lights left on -> dead battery

[WinterDeere]

Find the lead that feeds the lights and add a relay across it that is activated by turning on the ignition switch. No ignition power opens the relay and kills the lights.

That would prevent anyone from ever using the lights with the ignition off, which is something I need to do a bunch, in winter.

A buzzer with a suspend button still sounds like the best option, to me.

 

[WranglerX]

A buzzer is a reminder, any quiet switch is subject to same forgetfulness (except for ign/power key switch).........

 

[WinterDeere]

A buzzer is a reminder, any quiet switch in subject to same forgetfulness (except for ign/power key switch).........

My proposed "quiet switch" would be a momentary-contact button, think doorbell button, triggering a temporary suspend that resets each time ignition is toggled. So, unless you just quiet the thing every time, it's impossible to forget.

For those cases where I want the lights on for a minute after shutting down, I'd just let the buzzer sound until I turn off the lights, knowing that silencing it in that case would defeat its very purpose.

But again, forgetting lights at night, when I might have them on to do some intentional work in the dark, has never been a problem. This is an issue almost exclusive to those days when I'm up to plow snow or move firewood before dawn, and out there long enough that it gets light while I'm working. That is when the lights get left on, as it's hard to notice them when locking up the shed in the screaming dayling after sunrise.

 

[Crank Shaft]

That would prevent anyone from ever using the lights with the ignition off, which is something I need to do a bunch, in winter.

A buzzer with a suspend button still sounds like the best option, to me.

What is wrong with needing to turn the ignition on to use the lights? Seems like a minor inconvenience.

The more complicated the solution, the more chance there is that the suspend circuit or buzzer will fail, or that you hit the suspend button and get distracted and still forget the lights on.

My tractor came wired so when you kill the engine the lights go out which is absolutely foolproof. The relay as suggested by @Fxfymn413 would be my choice if I owned a tractor that left its lights on with key off.

A prominent reminder sign is not a bad idea either. Put one beside the ignition and one at the exit to your barn. I use one at the man-door of my garage to remind me to turn off the trouble light and to bring my cell phone.

 

[Kubotafan]

My Deere's (Tractors & mowers) ALL shut off the lights when the key is switched to the Off position. Perhaps there is some other cause of the battery drain. Was the key not in the off position ?

I have had several Kubota tractors and the lights are key activated, except for the four way flashers. If they are left on it will drain the battery.

 

[camillieri]

My 4 yo great grandson is always getting on my tractors and turning things on. He also loses the keys. I need to check everything anytime he’s around. Hoping he still wants to help when he’s older!

 

[boatmoter]

I went to start the tractor today, so that I could get to some equipment behind it, and found the battery was dead. Apparently I'd left the lights on last time I'd used it, because it was daylight by the time I shut it down, and it just wasn't obvious that they were on. This has happened at least once before, that I can remember, and it's only a matter of time 'till I'm hosed with a truck waiting to be unloaded while my tractor has a dead battery.

I was thinking, every old car I've ever owned had a buzzer or chime that'd remind me I had my lights on, as soon as I'd shut off the ignition and/or opened the door. Would it be too much to ask that Deere give us some option for a chime or buzzer, when lights are left on after ignition off?

I can see where this'd be annoying to some, there has to be some means to suspend it in those cases where you want lights on with ignition off. But for most other cases, I do want to be reminded that I've left the lights on, when I kill the ignition and hop off the seat.

you can install a hobbs swith to the oil pressure switch and hook the power feew from headlite switch to the hobbs switch. takes oil pressure to turn switch on so you can use the lites. or you can install a relay to the light switch power feed so the relay shuts off with the key

 

[Joe Batt]

Raccoons, kittens, and goats have all turned on my headlights. When climbing from the station floor to the hood, the light switch is a nice hand hold.

 

[WinterDeere]

What is wrong with needing to turn the ignition on to use the lights? Seems like a minor inconvenience.

I guess the only problem I see with this is that the fuel pump starts running, as soon as I turn ignition on. I often keep those lights on for 15 - 30 minutes while moving firewood at night, and don't think it'd be a great idea to have the fuel pump also running, all that time. I suspect the pump is probably fine, but it's extra battery usage, when I'm already worried about draining it down too far for a restart.

