Golf cart potentiometers are electrical devices that send signals from the accelerator pedal to the controller to allow the controller to “detect” pedal position and adjust accordingly. There are many different types and we will discuss them, what they do, and how to test them.
Output Signals
The vast majority of golf cart potentiometers send a resistance signal measured in ohms to the controller. Some of the more common output signals are 0-5K ohms, 5K-0 ohms, and 0-1K ohms. For those of you not familiar with this vernacular, The “K” in the notation represents “times 1,000”, thus 5K is equal to 5,000. Further, a 0-5K ohms output would mean that full pedal up (not depressed), the golf cart potentiometer is sending a resistance signal of zero ohms to the controller.
Resistance Based
In any scenario, the electronic speed controller must be perfectly matched to the golf cart potentiometer. The controller must have the same throttle input type as the golf cart potentiometer is sending, or at least the capability to be reprogrammed to another throttle type.
Voltage Based
There are also other styles golf cart potentiometers which output low voltage signals to the electronic speed controller. Some older Taylor-Dunn vehicles used a 6-10.5 volts output. E-Z-GO’s ITS (Induction Throttle Sensor) is a golf cart potentiometer that output a voltage based single to the controller.
