Ezgo TXT PDS Golf Cart DC - DC Converter & Ignition Relay Install

[@billmackey1072]

My friend told me guests using her cart left the lights on and killed the cart. Ezgo has the light switch down by the charger plug so easy to forget. I was doing a lithium conversion for her back then when I watched your older relay install video. Perfect timing as usually, that’s why I keep up with your videos. Works great and I always add the relay to the conversion’s that I do. You made me look good once again.

[@Fentertainment]

I think I have a new one coming this week you might be able to use as well. I havent seen anyone do this mod and I think it will be helpful!

[@shawtdog]

RELAYS is the way to go I use to think they was difficult to hook until I see you do in RYAN. THANKS BROTHER for your clear instructions

[@edwardfrank1886]

Thanks for the wiring tip! Just changed my EZGO over to lithium and used your schematic to wire my lights and future stereo. Works great! Much thanks..

[@AndyPike-r9m]

Good job explaining the switched side and also the relay for these cheaper converters. I exclusively use the Reliance converters and they have the extra wiring and circuitry built in.

[@Fentertainment]

Some of those still pull power when the cart key is off.

[@maudiefricker]

You just saved my new Lipo 36v battery and my elderly mother’s summer. I couldn’t figure out what was draining the 6v batteries since there were only lights and a battery meter on the cart and they were on switches that I installed. Upgraded to LiPo a few weeks ago and still had a slight draw even though lights and meter were both disconnected for troubleshooting. Was just about to replace the step down converter when I ran across your video. Big thanks !

[@Internetpilot]

Once again, thank you for explaining relays (quite a few videos ago) so that I could finally understand them. Another benefit of using a relay with a puck converter (especially for the timid) is you don't get that "ZAP!" and a little bit of 💩 in the pants when first connecting the puck converter to power that you get if you just wire it directly. The "ZAP!" only happens that first time you connect it, and I know it's coming (and that it's okay/normal), but I frickin' hate it!

[@Kevin-co7dr]

this saved my ass by explaining relays. Thank you. My TXT is now lithium AND the lights work without draining the battery. We soddered the wires instead of using those simple crimp connectors, whoops, but it works!

[@Urbestieee18]

This is the best video . Thank you Sir very much.

[@Urbestieee18]

Thank you so very much, you are a genius. I followed your instruction step-by-step and it works and I made it happen. Thank you again.👍

[@fishhed8304]

Love the channel!!! This is great information, very helpful. I've been looking to upgrade my 2013 Ezgo TXT to lithium. Keep making these videos!!!!

[@RBallarddesigns]

Great explanation on the relay Ryan. Keep at it sir

[@dodgeguyz]

I have a dedicated 12V battery for all my 12V accessories. I used a 36V relay to turn on the power to the radio and lights. Has worked great. Once I go lithium and 48V then ill$9 the same thing with a lithium 12V. I’ll have 48V with 4 batteries and 1 for the 12V. So a total of 5 batteries at half the weight.

[@jemcpa]

Great video. What gauge wire is best to use?

[@BenKleinCreates]

7:01 do you have a video on this? I ordered a fuse box for my 12v accessories. Are you saying that there’s a separate fuse that needs to be set up that you connect to relay then fuse to battery? Thx so much!

[@wheelrandolph]

Great video, thanks. I just installed the same Voltage Reducer on my Ezgo DCS, ‘97. I wired the 36v Input to the Reducer to the 36v Switched side of the Key Switch. Reducer has no power to either side with the key off. I’m confused why a Relay is needed. Thanks Ryan for All the great videos.

[@Cjpme09]

Ryan, I recently did a lithium conversion on my own non-PDS EZGO TXT and your video helped me tremendously. Now I am working on my neighbors PDS golf cart and having issues getting a constant draw per the monitor I installed. Also confused because the relay is only activating once I put the direction controller in the forward position. It is not activating when the ignition is turned on. The draw may be a solenoid issue, still need to check that out but hoping you could give me some advice on the subject of the relay activation.

[@chasf9178]

I had no idea the converter would be a parasitic drain on the battery pack when it is not actively powering my LED headlights. When it comes to electrical devices, I am certainly not the brightest bulb in the string! Can you tell me now why we could not just pull power and ground off the existing solenoid relay that is controlled by the key switch? Would there be a down-side to this electrically speaking? And it would save the cost and added complexity of the additional relay.

[@AllenDaleCarts]

This video is excellent. Thank you.

[@blackmacgyver9965]

Hey Ryan if you have a lithium battery that you can turn on and off like the " "vatrer" you wouldnt need the relay correct .

