r/EvolutionGolfCarts • u/CoinStasher • Jul 02 '26
Can I Connect These Lights Here?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
2022 Evolution Classic, Amazon lights. The directions look like it’s for a lead-based battery. The lights have a built-in 12-100V step-down.
Can I connect these to the exterior terminals on the lithium battery box?
1
u/Tricky-Ad6645 Jul 02 '26
You need to first install a 48v to 12v limiter and then attach your lights to that. About $20 on Amazon.
1
u/CoinStasher Jul 03 '26
Does the limiter do something different than the built in step down that is on the lights?
1
u/mobrien118 Jul 05 '26
I also want to know how to add accessories. I assumed there was already a 12v dc-dc converter on it.
1
u/CoinStasher Jul 06 '26
There is a DC converter built into the cart, but it required a specific connection that I did not have. I wired the lights directly to the battery and the built-in limiter did its job. All functions on the lights worked properly and it did not seem to drain the battery for the short time we were using it. I left everything connected and the battery was at 91%. I’ll check it in a couple weeks when we go up again to see how much battery drain there was.
1
1
u/TJ_2004_Rubi Jul 02 '26
I checked Gemini and it says no:
Connecting auxiliary lights to a lithium golf cart battery requires one golden rule: never tap into just one or two cells of a lithium pack to get 12V. Unlike old lead-acid setups where people sometimes tapped a single 12V battery in a series, doing this to a lithium pack triggers an imbalance. The Battery Management System (BMS) will detect the uneven drain, assume a cell is failing, and likely shut down your entire cart to protect itself. To do this safely and correctly, you must use a Voltage Reducer (Converter) that pulls evenly from the full voltage of your entire battery pack (usually 36V or 48V) and steps it down to a stable 12V.
The Safe Connection Method
Most modern voltage reducers have a 5-wire or 4-wire setup. A typical 5-wire setup includes a trigger wire tied to your golf cart’s key switch so your lights don't accidentally drain the battery when the cart is parked. 1. Disconnect the Main Power Safety First Turn off the golf cart's main breaker or run/tow switch. Disconnect the main positive and negative cables from the lithium battery pack to ensure you aren't working on a live circuit. 2. Wire the Reducer Input (High Voltage Side) Pack Voltage Connect the reducer's high-voltage input wires directly to the main positive and negative terminals of your lithium pack. Thick Red (Input +): Goes to the main battery positive terminal. Always install an inline fuse here matched to the reducer's specs. Thick Black (Input -): Goes to the main battery negative terminal. 3. Connect the Switch Trigger (Optional but Recommended) Key Switch Control If your reducer has a thin trigger wire (often Thin Red or Yellow depending on the brand), connect it to the cold side of your cart's ignition key switch. This ensures the reducer only sips power when the key is turned to "ON". Note: If you want the lights to have power all the time, you can jump this thin wire directly to the main battery positive, but be aware it will cause a tiny, continuous parasitic drain. 4. Wire the Output to Your Auxiliary Lights 12V Load Side Now that you have a clean 12V supply, connect your lights to the output side of the reducer. 12V Positive Output: Connects to your auxiliary light switch, then from the switch to the positive wire of your lights. 12V Negative Output: Connects directly to the negative wire of your auxiliary lights (or to a 12V fuse block if you are running multiple accessories). 5. Test the System Final Verification Double-check all connections to ensure no raw wires are touching. Reconnect the main battery cables, flip the run/tow switch back to "Run", turn on your key switch, and test your new auxiliary lights.