Golf Cart Solenoids: OEM vs Aftermarket

I recently had a call with a gentleman concerned that the new  solenoids he received wouldn't work on his golf cart. The sticker on the side of his Club Car solenoid read 36 volt which is exactly what he needed. It had the same type of mounting bracket as his older solenoid, but it didn't look like his original solenoid. I started explaining to him that he had a valid reason for calling because his new solenoid was an aftermarket part which does indeed look a bit different than the stock solenoid he was replacing. I started explaining to him while the external housing may look different, the internal parts would be the same. Many aftermarket brands can lower their prices by using different materials that have the same result and still are a great product.

OEM vs Aftermarket Solenoids

All upgraded golf cart solenoids are aftermarket therefore the quality of these are actually often greater than a stock OEM solenoid. The main difference with upgraded solenoids is the size of the contacts on the inside. Most solenoids are sealed but, there are some that have such large contacts that they must be air cooled. These are normally used on golf carts that have been substantially upgraded for increased torque or speed.

Heavy Duty Aftermarket Solenoids

Some solenoids are required to have a diode and a resister attached to them. The  diode is a safety feature which some controller manufacturers require to maintain their controller warranty. This diode prevents a spike or short in the electrical system from reaching the controller and possibly damaging it. The diode is directional; therefore, it must be installed correctly to work. Each diode will have a strip on one end, this end will need to be connected to the positive side of the circuit. Usually a solenoid requiring a diode also requires a resister. The resister is non-directional and is installed across the 2 larger terminals. This allows voltage with minimal amperage to keep the controller energized and ready to work.

Solenoid Diode & Resistor Diagram

At Golf Cart King, we sell a variety of golf cart solenoids for Club Car, EZGO and Yamaha golf carts. If you have a question regarding your golf cart solenoid, give us a call at (877) 960-5464 or shoot an email to our tech support team.