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Electric Club Car Electric DS, and Precedent golf cars |
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03-14-2023, 10:39 AM | #1 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 15
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Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
Have a 2010 Precedent (6x8v electric) we picked up used a few months ago. I had some time over the weekend and finally worked on the wiring.
I did my research on the best way to set up for wiring lights and other future electrical. Decided to put in a 48v to 12v reducer and a small fuse block. Wired light harness to fuse block. Wired pos/neg of fuse block to output of converter. (Planned to route through a switch later to turn accessories on/off, so it's not draining battery if we don't need the lights.) Wired input of converter to first and last pos/neg on batteries. As soon as I made the 2nd connection to the battery...POP! Converter started smoking! And connector welded itself to the battery terminal, and I almost couldn't get it off. I definitely fried it, but fortunately it looks like it didn't do any other damage. So any ideas what I might have done wrong? For starters, my dumb self didn't verify the wiring with a voltmeter before connecting to power. Mistake #1. I'm wondering if the order of connecting to the battery matters? I had pos and neg of battery bank both disconnected. Reconnected neg converter and neg battery cable. Then pos converter cable, and was going to put pos battery cable on top of the converter, but didn't make it that far. |
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03-14-2023, 10:52 AM | #2 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 13,005
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
Something was obviously wrong. What converter did you use? Also the main battery wires should go on first but that didn’t cause this.
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03-14-2023, 10:56 AM | #3 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Cape Coral fl.
Posts: 65
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
hard to say what went wrong, if you could post pics. it will help. are you Shure it was a 48volt input reducer? if so, sounds like a wiring mix-up. is it a 4wire or 5wire reducer?
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03-14-2023, 10:58 AM | #4 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,226
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
Quote:
I know they usually spark and slightly weld pretty bad when connected to a battery for the first time due to the capacitors in the reducer. |
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03-14-2023, 11:09 AM | #5 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 15
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
This is the converter I used (although they don't have the same option I bought listed anymore):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1 48v to 12v 30A Step down/buck converter I'd have to check the label to see what the wattage was, but I think it was 360W 4-wire reducer, no built-in fuse Fortunately, it was a cheap one (~$30). I don't mind buying a little bit nicer one if that's the problem, but I'd hate to have a repeat and blow a $60 or $100 converter. |
03-14-2023, 11:29 AM | #6 | |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 15
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
Quote:
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03-14-2023, 11:37 AM | #7 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,226
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
Quote:
Did it really smoke? I am asking because I dont see how as its heavily potted in epoxy and solid aluminum. |
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03-14-2023, 11:39 AM | #8 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,226
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
The black negatives are likely different and be sure to make sure you dont have them swapped around.
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03-14-2023, 02:27 PM | #9 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Kingsland, Georgia
Posts: 1,825
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
The black wires are common to each other as the ground. Reversing them would not matter.
The red must go to 48 volt positive....\ The yellow must go to 12 volt positive./ Reversing these two will destroy the converter. I believe this is what happened inadvertently. Install a switch in the red wire back to pack positive terminal. Install a fuse in the yellow wire going to accessory block positive if not porvided. Switching off the red wire will prevent the reducer from staying powered continuously. A simple 10 amp toggle switch will work fine and will prevent sparks when connecting it. A spark will still be there but will be contained inside the switch and not readily visible. Eventually, maybe years later, the switch may fail open and will need to be replaced. |
03-14-2023, 02:31 PM | #10 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,289
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Re: Tried to add converter...almost set my cart on fire
Quote:
One is the input (-48V from pack) the other is the output (-12V to your 12v accessories.) If they are combined or flip flopped you can have what happened occur. |
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