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1978 EZGO Club Car

616 Views 7 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  remy_martian
Hello DIYers.
I have two pieces of a puzzle:

-1978 EZGO Club Car Golf Cart which I removed the 6 6volt batteries from

-A 72v 24ah Lithium Battery

Do I need to consider new components in order to make this build work, or can I hook up my lithium and go? I do have a spare Phaserunner controller sitting around, should that be the controller I use instead of the (curtis?) controller on the cart presently?

Im asking before I do this so that I dont risk burning anything or shorting anything out.

From my experience in the ebike world, overvolting, and pushing smaller motors with a lot of juice is usually ok.

If pushing this initially 36v system at 72v (84v full charge) will fry stuff on the cart, what do I need to install or replace to make this work?

The vehicles primary purpose will be to drive to and from the neighbors house about a football field away so I dont need crazy power or long battery life.

What else do you need to know in order to help me figure this out?
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Why aren't you splitting the battery to 36V?
That is a great question. Are you talking about physically breaking it down to a 36v from a 72v or splitting the power distribution? I have no idea how I am going to get this project to work. Got a link for me to review so I can understand what you are talking about?
No link.

No idea what battery you are using, but I don't see any reason why people can't break the cell stack series connection at the halfway point, and either parallel them, or use them as A/B batteries where A or B 36V batteries are switched in or out by contactor.
No link.

No idea what battery you are using, but I don't see any reason why people can't break the cell stack series connection at the halfway point, and either parallel them, or use them as A/B batteries where A or B 36V batteries are switched in or out by contactor.
I am running a 72v 20s Panasonic PF cells unit. I would like to throw all of the juice at the motor at once.
My guess is to make this work would be really simple, but like I said earlier, I have no Idea how to connect 1+2.
On a side note, last time I got advised to run a fused contractor something very bad happened. 😵‍💫
You need to provide info if you want help beyond a nudge. I'm too busy to go find stuff you already have (pics, datasheet, etc)

Why can't you be happy with longer runtimes between charges. Why do you need double speed on something a step up from Flintstones-car brakes? It's a golf cart, not a Ferrari.
You need to provide info if you want help beyond a nudge. I'm too busy to go find stuff you already have (pics, datasheet, etc)

Why can't you be happy with longer runtimes between charges. Why do you need double speed on something a step up from Flintstones-car brakes? It's a golf cart, not a Ferrari.
Right on Remy. I am definetly here to provide info in exchange for info, I have no problems with that.
You do sound like you have some knowledge. I am not withholding any information. I realistically do not know how to make the golf cart run by using my 72v (which I charge via hydroelectric power off my creek, and soon also via solar).
The reason that I would like to use the 72v is because I would like to be able to run multiple vehicles off the same battery just by swapping it from one to the other as I please. Another reason to want to use the 72v is because the 6x 6volt batteries in the golfcart are shot. Another reason is that batteries arent cheap, I dont want to buy other batteries when this one works great.

I would be happy with longer run times, but as I have stated earlier: this machine will be used to travel less than a football field distance to my next door neighbors house and back. I do not necessarily need longer run times. Yes this turd is a step up from flintstones, I am not worried about the brakes, I think they work just fine, I also have a spare ebrake cutoff switch I will wire in incase of a runaway.

I inherited this golf cart two days ago and I have no feelings for it other than wanting to use it as part of the neighborhood fun time cruiser.

The reason I am here asking questions is because I havent hooked the battery up to the golfcart yet because I am worried I might fry something from overvolting the 1970s electrical system. If the case will be that no harm will be done by me hooking it up and if it will run like that, well that will resolve everything I need to know.
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What controller is in it now? They usually spec the voltage range on the nameplate. What range does it spec?

What other vehicles are you running?
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