[@Fentertainment]

If you wanted the hassle of lifting the seat every time you got on or off the golf cart. I mean sure but a $5 part and some spare time will cure that. Maybe do the same with your vehicle, Unhook the battery everytime you turn it off!

[@blackmacgyver9965]

@@Fentertainment You didn't have to be smart about it . I just asked a question . I barely drive my cart and turn the battery off when not in use.

[@danmedve7230]

Great video, my txt has 3 position key switch off on turn one more for the lights, should I or can I add a DC converter to this if I want to add more accessories?

[@Fentertainment]

There should be 4 terminals on the back of the key switch. 2 for cart on/off 2 for light on/off. The dc converter can still be used since the headlights are getting power from somewhere now. Just need to add the dc converter. Maybe I will make a video of that one day.

[@danmedve7230]

That would be great

[@danpearson8257]

I'm switching to lithium 36v and have installed the new power cord outlet. Do I need to do anything with the reed switch that was in the old charger wire loom? Love your videos, learning a lot...thx

[@Juggornaut]

This only applies to 4 wire converters right? A 5 wire converter with signal wire will not draw anything when the ignition is off correct?

[@billprue9261]

Great explanation. I am finishing on a lithium single 48 volt conversion now(2015 precedent) and it has an oem 16 to 12 volt reducer installed underneath the front frame. Installing the 48 to12 reducer ( and relay) . Do I just leave the original reducer ? ,or can I just cut it out and reconnect the wires?(1 in, 1 out).

[@Fentertainment]

If it was mine I would cut it out and start fresh. But thats just me.

[@billprue9261]

@@Fentertainment Thanks, that was my first thought

[@kenanderson2515]

Hey Ryan, love your videos. I’ve learned a lot. If I plug my golf cart in every day, why should I worry if my converter is always running? I never take the cart anywhere. I use it (everyday) to go to the pool, cruise the neighborhood, “walk” the dog. I’m not very good with electrical, so you can understand my apprehension to get into my ignition wiring. I look forward to your answer.

[@Fentertainment]

Your converter is constantly converting 36 or 48v to 12v. If you are sleeping, working, school, church, at the beach, the converter is constantly running. This will cause your battery to discharge even slightly over a period of time. You dont have to add a relay, just let it run. Im just trying to make my carts more efficient that ever.

[@JeffTomberlin-jl2cf]

How about when the lights work off your key switch? have 3 position key switch. Do I run 2 wires from the step down to the key switch?

[@sirbeck58]

THANK YOU!!! Amazing video and very well explained! I have a question for you you though. My cart is currently wired exactly like this. BUT I have since replaced the key switch with a 4 terminal switch. I can use position 3 (on with accessories) to get rid of the relay, correct? So my DC converter will not have power unless position 3 is switched to on. This will get rid of the relay as well as the extra toggle switch on my dash used for my lights as well as all the associated wiring! Your help is greatly appreciated!

[@sirbeck58]

Also, do you have a link to those rivets you used?

[@michaelwilliams4133]

@fentertainment- thanks for the great video. Maybe a dumb question but if I'm running this set up with my headlights can I tie in under carriage lights or do I need an entirely different converter?

[@Fentertainment]

You can add more accessories, I would just run a fuse block after the dc converter so you can run each accessory to have a dedicated fuse, power spot and some fuse blocks have ground blocks as well.

[@Urbestieee18]

Hi Ryan, after installing the relay, it worked good for about an hour, then it burned the relay. I realized nothing was working, ( relay was burned) so I installed another relay and I noticed it was getting real hot and it’s fixing to burn. I can smell it. What could be a better solution. I followed the instruction step-by-step. I do have another relay from the output power cords to the light bar. Let me know if you have an answer or a solution to this dumb problem , thank you sir.

[@BoKnow]

I just got my ergo txt from the shop and they couldn’t figure out why the reverse works when the key is in the off mode. I had a reliance dc 30A converter installed and he wired a kill switch for all my accessories. Was that needed?

[@calawncareservices6057]

Did u take down the 36 lithium battery install on your cousin’s cart?

[@JeffFleming-pe1fx]

Any difference in wiring with the non PDS version?

[@WarnerHu]

Ryan. What could I be doing wrong , my lights turn off when I put it on Neutral. Is this suppose to happen? I have a 1999 txt 36v with the FND by leg area . I made sure all the connections are correct from converter to relay . Cart shuts lights off like it’s suppose to when leaving it on with F or R. I’d appreciate your help

[@miguelsendejas5302]

how about if you don't have a FNR switch to connection?

