If you ever do have to run you running lights or headlight, give those two batteries a boost charge with a 12V charger before recharging the pack and you should be okay.

How long of a boost charge depends on how many amps were drawn at 12V and for how long, and the amp output of the 12V charger. Basically, you want to put back about 125% of what was taken out.

Thanks, Johnnie B!