Even the upgraded alternator.has limits

[escavader]

....I guess?
Last FRIDAY when i was blowing snow ill admit i was showing off to the neighbrs a bit.Iwas out there for just over an hour with
Heater fan on high[realized later the slowest out of 3 speeds works best]
circulating fan on high
oem tractor lights on/with tail lights
oem tractor flashers on
top rop mounted revolving flasher on
2 rear facing lights on[55w each]
2 front facing lights on [55w each]

When i tryed to start it today battery was weak,and battery light on.Tested at 12 volts tractor off.When i got it running volts were way up around 16.After i ran tractor an hour shut off volts at 14with tractor off.Played a little tonight [1/2 houror better] ran just front floods and heater and revolving all seemed fine after.
My question is 9 lights and 2 flashers and two fans on high too much for the upgraded alternator,or do i have an issue?Im guessing its a 40 amp alt but im not sure,Of course i dont need or even want all that junk on at once ,but should it have worked?What is the best way to test output of the alt.independant of the tractor.Ialso pulled off the negative cable when running,tractor stayed running,but un like a gas job it would i suspect?
ALAN

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

....I guess?
Last FRIDAY when i was blowing snow ill admit i was showing off to the neighbrs a bit.Iwas out there for just over an hour with
Heater fan on high[realized later the slowest out of 3 speeds works best]
circulating fan on high
oem tractor lights on/with tail lights
oem tractor flashers on
top rop mounted revolving flasher on
2 rear facing lights on[55w each]
2 front facing lights on [55w each]

ALAN

Alan,

This what I run and have had no problem in the past 3 years.


circulating fan on low
top rop mounted orange strobe on
2 rear facing lights on[55w each]
2 front facing lights on [55w each]
Electric rotator

I do have an upgraded alternator as u do.

I also keep a solar trickle charger on when the tractor is not is use. Knock on wood I am still on the original battery since march 02.

 

[escavader]

TOM, Ihad the original tractor lights on as well,plus its flashers,plus my circulating fan[not counting the heater fan]Do you think it was just too much ,or could i have an issue? I dont do the trickle charger,mabey i should?
ALAN

 

[PILOON]

Hi
Your 40 amp alternator is = to 480 watts.
Your 2 frt and 2 rear lamps= 220 watts
Heater motor draws a lot regardless of speed selected as speed is merely resistors in series.
Your rotating light probably has 2 sealed beams drawing another 100 watts or so.

All in all you were drawing more than the alternator output hence battery supplied the rest needed and just plain depleted itself.

Knowing some of these current draws is why I used computer type fans for my heater as they draw less than 1 amp and are far more efficient.
I also use only one front and one rear retangular halogen 'white fog lights' (flat very bright light), again for the current draw. (more lighting for the amps)

Don't believe anything is wrong with your alternator, you just asked too much of it.

 

[BobRip]

The alternator only puts out full current at high RPM, so that can also be an issue, especially if you are idling some. Sounds good otherwise. 14 volts is a good charging when warmed up.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Alan,

Without doing the calculations for watts vs volts I think u just had too much on. I think the OEM lights are not needed, if u can not see with two 55 watts front and back, then the OEM are not going to help.

I have 3 of these Harbor Freight solar chargers connected into my battery. I got them on sale for about $7-8 each a few years ago.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[escavader]

Good,i was hoping i didnt have an issue.Iabsolutely do not need the oem tractor lights on,like TOM SAID two 55 w[in each direction] are awesome.just teasing the neighbors,AND being an idiot..The heater fan works best on low,doesnt feel as warm on medium or high.ALAN

 

[devildog1]

Great set up you have there, this is what I do; when my BX is not playing---er----working I mean. I installed what is called a Battery Tender, It is used for my Harley Davidson over the winter sleep. Just plug it in when tractor is idle and it will keep the charge up, but not over charged. It stops the charge when charge is full, does not over charge.It can be bought at you Harley Dealer for about $40.00, workes GREAT! I have used three of them for different pieces of equiptment for the last 3 or 4 years.
Rick

