BM Writes: What does all this PDS, DCS, and IQ mean?
According to Roger:
I can understand that as people ask that all the time. To be honest I really don’t think anyone knows the whole scope of that, but I will make an effort to sort through it for you. A good rule of thumb, abbreviated letters like PDS, DCS and IQ, are meant to help identify the drive system. Below are some examples for the big three OEM’s:
For Club Car Cars: Power Drive indicates the car is a Series Motor System, on the market from 1990 and up. You should see on the older cars, years 1990 – 1994, a 1204 black footprint using a 0 to 5K potentiometer (36 Volts). On the newer cars, years 1995 and up, they are a 5K to 0 potentiometer with silver footprint (48 Volts).
Power Drive Plus Systems: There are two versions of Power Drive Plus (PD+ or PDP). One is called REGEN 1 (shortened for Regenerative System One). This is a Shunt Wound Motor system. It does not have a run/tow switch. The key switch serves as a run/tow switch. The controller on this system is black and T-shaped. The system used two solenoids. Used from 1995 to 1997.5.
Club Car followed this up with REGEN 2, used from 1997.5 up to 1999. This Shunt Wound Motor system does have a run/tow switch and has two solenoids. A later version only used one solenoid, this was from 2001 to 2002 (may have only been a half year). The controller uses a 23 pin connector.
IQ indicates a Shunt Wound Motor system, on the market from 2002 up to 2014 (first quarter only). I have been told the beginning of the life of the IQ systems could be a half year 2001.5, you just have to look closer when dealing with those questionable years. The system will have a 16 pin controller connector. That is the defining factor for knowing what system it is. The footprint is 1510 and is black in color. A word on 2008.5 to 2009.5… there was a TPS system (Throttle Position Sensor) included. That has to do with the throttle as indicated. It uses a different controller and or up-graded throttle to MCOR. That’s what we in the business call a red flag year. If you have this year, please note that.
Do not confuse IQ with EXCEL or ERIC systems. 2009.5 and up to 2014 is EXCEL and uses a gray color controller. The footprint will be 1515. From 2014 quarter year is an EXCEL version used in I2 cars, so we call it I2. It is white in color. In 2016 ERIC Shunt Motor Systems were introduced to the market and you can know that system by the type of battery charger and the lack of an OBC (on board computer).
For E-Z-GO Cars: A newer version of older Series Motor System, E-Z-GO’s Non-DCS systems were on the market from 1994.5 and up. The controller in that system had a 1206 footprint size. Prior to 1994.5 it was a series system using controller with a foot-print size of 1204 or 1205 (1988 to 1994.5). Footprint size just tells you the physical size of the controller. The numbers that follow that footprint number can mean several things but in normal circumstances it lets us know the throttle input. That is not always the case as sometimes the throttle input can be changed or made specifically for a certain application if requested by a client. There is another system that is not seen much, it is the HD Series. A limited variety on the market, simply put it is a heavy-duty series controller system with higher current range.
DCS indicates a first generation Shunt Wound Motor system use from 1995 up to 1999. I am told, DCS means Drive Controller System (however, the meaning is not important to identification). The unique thing about this system is, the car was made to shift with a lever and not a rocker switch (as we see in the newer systems). Unfortunately, this means DCS Shunt systems can easily be confused with a Series System. However, there is a unique identifying feature about this system as it did not have a speed sensor on the motor.
PDS indicates a second generation Shunt Wound Motor system used from 2000 up to 2010. It was a 36 volt system as were all the Series systems and DCS systems. I am told PDS means Precision Drive System (again, the meaning is not important to identification). This was a 1206 footprint just like the DCS controller. The two more noticeable differences with this system are 1) it shifts with a rocker switch,not a lever; 2) the controller has multiple connectors. The motor does have a speed sensor.
For Yamaha Cars: G8 to G16 is a Series Wound Motor System. G14 and G16 are a 0 to 1K throttle and G8 up to G14 is 0 to 1K. All of these cars are 36 volts. These cars shift with a lever.
G19 and G22 are Shunt Wound Motor systems. The throttle is 0 to 5K. These cars will shift with rocker switch. G29 is a Shunt Wound Motor system. The throttle is 0 to 5 Volts. The controller is a Moric. Also be aware on G22 model cars there is a 1/2 year that had a Moric controller (you have to look for it).
AC Motor systems: Last but now least, these systems are found on E-Z-GO RXV models and late model Yamaha cars. No big mystery here, it is a very noticeable system.
This covers the big three and most popular models. There are a lot of others like IQ+ or MPT cars used in industry or commercial/utility car systems. For more information about a specific drive system, please feel free to email me at guru@golfcarnews.com.