[@brentseizer1019]

Hey Ryan. Its Brent. I know you usually do videos about upgrades or fixing an electrical problem to get the cart running. Would you please, make a video about routine maintenance of an electric cart. How often should maintenance be performed? What are the specific steps of the maintenance? Is there anything that should be done before putting the cart away for the winter? Are the maintenance steps different for each of the big 3 brands of carts? I have now owned my cart for 7 months. I have no idea how many different people owned this cart before me. I will tell you that every screw, nut, and bolt that I have encountered is rusted. I have replaced some with stainless steel on my '09 CC Precendent. I can’t get the front body panel off because someone riveted it on. I can drill them out but do I have to put them back? Never attached rivets before. I know you have an air compressor and air tool for that. That seems expensive to me. I know that all of the screws and wire connections on the head lights are rusted. I cant even figure out if they are 48V or 12V, because they are incandescent lights. I see under the cart that there is a lot of grease and dirt accumulated on the front left suspension. I have no idea what I am looking for to determine what the problem is. The front right does not have any of that. I have done no maintenance so far. I have not washed it I have not checked the tire pressure. I have no idea how old the batteries are. The batteries have been taken out and all the cables are off. Batteries take a charge when they were in the cart. They are not being charged during the winter. Each battery tested at 9 volts as it sat on the concrete floor about a week ago. Battery water has not been checked. Dont know how to do that. Some people may think 'Oh come on. Everybody knows that." Sorry, not me. Thank you for all you do. Brent

[@jeremykirk9641]

Hey brother I did this on a 2021 yamaha drive2...with everything wired up I could not get switch wire to open relay. My switch is only 2 wires so I know I have correct wire but with switch I was getting nothing back to relay

[@nikolasallen5219]

Should I run a relay with the big blue converter?

[@guninkdesigns3838]

I had the same question.

[@MrGreatnessHimself]

Ty sir

[@timcaviness5933]

Hi buddy, is it possible you could just run a wire from the power side of the inverter to the key switch and do the same thing without a relay?

[@Fentertainment]

The key switch is supplying a minuscule load to trigger a relay vs what it would be to run accessories off a dc converter. The relay is just an inline switch as it still gets the main power from the battery. I personally wouldn't risk trying it because what you could damage by pulling that amount of amperage for accessories through a dc converter.

[@timcaviness5933]

@@Fentertainment that makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

[@MrDaedalusWren]

How about making the 48v input switched by the headlight switch. The 12v output can be wired directly to the lights. That way the whole system is switched. No more drain and simplest wiring and fewest areas of possible fault. K.I.S.S. Cheers

[@shaunwilliams1237]

I have the blue DC convertor from 10LOL and my lithium BigBatteries are losing power. Should I get and install a relay like this? Only accessories I have are my headlights and brake lights.

[@Fentertainment]

If that blue converter has 5 wires then yes. However I would tie both the red & blue wire to the relays 30 & 87 to the battery.

[@shaunwilliams1237]

Thanks. Love the channel and all you've done. Learned a lot about golf carts!!

[@eo621]

Hey how you doing ? I just bought a CarPlay monitor with backup cam for my electric 2017 Yamaha drive 2 golf cart. I have two falcon big batteries powering the cart. The backup camera has a long cord to plug into the tablet and has a red wire to activate the rear view camera when it’s put into reverse. I dunno where to wire that red wire at. If you could help with an answer for this that would be great.

[@guninkdesigns3838]

I have a TXT (manual forward/ reverse) I have LEDs and a radio etc. when I switch from forward to reverse or other way it turns everything off between. I can’t for the life of me figure out how to stop it from doing that.

[@Fentertainment]

The key switch looses power when the fnr switch is in neutral.

[@guninkdesigns3838]

@@Fentertainment no way around that aside from a manual switch then I guess. Thank you.

[@Fentertainment]

@@guninkdesigns3838 Ive been thinking of some different things. A switch will work but Ive been thinking of some different things.

[@guninkdesigns3838]

@@Fentertainment​​⁠I’m following if anything cool comes up. Love the videos. Newish owner and learning.

[@Fentertainment]

@@guninkdesigns3838 Much appreciated.

[@danielwilliams3158]

Would you do a walk through of a different DC to DC converter or send me to a link for said converter? I can also email you if you prefer. I’ve emailed you before but didn’t hear back.

[@Fentertainment]

I have other dc converter videos. This is my oldest 5 wire. However even with the 5 wire converter it still has a parasitic draw when the golf cart is off. I would still add a relay. However this was before I added relays. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hl6ZgmBmnat1brssi=pMGH8SArB_IL-S08

[@danielwilliams3158]

@@Fentertainment I’m preparing to install reliance 36v converter and was hoping there was a walk through on the installation process. I cannot find a wire diagram displaying the wire sizes to increase the distance of the wire.