I have 500 series A TLB that I bought last fall. The electrical system seems to have a problem and I could use some help. This is a 24-Volt system with 2 batteries in series. What is the easiest way to test the alternator? What should the voltage be on the batteries when the machine is running (to see if it’s charging)? Should the voltage on the batteries drop off during start up and if yes how much? I just put new batteries in the machine today so maybe the problem is solved, but I’d like to know more about this 24 volt system in case it has more problems and for future reference.
Deere 500 series A electrical problem.
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I have 500 series A TLB that I bought last fall. The electrical system seems to have a problem and I could use some help. This is a 24-Volt system with 2 batteries in series. What is the easiest way to test the alternator? What should the voltage be on the batteries when the machine is running (to see if it’s charging)? Should the voltage on the batteries drop off during start up and if yes how much? I just put new batteries in the machine today so maybe the problem is solved, but I’d like to know more about this 24 volt system in case it has more problems and for future reference.
paratrooper
Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have 500 series A TLB that I bought last fall. The electrical system seems to have a problem and I could use some help. This is a 24-Volt system with 2 batteries in series. What is the easiest way to test the alternator? What should the voltage be on the batteries when the machine is running (to see if it’s charging)?
Depending on the battery type in the original design you will have one of 2 readings . If the unit was designed for maintainance type batteries you will read 13.6 on the leads NOT the post . For sealed batteries you will read 14.2 . The sealed type can take a hotter charge so the alternator will feed them differently . If you have maintainance types on there and it is sending 14.2 you will need to keep an eye on the water level . If you are getting 13.2 with sealed types it will work just fine .
Should the voltage on the batteries drop off during start up and if yes how much?
Usually a 12 volt batt drops down to 10 and change . 9.6 being the lowest that you want .
I just put new batteries in the machine today so maybe the problem is solved, but I’d like to know more about this 24 volt system in case it has more problems and for future reference. )</font>
Usually these are referred to as "24 to the starter and 12 to the system". The batteries are "piggy backed" just for this reason . For all intents and purposes you have a 12 volt system .If your batteries are draining power while it's off you have a drain . Let me know if this is the case . This system was explained to me looooong ago so I hope I remembered correctly .
Depending on the battery type in the original design you will have one of 2 readings . If the unit was designed for maintainance type batteries you will read 13.6 on the leads NOT the post . For sealed batteries you will read 14.2 . The sealed type can take a hotter charge so the alternator will feed them differently . If you have maintainance types on there and it is sending 14.2 you will need to keep an eye on the water level . If you are getting 13.2 with sealed types it will work just fine .
Should the voltage on the batteries drop off during start up and if yes how much?
Usually a 12 volt batt drops down to 10 and change . 9.6 being the lowest that you want .
I just put new batteries in the machine today so maybe the problem is solved, but I’d like to know more about this 24 volt system in case it has more problems and for future reference. )</font>
Usually these are referred to as "24 to the starter and 12 to the system". The batteries are "piggy backed" just for this reason . For all intents and purposes you have a 12 volt system .If your batteries are draining power while it's off you have a drain . Let me know if this is the case . This system was explained to me looooong ago so I hope I remembered correctly .
paratrooper
Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have 500 series A TLB that I bought last fall. The electrical system seems to have a problem and I could use some help. This is a 24-Volt system with 2 batteries in series. What is the easiest way to test the alternator? What should the voltage be on the batteries when the machine is running (to see if it’s charging)?
Depending on the battery type in the original design you will have one of 2 readings . If the unit was designed for maintainance type batteries you will read 13.6 on the leads NOT the post . For sealed batteries you will read 14.2 . The sealed type can take a hotter charge so the alternator will feed them differently . If you have maintainance types on there and it is sending 14.2 you will need to keep an eye on the water level . If you are getting 13.2 with sealed types it will work just fine .
Should the voltage on the batteries drop off during start up and if yes how much?
Usually a 12 volt batt drops down to 10 and change . 9.6 being the lowest that you want .
I just put new batteries in the machine today so maybe the problem is solved, but I’d like to know more about this 24 volt system in case it has more problems and for future reference. )</font>
Usually these are referred to as "24 to the starter and 12 to the system". The batteries are "piggy backed" just for this reason . For all intents and purposes you have a 12 volt system .If your batteries are draining power while it's off you have a drain . Let me know if this is the case . This system was explained to me looooong ago so I hope I remembered correctly .
Depending on the battery type in the original design you will have one of 2 readings . If the unit was designed for maintainance type batteries you will read 13.6 on the leads NOT the post . For sealed batteries you will read 14.2 . The sealed type can take a hotter charge so the alternator will feed them differently . If you have maintainance types on there and it is sending 14.2 you will need to keep an eye on the water level . If you are getting 13.2 with sealed types it will work just fine .
Should the voltage on the batteries drop off during start up and if yes how much?
Usually a 12 volt batt drops down to 10 and change . 9.6 being the lowest that you want .
I just put new batteries in the machine today so maybe the problem is solved, but I’d like to know more about this 24 volt system in case it has more problems and for future reference. )</font>
Usually these are referred to as "24 to the starter and 12 to the system". The batteries are "piggy backed" just for this reason . For all intents and purposes you have a 12 volt system .If your batteries are draining power while it's off you have a drain . Let me know if this is the case . This system was explained to me looooong ago so I hope I remembered correctly .
Yes, it is 24 volt start, 12 to the rest. There does not seem to be any drain. The machine sat all winter and the batteries held there charge. The former owner did tell me he was having some trouble for a while with starting it. The batteries I replaced I think had some bad cells. They would read 12+ volts till cranking the starter, then they would drop right off to about 2 volts. With the new ones it does not drop like that, but with the machine running I read 12.5 volts on both batteries. They read 12.3 volts with it not running, but this may be low being they were new. According to the card that comes with them they need to charge up some due to they only come with a slight charge.
Yes, it is 24 volt start, 12 to the rest. There does not seem to be any drain. The machine sat all winter and the batteries held there charge. The former owner did tell me he was having some trouble for a while with starting it. The batteries I replaced I think had some bad cells. They would read 12+ volts till cranking the starter, then they would drop right off to about 2 volts. With the new ones it does not drop like that, but with the machine running I read 12.5 volts on both batteries. They read 12.3 volts with it not running, but this may be low being they were new. According to the card that comes with them they need to charge up some due to they only come with a slight charge.
paratrooper
Member
Don't depend on the tractor running to charge them . Put a charger on it . Batteries should read 12.6 volts when fully charged . The alternator should be putting out , as I said , 13.6 for maintainance type and 14.2 for sealed batteries . This is read at the cables and not the posts . Or you could put the pos lead at the alt. output and ground to the frame to read the charge coming out .
paratrooper
Member
Don't depend on the tractor running to charge them . Put a charger on it . Batteries should read 12.6 volts when fully charged . The alternator should be putting out , as I said , 13.6 for maintainance type and 14.2 for sealed batteries . This is read at the cables and not the posts . Or you could put the pos lead at the alt. output and ground to the frame to read the charge coming out .