Bobcat GPS locator killing battery

[laurencen]

my Bobcat E32 has the GPS locator, if stolen or something is not working right the dealer can locate it and relay codes, problem I am having the battery is dead if not used 6 to 8 weeks, its sending a signal 23-7-52, want to have it powered when the ignition is powered up.

Dealer has no help as to where its located or how its powered, first off what does it look like? there is what I believe is the antenna mounted under the side cover (fiberglass) above the fuse box, 2 black wires go into the cab after that dealer figures take inside if cab apart.

I would put a disconnect on the battery but its buried in the machine no way to get to it without taking covers off

anyone familar with this system

 

[dodge man]

A work around might be to put a trickle charger on it. You can often hook a pigtail up to it and have a connector sticking out where its easy to get at.

How good is the battery? Have you load tested it? It could just be a weak battery.

 

[laurencen]

new battery last month, when charged its better than spec, issue is off site no power like at the lake, im convinced its the GPS, my Toolcat and S590, can sit for months no issue, my ammeter has too high a scale to read but definatly has a draw, anyone have a schematic maybe I can pull the fuse

 

[5030]

Why not just install an isolation switch and be done with it?

 

[laurencen]

no way to put the switch by the battery its not accesible without removing the metal side cover, I cold add cables and put in a switch but figured moving the power wire to the GPS thats continually powered to the ignition switch, then it is only powered when machine is running when ignition is on

 

[5030]

What I meant, not the battery, the unit.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

What I meant, not the battery, the unit.

That's too simple.

 

[dodge man]

Do you get sun where it’s stored. They make decent solar chargers that aren’t that expensive. I’m guessing the draw isn’t that large but when it sits that long it kills the battery. I’ve read where Ford F150 owners are having similar problems with parasitic draw.

 

[sea2summit]

My watch has a GPS that I use a few hours a week running and wear it the rest of the day, the battery lasts about 10 days. If a GPS is draining a 12v battery in six weeks I don't think that's the main problem. I'd put a meter to the battery and see what the draw is at rest then take it from there.

 

[laurencen]

not sure the draw on a watch but they run for months on a small battery, likely run for years on a 12volt 800 amp battery. the watch recieves signal not transmit.

my ampmeter sees the draw but small the meter reads in .1 amp area bitt less than a small interior light. pulled fuses its not the control or accessory line have one fuse kills it and all the power to cab interior such as lights, beacon, its the GPS in discussing with dealer they can see the signal continually, not sure if its every hour it sends data or continious.

just wanting to change it from continious powered to when the machine is powered up, dealer figures its doable but likely expensive, not wanting to add solar or seperate charger. they also do not see it on the electrical diagram even suprised they can track it

maybe this weekend I will start digging in the cab removing some interior

 

[Gator6x4]

Built in GPS‘s are becoming common place because stealing has become the job of choice For many.

It would not in my opinion be wise to post anything on an Internet forum about how to disable such theft deterrent devices.

 

[laurencen]

hi Gator, I have no intention to disable it nor advising such, my machine sees little use maybe a few hours a month around the acerage, what I want is the GPS powering up when the display is powered up, I leave it when not used with the house 90 degrees to track and boom with blade down.

I am assuming any would be theith will turn the display on but does not have the code to start the machine

from discussions with dealer the GPS has located several stolen machines locally so the system does work well

 

[Jrasband]

I hope my Kubota doesnt have that crap on it and if it did I would want to remove it nothing wrong with saying that on the internet after all it is MY tractor.

 

[laurencen]

I hope my Kubota doesnt have that crap on it and if it did I would want to remove it nothing wrong with saying that on the internet after all it is MY tractor.

and you need to add your address at the end

 

[BigBlue1]

I second the suggestion for a solar powered battery tender. Quick, easy and cheap, plus it doesn't alter the machine or its functionality. Some models can even be left it place and are totally hands-off.

 

[Gator6x4]

I hope my Kubota doesnt have that crap on it and if it did I would want to remove it nothing wrong with saying that on the internet after all it is MY tractor.

True. Your equipment you can do with it what you want to. Now consider this if you remove the gps sender and light finger harry steals the unit will the insurance company pay for the loss? Will the police look for the unit if they discover you had removed the gps.

If my unit I would install a trickle charger either powered by land line or solar powered. If I had to install a solar panel to generate the voltage to power the trickle charger I would also install a fuel shut off in a hidden location on the unit.

 

[bnold]

Another vote for simple solar charger and panel. Very inexpensive now.

My fuel trailer has had a small one to keep the battery charged for years.

 

[laurencen]

well Im going to invest in the solar idea, locate it on the cab and done, good point regarding the insurance however I figured when the robber tried to start the unit and display powered up the GPS would be on line

all my machines have a shutoff on the fuel lines, I knoe they work because a couple times started the machine and it runs for 30 seconds and dies

 

[laurencen]

so looking at solar chargers, there are some that will mount inside the cab to the glass pannel, mount the controller and connect o battery, this way all the system is inside the cab, I realise its better on the outside but a 300watt pannel should easily keep up with whats draining the battery

thoghts? how and where are you mounting them?

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

If it has a cigarette lighter that has power full time, that's where I'd trickle charge it, solar or 120vac.