{"id":501954,"date":"2022-04-27T13:49:43","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T17:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golfcartgo.com\/?p=501954"},"modified":"2023-09-18T23:28:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T03:28:16","slug":"golf-cart-need-a-voltage-reducer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golfcartgo.com\/golf-cart-need-a-voltage-reducer\/","title":{"rendered":"Does My Golf Cart Need a Voltage Reducer? (Explained)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I was driving a golf cart around and playing my favorite podcast on a new radio I just bought, but then, after a while, I noticed the volume started to quiet down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, you guessed it, after some research, I realized the lack of a golf cart’s voltage reducer<\/a> was causing the problem. So, that begs the question, does my golf cart need a voltage reducer in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes. You should also install a voltage reducer if running an accessory such as a stereo, LED headlight kit, or light strips. It will help you run everything on the cart as intended.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, dig deep into what these things do for an electric golf cart and what types of additional accessories may require one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Golf Cart Voltage Reducer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, we need to know what it is and what it does. According to Britannica.com, a voltage reducer, also known as a\u00a0voltage regulator<\/a>, converts power into a more digestible form for certain electronic components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People use voltage regulators widely used on motor vehicles \u201cto match the output voltage of the generator to the electrical load and to the charging requirements of the battery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They work using a \u201cspring-loaded, double-pole switch\u201d and either increase or decrease magnetic fields depending on the needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I won\u2019t go into\u00a0too<\/em> much technical detail here, but all you really need to understand is that voltage reducers help reduce battery drain and wear and tear. This is particularly important on a 48 and\/or 36-volt battery-powered cart.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need one per se, but according to some golf cart owners<\/a>, installing one is a good idea if you\u2019re adding anything to your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s a type of Voltage Reducer for my<\/em>\u00a0cart?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It depends. You’re in luck if your golf cart has a 48-volt power supply. That number is said to be the easiest to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once installed, a golf cart voltage reducer will take those 48 volts of power and convert them into 12 volts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will allow most electronic accessories to receive a safe amount of power and, thus, reduce any chances of damage or underperformance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as you may have guessed, voltage reducers tend not to be one-size-fits-all. For golf carts that use\u00a036-volt\u00a0battery configurations, you\u2019ll need the appropriate reducer to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you know your battery models before going to a store. Some voltage reducers feature\u00a0universal fittings<\/a> that connect to the negative terminal, but I\u2019d recommend getting one specifically tailored for whatever voltage your cart uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about the Operating Amperage (or Power)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Figuring out what amperage you need might be as simple as\u00a0checking the electronic devices themselves. However, the more devices you wish to install and use, the more amperage you\u2019ll need the voltage reducer to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lighting systems, like LED kits, typically use\u00a05-6 amps\u00a0at the most. Other lighting kits, such as halogen bulbs, will use more, around 15-18 amps.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Side
Check the specifics of whatever system you wish to use.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Also, don\u2019t forget to add all the amperage you\u2019ll use. If your voltage reducer isn\u2019t designed to handle a certain amount, you risk seriously draining and damaging your batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to\u00a0one golf cart owner, using a tester to see what voltage and amperage your power supply (batteries) are putting out is also a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite how many or how few accessories you want to use, it\u2019s a good idea to get a reducer that has\u00a0more than you need so that in the future, if you wish to add something else, your reducer will keep your devices running strong and smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You never know when you\u2019ll use all of your accessories simultaneously, and you\u2019ll want a voltage reducer to handle the extra load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds great. I think I\u2019ll get one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to install Operating Amperage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I find YouTuber\u00a0DIY Golf Cart<\/a>\u00a0provides a helpful guide that\u2019s relatively simple to understand. At the beginning of his video, he recommends that anyone wishing to install a voltage reducer gather all the necessary tools. Such tools include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protective Eyewear<\/td><\/tr>
Wire Crimper<\/td><\/tr>
Drill<\/td><\/tr>
Wire Stripper<\/td><\/tr>
Wiring Harness and Bucket Harness<\/td><\/tr>
9\/16 Wrench
(you might need a different one
depending on the size of your battery pack terminal contacts)<\/td><\/tr>
Work Gloves<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Necessary Tools to Install Operating Amperage<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n