Finally bit the bullet

Rock · 05-07-2009, 10:04 AM

After lots of back and forth due to these troubled times I finally bit the bullet and bought an Alltrax 400A DCX for my 36V 2000 ez-go PDS. Hats off to Erik at Radical for putting up with me through this decision. He has been great to work with. Thanks Erik

. Hopefully it will be in sometime next week. This got me to thinking, now that I have bought the controller, am I going to have to upgrade my stock solenoid and FnR switch? This is not an expense that I anticipated. Will the stock components hold up for a while or is it a roll of the dice? Although the new controller is not huge, it's still more amps than stock.....I have already upgraded all cables to 4 ga on batteries, to the controller, and to the motor. Thanks in advance for your help.

gornoman · 05-07-2009, 11:21 AM

Solenoid would be a good idea, but you can do it when/if the current one fails.

F/R is a non issue on a PDS cart as the controller handles this internally.

Rock · 05-07-2009, 11:28 AM

That sounds like good news....that neither should be an immediate expense. If I were going to upgrade the solenoid, which one would be suggested and do the standard auto parts stores carry such a thing or is it a speciatly item for a cart? I've seen them anywhere from $17 to $150+.

gornoman · 05-07-2009, 01:25 PM

I would use a White Rogers 586 HD solenoid. You will never burn this up unless you overvolt it. I am running a 48volt version on my cart. It is 3 times as heavy as the stock unit and engages with a nice "thunk".

Rock · 05-07-2009, 01:57 PM

Okay, I have researched the White Rogers 586 and see them ranging from $65 to $100. Let me ask a stupid question....are these essentially just "starter solenoids" that you can buy from any Auto Parts store?

gornoman · 05-07-2009, 02:03 PM

No sir, because of the voltage ratings. An automotive solenoid only sees 12v on it's coil and it's contacts. Golf cart solenoids see 36v or more on each depending on the system voltage. You need a solenoid that is rated for both the voltage AND current your application demands. Also, a golf cart solenoid falls under the continuous duty category.

Rock · 05-07-2009, 02:08 PM

10-4 thanks Gorno...I told you it was a stupid question.
I just dont want to be shut down for any amount of time awaiting the delivery of a special order solenoid when mine goes out if I could buy one right in town. I guess the only way to avoid this is to order a White Rogers 586 and have it ready to install. Does the 586 require any special capacitors or such or does it use the same wiring that my stock solenoid uses?

gornoman · 05-07-2009, 02:20 PM

The diode and resistor are determined by the controller's needs. The solenoid is plug and play with your existing system. Your environmental cover may not fit over the WR 586 unit.

There are no stupid questions unless you should know better, and you don't, so ask away!

Rock · 05-12-2009, 11:58 AM

Oh man I am extatic.......my 400 DCX just arrived. I know what I will be doing this afternoon. Any pointers before I tear/blow anything up. Thanks again Erik for all of your help with this. Radical Golf Carts are Great to deal with!

Jibba · 05-12-2009, 01:02 PM

Use a 250 amp fuse between power and controller !!!!!!

05-07-2009, 10:04 AM	#1
Rock Getting Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 103	Finally bit the bullet After lots of back and forth due to these troubled times I finally bit the bullet and bought an Alltrax 400A DCX for my 36V 2000 ez-go PDS. Hats off to Erik at Radical for putting up with me through this decision. He has been great to work with. Thanks Erik. Hopefully it will be in sometime next week. This got me to thinking, now that I have bought the controller, am I going to have to upgrade my stock solenoid and FnR switch? This is not an expense that I anticipated. Will the stock components hold up for a while or is it a roll of the dice? Although the new controller is not huge, it's still more amps than stock.....I have already upgraded all cables to 4 ga on batteries, to the controller, and to the motor. Thanks in advance for your help.

05-07-2009, 11:21 AM	#2
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,291	Re: Finally bit the bullet Solenoid would be a good idea, but you can do it when/if the current one fails. F/R is a non issue on a PDS cart as the controller handles this internally.

05-07-2009, 11:28 AM	#3
Rock Getting Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 103	Re: Finally bit the bullet That sounds like good news....that neither should be an immediate expense. If I were going to upgrade the solenoid, which one would be suggested and do the standard auto parts stores carry such a thing or is it a speciatly item for a cart? I've seen them anywhere from $17 to $150+.

05-07-2009, 01:25 PM	#4
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,291	Re: Finally bit the bullet I would use a White Rogers 586 HD solenoid. You will never burn this up unless you overvolt it. I am running a 48volt version on my cart. It is 3 times as heavy as the stock unit and engages with a nice "thunk".

05-07-2009, 01:57 PM	#5
Rock Getting Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 103	Re: Finally bit the bullet Okay, I have researched the White Rogers 586 and see them ranging from $65 to $100. Let me ask a stupid question....are these essentially just "starter solenoids" that you can buy from any Auto Parts store?

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05-07-2009, 02:03 PM	#6
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,291	Re: Finally bit the bullet No sir, because of the voltage ratings. An automotive solenoid only sees 12v on it's coil and it's contacts. Golf cart solenoids see 36v or more on each depending on the system voltage. You need a solenoid that is rated for both the voltage AND current your application demands. Also, a golf cart solenoid falls under the continuous duty category.

05-07-2009, 02:08 PM	#7
Rock Getting Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 103	Re: Finally bit the bullet 10-4 thanks Gorno...I told you it was a stupid question. I just dont want to be shut down for any amount of time awaiting the delivery of a special order solenoid when mine goes out if I could buy one right in town. I guess the only way to avoid this is to order a White Rogers 586 and have it ready to install. Does the 586 require any special capacitors or such or does it use the same wiring that my stock solenoid uses?

05-07-2009, 02:20 PM	#8
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,291	Re: Finally bit the bullet The diode and resistor are determined by the controller's needs. The solenoid is plug and play with your existing system. Your environmental cover may not fit over the WR 586 unit. There are no stupid questions unless you should know better, and you don't, so ask away!

05-12-2009, 11:58 AM	#9
Rock Getting Wild Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 103	Re: Finally bit the bullet Oh man I am extatic.......my 400 DCX just arrived. I know what I will be doing this afternoon. Any pointers before I tear/blow anything up. Thanks again Erik for all of your help with this. Radical Golf Carts are Great to deal with!

05-12-2009, 01:02 PM	#10
Jibba Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 72	Re: Finally bit the bullet Use a 250 amp fuse between power and controller !!!!!!

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