I’m stuck with my Club Car charger that just refuses to turn on. It’s really messing with my golfing schedule. Has anyone tackled this problem before? I’m all ears, thankyou!
Response
I’ve been there! Had a similar snag last year. Turned out to be a dead capacitor in the charger. Swapping it out did the trick. Maybe give that a shot first.
Solutions that Worked for Users
| Solution | Users Who Found Success | Approx. Cost (USD) | Approx. Time Needed (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replacing the Capacitor | 1 | $20 – $50 | 30 – 60 |
| Bypassing the Charger Relay | 1 | $0 – $20 | 20 – 40 |
| Wiring Adjustments to Bypass the OBC | 1 | $0 – $20 | 30 – 60 |
Symptoms
- Charger remains inactive upon connection.
- Charger emits a clicking noise but fails to initiate charging.
- Charger operates briefly then shuts off.
Possible Causes
- Malfunctioning capacitor within the charger.
- Insufficient battery voltage preventing charger activation.
- Complications with the On Board Computer (OBC) or its wiring.
Detailed Solutions and Steps
- Replacing the Capacitor
- What I Did: Identified and replaced the non-functional capacitor in the charger.
- Outcome: Charger resumed normal operation.
- Personal Experience: Realized the charger issue was due to a defective capacitor. Replacing it fixed the problem.
- Estimated Cost: $20 – $50
- Time Needed: 30 – 60 minutes
- Detailed Steps:
- Unplug the charger and remove its outer casing to access the internal components.
- Identify the capacitor (usually cylindrical in shape).
- Use a multimeter to test the capacitor’s functionality. A failed reading indicates a need for replacement.
- Carefully desolder or unclip the faulty capacitor, taking note of its polarity and specifications.
- Obtain a replacement capacitor with identical specifications and install it, ensuring correct polarity.
- Reassemble the charger and connect it to the golf cart to test its functionality.
- Expert Tip: Discharge the capacitor before handling it to avoid electric shock. Use a resistor to safely discharge.
- Handy Tip: Take a photo of the original setup before removing the capacitor for easy reinstallation.
- Bypassing the Charger Relay
- What I Did: Implemented a temporary relay bypass due to low battery voltage.
- Outcome: Enabled the charger to detect and charge the batteries.
- Personal Experience: Discovered that bypassing the relay helped overcome the low voltage issue and start the charger.
- Estimated Cost: $0 – $20
- Time Needed: 20 – 40 minutes
- Detailed Steps:
- Locate the relay inside the charger; it’s typically a small, box-like component.
- Disconnect the charger from power and carefully remove the relay.
- Identify the input and output terminals of the relay.
- Use a small piece of wire to connect these terminals, effectively bypassing the relay.
- Reconnect the charger to power and observe if it starts charging.
- Expert Tip: This method should only be used as a diagnostic tool, not a permanent solution.
- Handy Tip: Label the wires and terminals before disconnecting for easy reassembly.
- Wiring Adjustments to Bypass the OBC
- What I Did: Altered the wiring to circumvent the OBC for charging purposes.
- Outcome: Charger successfully charged the batteries without OBC interference.
- Personal Experience: Adjusting the wiring resolved the charging issue caused by a faulty OBC.
- Estimated Cost: $0 – $20
- Time Needed: 30 – 60 minutes
- Detailed Steps:
- Identify the OBC and its associated wiring (usually located near the battery pack).
- Disconnect the charger and the battery pack from the golf cart.
- Locate the grey wire with an inline fuse connected to the OBC.
- Reroute this wire to bypass the OBC, connecting it directly to the negative terminal of the battery pack.
- Reconnect the battery pack and the charger to test if the charger initiates charging.
- Expert Tip: Ensure the wiring is secure and insulated to prevent short circuits.
- Handy Tip: Consult the golf cart’s wiring diagram for guidance on OBC and its connections.
Golf Cart Models Where This Worked
- Early 90’s model 36 volt Club Car
- 1995 Powerdrive 48 Club Car