DCS solenoid will not activate

[stewyracer]

Does anyone know why we need solenoids?

[scottyb]

So we can turn the cart on/off.

The solenoid is a very simple switch or disconnect.

[rabbitreborn]

the solenoid is there to prevent current from being constantly applied to the controller and also to allow for a place to mount the resistor that will prevent "in rush" current when the voltage is applied.

to put it in other terms, if you were to remove the solenoid from the circuit, you would be applying voltage to the controller whenever the cart was in either forward or reverse. However, when you switch from forward to reverse, you are breaking the connection and then suddenly applying current again (hence the "in rush" of current). Do that enough times without a resistor in place and you eventually will burn out the capicators and diodes inside the controller.

The solenoid is also put in place because government regulations require there be safety cutouts in the circuit to prevent disasters such as fire from oveheated "constant on" controllers.

If you are not getting ground at the blue wire on the solenoid, I would suggest testing for ground at the 10 pin connector Pin #7 (where the blue wire enters the controller) as it may be something as simple as a break in the wire between the 10 pin connector and the solenoid. If you are not getting ground at that point, then I would have to determine it is a faulty controller.