Voltage reducer wiring

[Fisherob]

Hello, I did a lot of reading on how to wire but am confused and need clarity. I have a 2001 EZGO TXT. The 30 amp reducer I have only has 4 wires. No turn on wire. I am going to wire it to the 36v battery pack. Output is going to a fuse box. From the fuse block to a rocker switch to turn on each accessory. Now without the rocker switched being turned on there is no power going to the accessory like Rock lights. What I am not understanding is this. Is power still being drawn from the batteries if no accesories are on? Meaning the reducer is always draining the batteries? If this is the case will I need to install a switch on the power lead of the reducer to the batttery that needs to be turned on every time I need 12v? I read talk of using a relay on the power wire but am very confused how that works.

[LukeL]

Yes- the reducer will draw some power from the battery pack, even when no accessories are on. Just putting a decent quality toggle switch in the positive input wire to the reducer should do the trick. That's what I've done many times and never had an issue... no relay necessary.

[jasonojordan]

Another option would be finding out how many amps your key switch can handle and run a wire from your key switch to provide pack voltage to the input side of the voltage reducer.

If you are only using the reducer to run some LED lights the amp draw will likely be low enough to go that route.

If you start actually pushing that voltage reducer though key switch would possibly not be able to handle that.

[Fisherob]

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

Another option would be finding out how many amps your key switch can handle and run a wire from your key switch to provide pack voltage to the input side of the voltage reducer.

If you are only using the reducer to run some LED lights the amp draw will likely be low enough to go that route.

If you start actually pushing that voltage reducer though key switch would possibly not be able to handle that.

When looking at the key switch it is a 3 position switch. 1st is off 2nd turns the the cart on and 3rd turns my lights on. I also noticed the battery meter has a positive wire, a negative wire and a white wire that becomes 36V live in switch position 2. I'm wondering if I can hook up the reducer power to that wire to turn on the reducer. I am running an led light, rock lights and a Stereo.

[jasonojordan]

Originally Posted by Fisherob

When looking at the key switch it is a 3 position switch. 1st is off 2nd turns the the cart on and 3rd turns my lights on. I also noticed the battery meter has a positive wire, a negative wire and a white wire that becomes 36V live in switch position 2. I'm wondering if I can hook up the reducer power to that wire to turn on the reducer. I am running an led light, rock lights and a Stereo.

Anywhere with a switched pack voltage source should work with the loads you described. I assume no amplifier with that sound system?

[Fisherob]

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

Anywhere with a switched pack voltage source should work with the loads you described. I assume no amplifier with that sound system?

No Amplifier. Ok so I want to make sure I have this right. I can wire the power wire of the reducer to this wire. I'm assuming I could just tap that wire as I still want the voltage meter. and ground the reducer to the negative battery terminal. Then I can run the output wires of the reducer to the switches for the LED light bar and rock lights.

[jasonojordan]

Originally Posted by Fisherob

No Amplifier. Ok so I want to make sure I have this right. I can wire the power wire of the reducer to this wire. I'm assuming I could just tap that wire as I still want the voltage meter. and ground the reducer to the negative battery terminal. Then I can run the output wires of the reducer to the switches for the LED light bar and rock lights.

I would think that should work yes. I do not have an EZGO to confirm that it will so obviously proceed at your own risk.

One thing to mention that I see alot of people screw up is DO NOT connect both the - from the supply voltage and the - from the reducer to the same place.

The - should go back to the pack voltage - and the reducer output - should go to your loads or fuse block if you are running one.

[kgsc]

Do not run the reducer off of the key switch. It definitely doesn’t have the current capability to run it. Hook up straight to the pack. If you want it switched buy a 36 volt relay and run that through the key switch. The meter should have pack voltage on pins 1 and 2. Pin 4 should be hooked to the B terminal on the key switch.

[Fisherob]

Originally Posted by kgsc

Do not run the reducer off of the key switch. It definitely doesn’t have the current capability to run it. Hook up straight to the pack. If you want it switched buy a 36 volt relay and run that through the key switch. The meter should have pack voltage on pins 1 and 2. Pin 4 should be hooked to the B terminal on the key switch.

Ok Makes sense, So looks like I am back to maybe just add a switch to turn on the reducer. Is there a commended switch to use with a 36V? Will any 12V switch work?

[radioman]

Originally Posted by Fisherob

Hello, I did a lot of reading on how to wire but am confused and need clarity. I have a 2001 EZGO TXT. The 30 amp reducer I have only has 4 wires. No turn on wire. I am going to wire it to the 36v battery pack. Output is going to a fuse box. From the fuse block to a rocker switch to turn on each accessory. Now without the rocker switched being turned on there is no power going to the accessory like Rock lights. What I am not understanding is this. Is power still being drawn from the batteries if no accesories are on? Meaning the reducer is always draining the batteries? If this is the case will I need to install a switch on the power lead of the reducer to the batttery that needs to be turned on every time I need 12v? I read talk of using a relay on the power wire but am very confused how that works.

Using a relay to do this might be a better way. Use the key switched 36 volts to energize the relay. Run a fused circuit (15 amp) from the battery positive through the switched relay contacts to the input of the reducer. This would eliminate any guess work about using the key switch current carrying specs. You would need a 36 volt solenoid or a relay with 10 to 15 amp contact rating.