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Charge Controllers and Clippers => The "KID" charge controller => Topic started by: ai4px on March 03, 2017, 08:42:44 AM

Title: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: ai4px on March 03, 2017, 08:42:44 AM
I've searched the forum and saw mention of a golf cart in a thread about a sawmill, but nothing to address my question....

I'd like to use a Kid to charge my golf cart.  I'd like to use the golf cart day to day and then in time of emergency use the 48v batteries in the cart to run an inverter for some loads in the house.

So should I mount the Kid on the wall in my shop hooked to PV all the time and disconnect the batteries when I use the cart, or mount the Kid in the golf cart and hooked to batteries all the time?
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: TomW on March 03, 2017, 09:58:14 AM
This was similar to a plan I had.

Difference being I was going to mount leftover panels I had from a previous system as a "roof" and keep it all connected all the time.


Probably need to use breakers / switches to isolate the controller during your change overs to prevent arcing when you plug in the cart.

I would NOT leave The Kid connected to any source when disconnected from the batteries.  It is pretty universal to power up the battery side first and then turn on the source. You should have breakers in these positions anyway so they can act as the disconnects.

If it was me, I would mount the controller on the cart and connect to the panels as needed. Maybe use Anderson Power Pole connectors of the correct rating.Then you can use the controller as a battery monitor of sorts. With a breaker to disconnect it when not charging or in use for extended periods to avoid parasitic loads from it.

Just from here

Tom
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: ClassicCrazy on March 03, 2017, 08:03:32 PM
Quote from: TomW on March 03, 2017, 09:58:14 AM
This was similar to a plan I had.

Difference being I was going to mount leftover panels I had from a previous system as a "roof" and keep it all connected all the time.


Probably need to use breakers / switches to isolate the controller during your change overs to prevent arcing when you plug in the cart.

I would NOT leave The Kid connected to any source when disconnected from the batteries.  It is pretty universal to power up the battery side first and then turn on the source. You should have breakers in these positions anyway so they can act as the disconnects.

If it was me, I would mount the controller on the cart and connect to the panels as needed. Maybe use Anderson Power Pole connectors of the correct rating.Then you can use the controller as a battery monitor of sorts. With a breaker to disconnect it when not charging or in use for extended periods to avoid parasitic loads from it.

Just from here

Tom

These days I am liking the radio control type power connectors much better over Anderson Power Poles - specifically the XT type - there are 60 and 90 amp versions  . You can also get them on ebay but some of those have plastic instead of nylon housings so choose accordingly .

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/nylon-xt60-connectors-male-female-5-pairs-genuine.html

Larry
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: CDN-VT on March 04, 2017, 01:41:18 AM
Really !
That Will never work !!

Don't do it !!
http://kb1uas.com/mnsforum/index.php?topic=3142.0

You will fail ;)
VT

Edit Add , I was sending a link of one Golf Cart that has been modified as what the original post was about .
As I don't get slapstick humor , I can see Brit / Auzi & canuk  humor is lost as we most have hidden or tongue  in cheeky .. Check the link above , on my original post , as well I had the cart out today since the snow has gone from many areas on the ranch
VT
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: mike90045 on March 04, 2017, 02:05:48 AM
QuoteThese days I am liking the radio control type power connectors much better over Anderson Power Poles - specifically the XT type - there are 60 and 90 amp versions  . You can also get them on ebay but some of those have plastic instead of nylon housings so choose accordingly .

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/nylon-xt60-connectors-male-female-5-pairs-genuine.html

Nylon does not take UV well.  Even the black zip-ties only last a couple years,  Anderson Conn are mounted on front grills of tow trucks and police cars for jumper cable use

So, I'd park 2 panels on the cart, and the controller there too, and plug in more panels at select parking sites.
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: ClassicCrazy on March 04, 2017, 02:30:32 AM
Quote from: mike90045 on March 04, 2017, 02:05:48 AM
QuoteThese days I am liking the radio control type power connectors much better over Anderson Power Poles - specifically the XT type - there are 60 and 90 amp versions  . You can also get them on ebay but some of those have plastic instead of nylon housings so choose accordingly .

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/nylon-xt60-connectors-male-female-5-pairs-genuine.html

Nylon does not take UV well.  Even the black zip-ties only last a couple years,  Anderson Conn are mounted on front grills of tow trucks and police cars for jumper cable use

So, I'd park 2 panels on the cart, and the controller there too, and plug in more panels at select parking sites.

I just looked it up Mike and you are right - nylon has poor UV qualities unless it is certain types.
They don't say how long it lasts . If it was out of the sun should be okay for awhile. They certainly aren't waterproof anyway.  I still like them compared  to the smaller Anderson 30 amp plugs. The larger Anderson connectors do seem rugged. 
Though I am known to use all kinds of indoor cables outdoors ( just because I had them for free ) and have found it takes a long time for some things to deteriorate in the sun . But yeah it eventually does .  I had some Cat 6 cable outside for many years and the outside jacket faded and cracked in a few places but whatever they used for the inside wires insulation - that stuff didn't seem to deteriorate much at all even with the wires exposed in the elements.

Larry
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: TomW on March 04, 2017, 09:30:38 AM
Quote from: CDN-VT on March 04, 2017, 01:41:18 AM
Really !
That Will never work !!

Don't do it !!
http://kb1uas.com/mnsforum/index.php?topic=3142.0

You will fail !!
VT

VT;

Hard to tell who you are responding to unless you quote their post.

This leads to confusion in threads where multiple ideas are proposed.


So, who are you replying to? Or at least say "what" will fail. Please.

Connectors, panels, controller, golf cart?

That link is to a longish thread also with multiple possible relationship  to this thread.

Tom
Title: Re: Kid on a golf cart?
Post by: CDN-VT on March 04, 2017, 04:25:10 PM
Quote from: TomW on March 04, 2017, 09:30:38 AM
Quote from: CDN-VT on March 04, 2017, 01:41:18 AM
Really !
That Will never work !!

Don't do it !!
http://kb1uas.com/mnsforum/index.php?topic=3142.0

You will fail ;)
VT

VT;

Hard to tell who you are responding to unless you quote their post.

This leads to confusion in threads where multiple ideas are proposed.


So, who are you replying to? Or at least say "what" will fail. Please.

Connectors, panels, controller, golf cart?

That link is to a longish thread also with multiple possible relationship  to this thread.

Tom

TOM
-------I was sending a link of one Golf Cart that has been modified as what the original post was about .
As I don't get slapstick humor , I can see Brit / Auzi & canuk  humor is lost as we mostly have hidden or tongue  in cheeky ..

Check the link above , on my original post , as well I had the cart out today since the snow has gone from many areas on the ranch
VT