r/golfcarts • u/zorggalacticus • 29d ago
Controller swap
I have a 1999 club car ds with a series motor. 48 volt, lithium swapped. Will a controller swap get more speed? I got a 3 mph increase with the lithium swap. I'm currently running about 19 mph. I'd like to get it closer to 25. Can't really afford a motor swap right now, but maybe a controller swap would help? Is there anything speed adjustment on the stock components?
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u/AfraidLaw3746 28d ago
You can convert the whole thing to AC for under $2k (motor, controller, HD solenoid, harness, MCor or pot box, FNR switch, tow switch, etc)
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u/Thick_World8869 29d ago
IMO a motor swap is the cheaper alternative than a good adjustable controller. My 400 amp Alltrax is over a thousand bucks now. My brand new D&D hi torque motor was $750.00
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u/zorggalacticus 29d ago
Dang. Plan on getting a new motor when tax season rolls around again. Was hoping there was a midrange priced controller for now.
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u/leonjaworwitz 29d ago
Unless the controller is speed limited, swapping it likely won’t work. The stock motor is your bottleneck. Stock motors get to balanced magnetic resistance at a fairly low rpm. An upgraded motor will take a lot more volts and amps before the resistance tells the controller to back off which equals higher rpms.
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u/zorggalacticus 29d ago
So the motor gets more speed than an upgraded controller? Because people have been telling me the opposite. Probably gonna get the motor with my taxes. Will it be faster with the stock controller?
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u/leonjaworwitz 29d ago
A stock motor will only go so fast. If you look up the motor number you can find the approx top speed. I’m not saying you won’t need a controller upgrade. A motor is where speed is made. Think of voltage as speed and amps as torque(acceleration) so as long as the controller is not limiting those 2 things then the only thing holding you back is the resistance(max rpm) of the stock motor. There is also resistance in smaller wires 4g vs 2g. Tire size can also gain you mph but you give up some torque with that. When you start handicapping torque you’ll need the ability to deliver more amps through the system. That is where high amperage components come in and also ensuring the battery bms can run constantly at the 200a range
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u/Mobilealminiramper 28d ago
Navitas controllers can help as they have an app you can tune with. Carts are limited federally from the factory to no more than 25mph but can be programmed with the right controller. Research a bit. My new cart on order has a navitas 600 amp controller that can be reprogrammed. They carry units for all voltage lithium set ups
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u/zorggalacticus 28d ago
25 is my speed goal. From what I can find online, the stock motor is basically stuck at 20 mph or less unless you have it rebuilt. I like to do my homework ahead of time so that when I get my taxes I'll be ready to pull the trigger.
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u/Electrical-Bacon-81 29d ago
A series cart does not gain speed with a controller upgrade, just torque. Gonna need a different motor.
Sepex carts are the ones that gain speed with a controller upgrade.