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Electric golf carts Harley Davidson, Melex, Pargo, Taylor-Dunn and other Misc. Carts. |
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03-16-2023, 07:30 AM | #1 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 8
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Solar panel on 36V golf cart
I wanted to put a single 12V 100W solar panel on my 36V golf cart, would something like this work okay for that?
Currently it has 6x6V lead acid batteries but when it's time to change I wanted to go for Lifepo4 batteries, i saw an offer for 3x 12V 100Ah Lifepo4 batteries in series. Would a solar panel and MPPT work the same with lead acid batteries and lifepo4 where every 12V battery have a built in BMS? |
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03-16-2023, 08:24 AM | #2 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,223
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
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anyway I got the panel for $90 used as a display. and there are lots of these commercial panels being replaced with newer more powerful ones off peoples homes for sale used CHEAP. You can also use those flexible solar strips some are using. theses more than a few you tube videos on this to check out as well. With those 12v rv batteries you will have to constantly rebalance them manually by charging them individually or you will loose capacity. and they wont be good with any aftermarket motor or a high amp controller since they likely have as little as a 50-75amp discharge rate. this means even hitting the pedal to hard too fast on flat ground could cause the bms to trip the safety and shut off the battery current. keep this in mind. I would look for batteries that advertise at least 100amp output with higher momentary peak ratings. multiple batteries in parallel increase these ratings. Series wiring does not it only increases voltage. |
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03-16-2023, 08:43 AM | #3 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
[QUOTE=Ldom;1931886]I wanted to put a single 12V 100W solar panel on my 36V golf cart, would something like this work okay for that?
You can do it but to what end? If you are thinking that it would act as some extra range and as a maintainer when not using the cart the money is not going to be very well spent. |
03-16-2023, 09:15 AM | #4 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,223
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
So in my case Its to keep my cart topped off and charged to prolong life and reduce maintenance. I will be using mine at a campground and it will see short runs with lots of idle time in the sun. 8amps is also decent charging current to extend the range over the course of the day. But thats 360w not 100.. Ive seen some use 300w with great success on farms and such.
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03-16-2023, 09:18 AM | #5 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
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03-16-2023, 09:21 AM | #6 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,223
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
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The great thing with mppt is, it can take whatever voltage and amps its given and make the most of it. if even 3 of the 7 days its sitting on my campsite are somewhat sunny, it will have that battery fully topped off come the weekend for me. and according to the math, every hour it sits in the sun does in fact extend my range a decent amount. certainly enough to reset my bms and get me home if it ever drops below threshold. People told me putting solar panels on my house in NY would never pay off too... I used to average $120-140 a month in electric bills prior to it. My bills have only been the min mandatory connection fee of $18 since I put them on my roof 3 years ago. and now my monthly usage would be $160 or more a month. I have since installed central air which runs all summer and it powers my hot tub and reef tank.... I financed the whole thing and my loan payments are $120 a month so I'm already ahead. in 8 years when its completely paid off and electric cars and appliances are so common that the cost of electric has doubled, I'll be even further ahead. If I was allowed to install myself in my area I would have cut that loan in half. |
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03-16-2023, 09:32 AM | #7 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
I too have solar on my house in Minnesota. Has been nice, covers all my usage in the summer and then some. 8.2kw system.
Winter months it does next to nothing because I am surrounded by tall pines and the winter sun does not get high enough in the sky in Dec-Jan to generate diddly. Paid cash for my project and installed it all myself with the help of a buddy so my ROI is just paying myself back. Quote:
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03-16-2023, 09:34 AM | #8 |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,223
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
I have a 11.5kw setup which makes enough excess in the summer to carry me through the winter. So far my meters been in the negative since day 1. and thats with the addition of the AC I mentioned above in my edit. I wish they would have let me install but I was forced to use one of the state authorized companies with thier 150% markups which brought it up to 30 grand.. the state did give me half that back in tax incentives though. I also had 2 new services installed since I own a duplex.
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03-16-2023, 09:38 AM | #9 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,287
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
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The 10 panels that didn't get used were the payment to my buddy for helping me install the system twice and uninstall it once lol. |
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03-16-2023, 09:40 AM | #10 | |
Gone Wild
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,223
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Re: Solar panel on 36V golf cart
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