Electrical Limitations

[TWD]

What is the best way to determine the electrical requirement of the tractor "as is", and then figure out how much more you can add to it w/out utilizing alternator 100% or more, and draining the battery, and potentially ruining the alternator.

Looking to add some work lights, and maybe a CB, and I'd like to know how much I have to work with.

What about adding a second battery for when say using a spot light at night for short periods?

All accessories would run off a distribution block that connects directly to the battery.
:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

What is the best way to determine the electrical requirement of the tractor "as is", and then figure out how much more you can add to it w/out utilizing alternator 100% or more, and draining the battery, and potentially ruining the alternator.

Looking to add some work lights, and maybe a CB, and I'd like to know how much I have to work with.

What about adding a second battery for when say using a spot light at night for short periods?

All accessories would run off a distribution block that connects directly to the battery.
:thumbsup:

Simple math. Look up the specs or call the dealer to see how many amps the alternator is rated for.

Then take an amp clamp and measure how many amps the tractor uses while under normal operation conditions and the lights/flashers, etc on.

The difference between the two is about how much you have to play with.

Say under normal conditions with the lights on etc. you are drawing 40 amps and the alternator is rated for 80 amps, then you could add up to 40 amps worth of extras.

 

[RPW]

-LD- I haven't seen a "DC" amp clamp. Thought those were for AC only? But what you're saying is correct. A few work lights and a CB don't draw that much current and I haven't seen or heard of any tractor manufacturer running there alternator/generator at such a point that it couldn't handle 10 or 20 extra amps.

Good luck.

 

[Kays Supply]

FYI the little grey market Yanmars can't even handle the head lights for a very long time. They just were not made to work at night. The make of tractor will effect this answer.

 

[LD1]

-LD- I haven't seen a "DC" amp clamp. Thought those were for AC only? But what you're saying is correct. A few work lights and a CB don't draw that much current and I haven't seen or heard of any tractor manufacturer running there alternator/generator at such a point that it couldn't handle 10 or 20 extra amps.

Good luck.

I have a Fluke 336 that does DC amps. I also hae a PDI automotive multimeter that also does DC amps. They do make them.

 

[TWD]

Thanks, I`ll check my clamp meter to see if it does DC and check while running, and with lights to figure out how much more I can add :thumbsup:

To go above the alt. output for short periods the battery should be ok... right? IE: Using a small electric winch.

I could add a 2nd battery someplace too for extra storage if I needed.

 

[Craig Clayton]

Dear Sir
Most lamps are rated in watts, and alts are in amps some in watts, so if you add up the watts of your lights that will be the total load in watts. So a 30 amp alt at 12 volts = 360 watts. If you want to start to running high power lights I think some off road are 150 watts per light. You could think of load sharing meaning do you need the CB on and the high power lights at the same time. Or the work lights on but drop the cab lights. Or put in a 100 amp alt , you might have to do some rewiring.
Craig Clayton

 

[RPW]

-LD- I looked up the Fluke meter but still am having problems wrapping my hands around a "DC clamp" meter. I'm not talking about the verbage on the box but the operation. AC clamp meters measure the amount of magnetic energy in a conductor and calculates the amperage based on that energy much like a transformer. However DC does not have that continuously changing magnetic field to measure. So if you could please enlighten me.

Thanks.

 

[LD1]

-LD- I looked up the Fluke meter but still am having problems wrapping my hands around a "DC clamp" meter. I'm not talking about the verbage on the box but the operation. AC clamp meters measure the amount of magnetic energy in a conductor and calculates the amperage based on that energy much like a transformer. However DC does not have that continuously changing magnetic field to measure. So if you could please enlighten me.

Thanks.

I dont know how they work, all I can tell you is that they CAN measure DC amps. Take my word for it. Maybe someone else can chime in here.

 

[o2batsea]

I assume it's a diesel and has no ignition load. The only thing drawing will be lights, accessories and of course the starter glow plugs and instruments. Starter and lights are only used intermittently so the total amp hour draw is very low. If your charging system is anything over 50 amps you're golden. Work lights, especially the LED type you probably won't notice. If you keep the engine on with the lights likely no worries. You may not need a second battery if a larger one will fit. A group 27 or 31 should allow lots of accessories.