A Club Car controller, also known as a speed controller, has the basic function of being the brain and speed control or power management system for the Club Car golf cart. When there is no controller, it means batteries drainage is at its peak, as motors can operate independently at their high speed, which would gradually increase stress on the mechanical and electrical components and let motors and batteries degrade quicker. This is what gives the motivation to design a reliable and yet sophisticated control system to ensure safe, smooth and durable Club Car operation. In the old days of golf carts, a series of solenoids were used which was not an efficient means for battery management.
As today’s technology does not use full-on DC Motors, instead there exist Brushless DC Motors and AC Motors by way of which operators have the option to drive the Club Car at varying speeds. In this way, today’s modern speed controller’s meters out the battery voltage and current to the Club Car motors on the basis of numerous input parameters such as; throttle, brakes and twist grips. Hence, the operator of the Club Car would be able to control the speed at which Club Car is moving by the way of acceleration and deceleration cycles. Following are some of the main functions of the controller, irrespective of the type of the motor:
From the technical perspective, there are two broad categories in which controls could be categorized. If you are planning to modify your Club Car or planning to replace the controller of it, then following is the stuff you need to keep in mind while undergoing replacement of Club Car parts and controller:
200-300 Amp controller would be the perfect one if you intend to use or using a Club Car for normal trips in your neighborhood or normal golf course trips. This controller is best suited for two passenger Club Cars. Salient features of this 200-300 Amp controller are as follows:
This controller is best suited for those Club Cars which have rear seats and the cargo bed. For the Club Cars to be used for the trips involving steep climb hills, 300-600 Amp controller is highly recommended. This controller is ideal for the Club Cars having four passenger capacity and to be used for carrying heavy loads or to climb a steep grade. Salient features of 300-600 Amp controller are as follows:
These controllers can easily be configured and programmed as per the requirements. The key advantage of this controller is that; programmable controllers produces 60% less heat than other controllers. Programmable controllers are epoxy potted or in other words Club Car controller troubleshooting, which let controller failure due to the vibration and water corrosion get easily eliminate.
Club Car controllers are engineered for the purpose of durability and efficiency. This is the reason even Club Cars made in 70’s or 80’s is still working fine, provided proper maintenance and care is done. In a nutshell, both original and aftermarket controllers are fine with only one exception i.e. price difference. Generally, Club Cars are made with highly precise and quality ensured engineering practices, so you can easily trust the aftermarket controllers if you don’t want to spend much. As most of the Club Car parts are not changed much in a given model or year and it’s up to your buying capacity whether you want to buy the original OEM controller or an aftermarket model. Original controllers come with the warranty and this adds to their advantages. However, aftermarket controllers can come with a warranty depending on which one you buy. You may also buy a used controller, but be sure to inspect the maintenance history and the level of care while buying them. Be sure to carefully inspect a used controller if you are going to buy one. It is not our recommendation you do though as too consumers have ended up with a dud of a controller within the 1st year.
There are numerous reasons for the Club Car controller repair and replacement including customization of Club Car, upgrade of motors or Club Car controller upgrade with respect to the needs. But, the key reason is the degradation or complete stalling of the controller. It is one of the prominent factors due to which controller needs to be replaced. As a controller in the Club Car or golf cart is made up of electrical and electronics components, it degrades gradually over time with the frequency of usage. But usage is not the only factor, controllers and the Club Car parts may also degrade in case of non-usage. For example, if a golf cart is left for no use for a longer period, then capacitors used in the golf cart controller tends to dry up which leads to a malfunction of the controller internally.
Due to their expense, you want to be sure your controller is the major reason and problem with your Club Car. First off, if your controller is bad, your vehicle won’t run. However, there are other reasons that could lead to your vehicle not running. Here are a few quick troubleshooting tips.
If you do get a troubleshoot code off the controller, then we recommend finding the corresponding Club Car manual and identify the correct part number to find info for the manufacturer of the controller which will tell you what the morse code on the controller is indicating is wrong.
Alright, you have determined it is time to replace the controller. Before beginning, be sure to disconnect all power from the batteries. Next, be every careful to note which wire goes wire and also don’t allow them to touch! Power may be disconnected, however it is not worth the additional risk to fry a controller. Lastly, when tightening the wires back onto the controller, do not use power tools. Use hand tools so that you don’t over tighten and potentially strip the connection. A lot of controllers use a softer metal for better conductivity.
We want to be as technical detailed as possible to help you repair your golf cart, but we will not survive as a business if we do not make sales. Therefore, if you valued this article and are looking to buy parts, then we hope you make the choice to purchase from us so that we can grow and serve you even better in the future.
The history and expertise of CartPros.com in the Club Car and golf carts/small electric vehicles dates back to 2007 and we have been serving our customers for a decade with reliable, durable and high-quality parts for their Club Cars. We are selling a wide variety of Club Car controllers with different specifications depending on the different models of Club Cars. Searching tool at the website of CartPros.com will navigate you to the exact controller you are looking for with the ease of just one click. You can find different Club Car controllers depending on your requirements and specifications.
Other than that, to save you from the hassle of hit and try method to find the relevant part for your Club Car, professional and competent team of CartPros.com have developed the CartFit searching tool. You just need to feed the model of Club Car, year and engine and CartFit will navigate you to the exact product that will work on your golf cart or utility unit.
We cut down our wait time for parts by choosing to work with CartPros. I can order anytime of day and not have to wait for a phone call back.
Our company chooses CartPros to keep our fleet of vehicles running so that we can focus on serving our community. Highly recommend to everyone!
CartPros is responsive to our business needs and improves their platform to benefit companies like us. Their search technology makes finding parts simple.