36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

I have a 2000 Par Car Eagle Custom based on the VIN 5EDZ-xxxxx-E0.

This is a 48v cart with a failed solenoid (White Rodgers). I have been told by a reputable mechanic I can replace this 48v solenoid with a White Rodgers 36v solenoid and he does it all the time with no issues.

Why would I do this you may ask? He has one in stock and it is quite a bit cheaper ;)

Would like to get some input from folks if they have done this, does it sound reasonable, what would be the downside (shorter life)?

As always thanks!

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

one way to find out if it'll work. if it won't you can always buy the right one if it doesn't catch the cart on fire. then again if it does, maybe you'll get a new cart out of the deal.
My thinking would be not the volts that's an issue but how many amps your trying to push thought it. don't really know for sure but if they're close it might survive.

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

The down side would be that you would burn up the coil in the contactor. It's designed for 36 volts, not 48 volts. You might get by for a while, but eventually the overvoltage would burn it up. I guess if he's doing it all the time, that makes it easy to get repeat business. It is something that can buy you some time, but again, I wouldn't plan on it being a long term fix.

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

This makes sense to me.I was not so much worried about the load on the heavy wires/plates but on the wires in the coil when engaged.

An idea I had to reduce the time the coil saw voltage was to replace the R solenoid so that the solenoid would only fire when going in reverse. The rest of the time in forward it should stay in its default position connecting lugs 3 and 4.

Any validity to that thinking?

Thanks

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

So we're talking about one of the directional solenoids? I guess if it were in my garage at home, and I didn't have the money for brand new one and a 36V was laying around, I'd use it just like you describe. It may not be the perfect answer, but these days we all have to be frugal. And if it does go on you at some time, you can always make a big U-turn instead of backing up!

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

My 42v cart uses a 36v solenoid with the coil wires short wired (tapped) in the pack at 36v instead of 42v. It's been like this for 10 years, no problem.

It will work on 48v, but as was mentioned before by Tech, with a shorter life.

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

Thanks for all the comments. It went in the cart an hour ago.....

My wife was psyched we did not have to push the cart in reverse like we been doing for a month, If I had only bought in on Valentines day ;-)

Re: 36v solenoid in 48v Par Car
 

Somehow I don't think you would have scored any points with a solenoid as a valentine present.