Current draw with brakes locked

joes_427_vette · Feb 10, 2007

My friend also has a new TC 55 DA. He replaced the battery with an Altima jell type battery. After it sits for two to three weeks he noticed the battery was not at full strength. After several chargings he believed the battery was defective. Prior to removing the battery we tested the circuit. With the key off and the brakes locked there was a 9 mili-amp draw. A release of the brakes dropped it to 1 mil amp. I don't know if there is a computer or some type of sending device controlling the brake but an audible signal will remind you to set it upon leaving the seat if the machine is running. I did not check my machine for a current draw but the battery has been full strength for the past three months. Anyone have a clue as to what is taking place ?

FULLPULL · Feb 10, 2007

Joe on page 2-7 of the owners manual there is a diagram showing how the presence system works on all of the options the alarm will sound if your out of the seat with the parking brake off. I would have your friend ask the dealer about this.I would think there should be no amps pulled if the brake is on but check all the options the shuttle ,seat, pto and the brakes all play a role on this system.

Soundguy · Feb 11, 2007

If that tractor can take a optional brake lamp / controller.. then there may be a brake senso that is on there, along with the aforementioned presence system. Perhaps something is staying powered.

though at 9ma.. that's not a huge draw... It would / should take about 110 hours to equal a 1ah draw... I'd think that if he ran it once a month.. it would be fine. That's got to be close to a computerized clock / radio preset type thing...

Soundguy

joes_427_vette · Feb 11, 2007

I know it doesn't sound like much of a draw.... but in a month it will take the altima battery down to a level it will not start the machine. I guess one could keep a battery tender on it during the dorment months but what concerns me most is what if it leads to a direct short and starts wiring burning ? I think we will start with disconnecting the audible signal. We have identical machines so an exchange of parts may locate the source. His dealer may not want to warranty the part without the trip to his shop. I think he gets 75 each way which may be less than the part. Let you know when it is resolved. jr

IH3444 · Feb 12, 2007

One of the first things I did was install a battery tender, Walmart's copy of the 1.5volt Schumacker offers. I placed a bar across where the oil cooler goes for the TC55, and mounted it to that. Before installing the prefilter I could look through the black mesh grill and see the red light on. I started calling it cyber-tractor, or cyborg-tractor. I have plugged it in several times to "top of" the battery, and bring to full charge, but each time it is so close to full charge already that the red light denoteing the battery is fully charged comes on almost imediately. Even after sitting for over a month. This is leading me to believe that possibly the EHSS has some electronics on full time which is drawing power from the battery. What was that mystery black box safety which had failed on several machines, and needed replacement. Could that be the draw on the battery? I have also looked into a battery cutoff switch, but don't know if I should trust it. The Caltron model says 100amp constant, and 1000amp surge, but who knows???? Next thing the tractor won't start, not from dead battery, but from cheapO switch.......

Soundguy · Feb 12, 2007

The point of my post, saying that it was not that much of a draw is that it isn't. In other words.. you DO have some other problem other than the 9ma draw.. If the 9ma draw kills your battery in a month.. it's a bad battery.. or you have more than a 9ma draw.. etc.

Soundguy

joes_427_vette said:
I know it doesn't sound like much of a draw.... but in a month it will take the altima battery down to a level it will not start the machine. I guess one could keep a battery tender on it during the dorment months but what concerns me most is what if it leads to a direct short and starts wiring burning ? I think we will start with disconnecting the audible signal. We have identical machines so an exchange of parts may locate the source. His dealer may not want to warranty the part without the trip to his shop. I think he gets 75 each way which may be less than the part. Let you know when it is resolved. jr

jinman · Feb 12, 2007

Soundguy said:
The point of my post, saying that it was not that much of a draw is that it isn't. In other words.. you DO have some other problem other than the 9ma draw.. If the 9ma draw kills your battery in a month.. it's a bad battery.. or you have more than a 9ma draw.. etc.

Soundguy

Chris, I thought the same thing when I first read the post. A 9 milliamp load is 0.009 amps. If the draw was 900 milliamps (0.9 amp), it could pull a healthy battery down, but I don't see how 9 milliamps would do it in two months. By my calculations, that's only about 13 ah over 60 days.

FULLPULL · Feb 12, 2007

The dealer told me when i picked up my tractor that if the alarm or signal was beeping the brake wasnt set or the shuttle wasnt set right to leave the seat.

Soundguy · Feb 12, 2007

Yep.. my point exactly. In 1 month, his battery should barely be touched, reserve wise. Thus.. is his battery is flat after a month.. either he has a bad battery.. or that 9ma drain becomes pretty heavy intermitantly... I'm thinking in the 2 amp range.. at least.. to flatten it in weeks.. etc.

Soundguy

jinman said:
Chris, I thought the same thing when I first read the post. A 9 milliamp load is 0.009 amps. If the draw was 900 milliamps (0.9 amp), it could pull a healthy battery down, but I don't see how 9 milliamps would do it in two months. By my calculations, that's only about 13 ah over 60 days.

BobRip · Feb 13, 2007

jinman said:
Chris, I thought the same thing when I first read the post. A 9 milliamp load is 0.009 amps. If the draw was 900 milliamps (0.9 amp), it could pull a healthy battery down, but I don't see how 9 milliamps would do it in two months. By my calculations, that's only about 13 ah over 60 days.

I agree that it not major current, but a battery has to be in a pretty high charge condition to start a vehicle. The number that comes to mind is 80%. Remember there is also some self discharge internal to the battery, so you would loose more than 13 Ah. I wish I could tell you how much. I would try to disconnect stuff and see when the current disappears or drops.

I like the float charger or even better a desulfation charger, but power is not always avialable.