Batteries for my Dozer

[EddieWalker]

I don't remember why, but I bought two Continental batteries for my dozer in May of 2011. I'm pretty sure they are what was recommended by the sales guy. They worked great for three years, but since fall, I've had to jump the dozer to get it started. I checked the alternator and it's putting out 26 volts, so I think that's fine. After running it for awhile, it will start up easily for a few days, but if I let it sit for longer, I have to jump it again.

The dozer has a Cummins 8.3 engine with 170 hp.

First question is who makes the best battery for a dozer that might go months without being started? I have a disconnect for the batteries, so there is no draw on them when not in use. It just sits for long periods when not needed.

Second question concerns what to have under the batteries. Right now, they sit on a metal tray. Would a rubber mat under the batteries help?

And last, what advice do you have to prolong the life of my batteries? Is 3 1/2 years normal for battery life under my conditions? Very hot and humid in the summer, freezing temps at night in the winter.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have never yet found the answer about the importance of what you place your batteries on, but more important, the all time batteries on a concrete floor will ruin them rumour.

Maybe, just maybe you have a leaking diode (in the alternator) that slowly discharges your batteries.

I don't attend to my batteries as often as I should. I have a friend that has this elaborate system of harnesses and cigar lighter plugs with which he keeps all his stuff always on a maintainer. A little too **** for me!

I do check the water level in my batteris at least once a year, clean them and maybe give the ones that arn't used a trickle charge for a day or two through the winter. If batteries wouldn't last five or six years I would be upset.

I would not trust a battery salesman as far as I could throw his batteries. They all say they are the best and the others are crap! I know JD has their strong box line of batteries or I think the "hibernator" for applications where equipment sits for long periods. Don't know if they make them in a 6D style. Always wanted to try them.

What about a solar charger that might keep your batteries up but not boil them dry?

 

[3930dave]

A decent maintenance charger that can de-sulphate is always a battery's friend. An appropriately sized solar panel + regulator would help in a Back 40 spot.

Battery life in heat can be tough - checking and topping up cells with distilled or DI water is critical - meaning olde school flooded plate batteries.

Any decent AGM battery (like Optima) should perform well in your application. Tough design, and the self-discharge rate in storage is very low. Takes vibration well.

Rgds, D.

 

[hosspuller]

You might add a disconnect between the pair of batteries. L/A batteries connected in parallel can discharge each other if unbalanced. That's why it's good practice to buy them in matched pairs.

 

[radioman]

before tossing them, have you checked the plates to see if they have sulfated over ? If they did , have you tried the old school trick? with epsom salt ? a tiny teaspoon worth in each cell and put em on a charger till the water clears up This works wonders on batteries. it helps the sulfated white stuff not to bridge the plates. Make sense?

As for what to put under the batteries, I am not entirely sure why you are concerned? nearly all equipment I seen have mostly metal brackets, plates, etc. Some might have plastic bottom, but this is a dozer you are talking about. What I dont like is that area under batteries like to rust first before anything so its gets repainted everytime battery is removed. I just use whatever metal paint I have on hand -- after all who gonna look under a tied down battery to see you used bright yellow or pink paint just because its what you had on hand leftover.

I cant comment on battery life for you as you dont use it daily. One thing I learned that in northeast states, batteries doesnt like to sit for 6 months not being used and go at it like new for 5-7 years unless its on a maintainer or its pulled to be used in something else.

 

[3930dave]

Eddie - with your Alt at 26v, sounds like your batteries are in series ?

I like to see something like 14v out of 12v Alt.

Any chance that 26v is just a little light for full charging ? I'm allowing 2.3v/cell for standard Lead/Acid.

My latest Schumacher charger will display % charged. It might be interesting to hook up something like that to your battery after you've had the dozer working for a morning or so.

I've never worked on 24v systems - We need Brain55 or another HD equipment guy in here....

Rgds, D.

(Edit - one more long shot.... No Idea what your soil is like, but believe it or not you can get low current discharge between battery terminals, with dirt/debris on the battery case. It's not a high current drain, but is present 24x7x...... Can spot it sometimes by connecting one meter probe to a battery terminal, and touching the case with the other probe, while measuring DC volts).

 

[Industrial Toys]

If you really wanted to know, disconnect one side of the battery and put a voltmeter (an older analogue one would be better) between that lead and the place you took it off. With everything shut off, you should see no voltage if no current is flowing. You may have to reverse the leads if an analogue meter is used.

 

[EddieWalker]

26volts on the gauge is just a close guess. the gauge isn't as nice as what most cars have, it's just something cheap that my dad found to monitor the voltage. It could easily be a bit more or less, it's just too hard to be sure since the arrow isn't on an actual number.

I was thinking that a rubber mat might help protect the batteries from getting cold from the metal of the dozer. Isn't that why batteries lose their charge sitting on concrete? it's actually fairly clean in the battery compartment, which is at the back of the dozer, fairly high up.

I've been looking at a trickle charge solar system for the batteries, but so far, haven't found anything for 24 volts

I have two 12v batteries that are connected to each other to get 24 volts.

Eddie

 

[3930dave]

26volts on the gauge is just a close guess. the gauge isn't as nice as what most cars have, it's just something cheap that my dad found to monitor the voltage. It could easily be a bit more or less, it's just too hard to be sure since the arrow isn't on an actual number.

I was thinking that a rubber mat might help protect the batteries from getting cold from the metal of the dozer. Isn't that why batteries lose their charge sitting on concrete? it's actually fairly clean in the battery compartment, which is at the back of the dozer, fairly high up.

I've been looking at a trickle charge solar system for the batteries, but so far, haven't found anything for 24 volts

I have two 12v batteries that are connected to each other to get 24 volts.

Eddie

No two batteries will charge exactly the same, so what I'd do is charge them separately.

Two solar panels, one for each battery. You likely have lots of sun, 5watt panels may work. If you want to be sure, use a higher output panel with a regulator between it and the battery - 2 panels and 2 regulators in that case.

A basic DMM will be helpful for diagnosing this and other power problems. I like Fluke DMMs, but a basic hardware store house brand is less money and should still give you better resolution than your dash gauge. Buy the Fluke if you want a lifetime meter, and esp. if you'll use it on 120/220VAC.

Rgds, D.

 

[radioman]

batteries on concrete. its a good idea not to leave batteries on concrete in case of a spill of acid, but not because of discharging THRU the battery casing. It just doesnt happen any more with newer plastics now a days. Here in NYS, batteries are exposed to -10 or so temps and it still can start a tractor. Granted it wont be like new, but once it warms up it will start just like new. I would say in texas winter, batteries are just fine the way it is, but you can wrap it around the side with foam battery wraps to help when exposed to winds as in the windchill factor, but I think you might be overdoing it. You just happened to have a battery that just didnt live up to your expectation for battery life or you might have a bad one.
As for batteries on concrete -- just check out snopes about that ...