I guess the only other issue would be that I might have to tear further into the machine to reach the battery hot input to the light switch, versus anything that just taps off key hot and one headlamp, to trigger a buzzer. The back of the light switch is buried and inaccessible without some cowling disassembly, whereas the aforementioned key hot accessory terminal and headlamp are right there in the open, or easy access or mod's.

 

[aircommuter]

I’d install a battery disconnect switch before a buzzer to tell me lights are on.
It takes a little while to remember to turn off the battery switch, but once you do, you’ll feel better about storing your equipment.

My 2 newer Ag tractors have an automatic battery disconnect switch. Once you turn the ignition off, it starts a timer. After 10 minutes, the timer disconnects the battery for you. Completely idiot proof.

AKA time delay relay. Some are adjustable.

 

[macdoesit]

I went to start the tractor today, so that I could get to some equipment behind it, and found the battery was dead. Apparently I'd left the lights on last time I'd used it, because it was daylight by the time I shut it down, and it just wasn't obvious that they were on. This has happened at least once before, that I can remember, and it's only a matter of time 'till I'm hosed with a truck waiting to be unloaded while my tractor has a dead battery.

I was thinking, every old car I've ever owned had a buzzer or chime that'd remind me I had my lights on, as soon as I'd shut off the ignition and/or opened the door. Would it be too much to ask that Deere give us some option for a chime or buzzer, when lights are left on after ignition off?

I can see where this'd be annoying to some, there has to be some means to suspend it in those cases where you want lights on with ignition off. But for most other cases, I do want to be reminded that I've left the lights on, when I kill the ignition and hop off the seat.

I keep my tractor hooked to a battery tender and other seldom driven vehicles. HF $7.99. Make some kind of reminder, rubberband on wrist, etc.

 

[WinterDeere]

My 2 newer Ag tractors have an automatic battery disconnect switch. Once you turn the ignition off, it starts a timer. After 10 minutes, the timer disconnects the battery for you. Completely idiot proof.

Thanks to @aircommuter, for making me go back and re-read this post. Installed right on the battery, that's actually the only option other than my buzzer, that doesn't mess with the OEM wiring. I like that.

This is what so many others seem to be missing here, as they suggest all of these other options that require cutting into the OEM harness on a new tractor. The buzzer simply rides on top of the existing wiring, no need to cut or modify anything, that's going to give some future buyer of the machine heartburn.

Implementing @Hay Dude's automatic disconnect, either with a timer relay feeding one of @D&D's marine disconnects or by finding one with a built in key hot trigger/timer, would be a totally non-intrusive way to get this done. I'd want a 30 minute timer on it, because I might keep the lights on a lot longer than 10 minutes, but that's a minor detail.

 

[WinterDeere]

I keep my tractor hooked to a battery tender and other seldom driven vehicles. HF $7.99. Make some kind of reminder, rubberband on wrist, etc.

I do the same for machines less-often used, mostly my ZTR in winter, generator, and trailer winch batteries. But tractor was used 3 times yesterday, alone! It will sit unused today, too warm and muddy out, but I'll be back on it before dawn tomorrow to move another wagon of firewood. Perfect opportunity to leave the lights on, as I'm sure it'll get light out while I'm out there working.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Possibly, I can imagine some rare scenario where I might do enough stupid things in a sequence to create that problem. But it seems like a pretty unlikely scenario, if the chime is implemented in a way that it had to be bypassed each time a new event occurred.

Put otherwise, I want a chime that will sound if I turn off the tractor and leave the seat with the lights still on, and then a momentary-press button that silents the chime until it auto-resets with the next triggering event. A triggering event would be defined as lights on + ignition off + no one in seat.

Perhaps someone has already made such a thing, I hoped someone here would chime in with that, saving me an evening of searching. If not, I think that some enterprising person could probably make a few bucks at this as a side gig, if they were willing to do the design + manufacturing + sales.

Unfortunately for me, the design + mfg. + sales would mean taking hours away from more profitable work, as there's no such thing as "free time" or "side gigs" for the self-employed. I don't want to spend my few free hours away from doing my primary design + mfg. + sales work, doing even more design + mfg. + sales.