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Rick,

I have used this Harbor Freight battery tender for many years on my 1973 Caddy and have had great results. Now on sale for $6.99

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[devildog1]

Tom,
thanks for link to Harbor Freight on price, we have one on Central Ave. in Schenectady, Albany road. I do shop there, the only difference I see is the connection. I have clamps and stay-cons on mine that can be permanently installed on battery so you don't have to remove guard on tractor. But stay-cons are cheap and clampes could be cut off.
Rick

 

[4shorts]

I've used a full floating battery tender for years on everything I have such a bikes ride on mower and Kubota. With the full floating type you never need to worry about "Boiling" the battery and the battery will always be up to full charge when you need it.

 

[teg]

...current draws is why I used computer type fans for my heater as they draw less than 1 amp and are far more efficient...

Piloon, can you tell me more about your heater? Did you make one or can you buy the computer type fan heater?

Dan/Teg

 

[PILOON]

TEG
I obtained a heater from under the rear seat of a school bus.
This was about 6" X 6" X 4"thick and had a regular heater motor with a 4 bladed fan.
Fan and motor was about 5" on top of the core making a big package for my little tractor (like about a 10" high 'box').

By replacing that big heater motor/fan with a 4" x 4" x1" thick compurer 'muffin fan' I greatly reduced the package size as well as those 'muffin fans' are super effective air movers all while drawing less than 1 amp.

That reduced my heater 'package' to a mere 6" high all while drawing less than 1 amp of power.

The actual heater is made by CARTER and listed in current catalogues (with biggish Delco fan).

Hope that helps.

Good liuck!

 

[teg]

Thanks for the information... My heater will need to be totally electric for an all electric car that we have. We actually used one of those computer fans to expel the gases that come from recharging the battery bank. I'll keep looking around, it doesn't get that cold down here and it's only a 20 minute ride, so it's not a high priority just a hobby/game to make my own for cheap!

 

[Hvytrkmech]

16v for extended operating periods will literally cook, and boil out your battery. 14v is the norm for a 12v system across the board. You should check the electrolyte level of you battery and top off each cell as necessary. If you have room, a larger, higher capacity battery will be a wise upgrade.



Tim

 

[escavader]

16v for extended operating periods will literally cook, and boil out your battery. 14v is the norm for a 12v system across the board. You should check the electrolyte level of you battery and top off each cell as necessary. If you have room, a larger, higher capacity battery will be a wise upgrade.

Ithink the alternator was working overtime to charge that battery back up

 

[BobRip]

16v for extended operating periods will literally cook, and boil out your battery. 14v is the norm for a 12v system across the board. You should check the electrolyte level of you battery and top off each cell as necessary. If you have room, a larger, higher capacity battery will be a wise upgrade.



Tim

When alternators are cold they put out higher voltage to compensate for the fact that you just ran the battery down starting the engine. As long as it drops to 14 or so after warm up then you are OK.

 

[escavader]

When alternators are cold they put out higher voltage to compensate for the fact that you just ran the battery down starting the engine. As long as it drops to 14 or so after warm up then you are OK.

Thank you BOB RIP,Its what i thought .After i charged the battery with my charger and retested it was putting out 14 something.
alan

 

[escavader]

Well knock me down.Iran the tractor 2 hours and the battery is deader than a doornail Less than 10 amps and that was runningNo lights at all last 1/2 hour.Iwas very easy on the electrics ran 4 55 w lights and heater on low and did not run them all the time .Someone said something about having to EXCITE AN ALTERNATOR how do you do that? Igot something going on faulty regulator ???? The system workes fine with the old dynamo,i wouldnt think it was my battery.Ihave my plow truck battery i can install it and try i guess.ANY THOUGHTS????
ALAN

 

[johnk]

Could have a bad cell in the battery. Make sure the belt isn't slipping and the alternator is putting out. My bets are with the battery......

JOhn