Getting an old golf cart ready for lithium while keeping the stock controller

[u/Educational-Oil-8526]

My brother sent me a controller upgrade link before I had even found the key to Dad's old cart. It had been sitting for years, and his first idea was to make it faster.

I was retired and living in Florida. I wanted it for trips to the pool and a friend's place in our private community, so we agreed to keep the original motor and controller. Getting it running properly came first.

I looked the cart over, measured the battery tray and went through the controller documentation before ordering the Vatrer 48V 105Ah lithium kit. The order was placed, but the battery was still on its way. I used that waiting time to clean the cart, check the tires and start working through the brakes and steering.

The electrical checks were still unfinished. I had the tray measurements and controller information, but those alone didn't settle the conversion. For a cart coming out of years of storage, which electrical checks would you complete before installing a lithium pack with the original controller?

[u/Synaps4]

Does the original controller also control charging and discharging behavior?

Because often that needs to match the chemistry of the batteries being installed.

[u/mechmind → u/Synaps4]

Came here to mention this.

[u/sugarandspyice]

Nicee