 

[WinterDeere]

This one's been discontinued, but I suspect @Hay Dude's solution looks something like this:

EGIS Automatic Timer Disconnect (7615B)

EGIS Automatic Timer Disconnect, 160 A, Bulk (7615B)EXPERTLY ENGINEERED - PREFERRED BY PROFESSIONALSPrevents auxiliary loads from draining batteries, maximizing operational readiness by eliminating dead batteries, reducing total lifetime cost of vehicle use.Ensures power after engine off or at...

www.murcal.com

 

[WinterDeere]

Oh! Looks like they replaced it with this 4-function relay:

EGIS Universal Relay (7618B)

EGIS Universal Voltage Sensitive Relay w/ Optional Time Delay, 160 Amp (7618B)12V U-VSR w/2’ Gnd/Key Wires Bulk Problems This SolvesPrevents add-on equipment from draining batteries, maximizing operational readiness by eliminating dead batteries, saving total cost of operation.Ensures power...

www.murcal.com

Only question would be sizing, as they list no starting or momentary maximum current, only the contuous current rating.

 

[can do]

I went to start the tractor today, so that I could get to some equipment behind it, and found the battery was dead. Apparently I'd left the lights on last time I'd used it, because it was daylight by the time I shut it down, and it just wasn't obvious that they were on. This has happened at least once before, that I can remember, and it's only a matter of time 'till I'm hosed with a truck waiting to be unloaded while my tractor has a dead battery.

I was thinking, every old car I've ever owned had a buzzer or chime that'd remind me I had my lights on, as soon as I'd shut off the ignition and/or opened the door. Would it be too much to ask that Deere give us some option for a chime or buzzer, when lights are left on after ignition off?

I can see where this'd be annoying to some, there has to be some means to suspend it in those cases where you want lights on with ignition off. But for most other cases, I do want to be reminded that I've left the lights on, when I kill the ignition and hop off the seat.

What I do is simply disconnect the negative cable from the terminal post. I never had a problem with my lights being left on until one time I went out to start the tractor, & the battery was dead; I know I didn't leave any lights on because I never used them it turned out a neighbors cat had hit the switch so since then I do that disconnect; I don't mind the cat because they keep the mice away, & I check under the hood anyway for mice before I start the tractors up. I suppose I could buy a couple of disconnect switches. I've also noticed the batteries last longer with the negative being disconnected after each use.

 

[HAR]

The only lights/circuits on my B7300 that are hot when the engine is off are the hazards and work light, and the headlights only work when the engine key is in the run/on position. And, for me anyway, that would be a dead give away, as when I park the tractor, when I close the door, either hazards or work light would be shining in my face. Also, as I never leave my key in the ignition, it must be in the off position to remove.

However, if you do find yourself with a dead/low battery, I can personally vouch for a NOCO GB70 (2000A). A very handy and quite powerful little unit. While I have not needed it often, when needed, it has done the job of a much larger unit. Previously I used a NOCO GB40 (1000A), smaller, but almost equally handy, but a little on the light side with an extremely cold engine. I check and recharge mine each time I do my standby generator checks/exercise. Check various sources, as there are many, with different prices to match. Go for the lowest current price. I got mine for about $150. Try using a price tracking tool.

 

[CubCadetGuy]

I went to start the tractor today, so that I could get to some equipment behind it, and found the battery was dead. Apparently I'd left the lights on last time I'd used it, because it was daylight by the time I shut it down, and it just wasn't obvious that they were on. This has happened at least once before, that I can remember, and it's only a matter of time 'till I'm hosed with a truck waiting to be unloaded while my tractor has a dead battery.

I was thinking, every old car I've ever owned had a buzzer or chime that'd remind me I had my lights on, as soon as I'd shut off the ignition and/or opened the door. Would it be too much to ask that Deere give us some option for a chime or buzzer, when lights are left on after ignition off?

I can see where this'd be annoying to some, there has to be some means to suspend it in those cases where you want lights on with ignition off. But for most other cases, I do want to be reminded that I've left the lights on, when I kill the ignition and hop off the seat.

Power when or where you don't want it is easily solved with an old fashioned starter relay. A common modification to IH light line vehicles (Travelall, pickup, Scout, Metro, etc.) was to use this approach to get high voltage out of the dash where bad things could happen.

 

[WinterDeere]

Power when or where you don't want it is easily solved with an old fashioned starter relay.

Note that the coil on many or most starter relays are not rated for continuous current. I'm sure many can handle it, but it's not guaranteed or intended operation, so some may live a very short life in this application.