Looking for suggestions for TS electrical problem

[fishpredator07]

My battery keeps dying after a couple weeks of inactivity. I put a new battery in last December. Other than the obvious, check that the lights aren't left on, etc. could someone make some suggestions as to how I might troubleshoot this problem? I don't think I'm running it long enough to drain the battery so don't think its an alternator issue, but who knows.

I put in a new positive battery cable.

Thanks for the help.

 

[fishpredator07]

Oh, yeah. Here's a really dumb follow up question: can I use any old comparible car battery or are tractor batteries "special"?

 

[awlchu]

fish,

A draining battery can be difficult to TS. I'd suggest this:

Have the battery checked under load.

Isolate different curcuits in the tractor. The Easiest is to pull the circuit breaker for a particular 'leg' and see if the battery still drains.

Some Ac-DC alternators use a small wattage to excite the windings. If you tractor has a quick disconnect on the alternator, try pulling it to see if the draining stops.

If the alternator is AC only and uses an external regulator, disconnect the regulator etc. .


Only check for size and CCA (load). Nothing special about a battery.

Brian

 

[Ken Cunningham]

If the battery checks out ok and the problem persists and you cant find the cause then you might want to look at those cable disconects that norther tool and harbor freight sells. Im not sure what the correct name for them is, but it fits inline with the battery cable and it come with a key that cuts the circuit. I think its mainly used as a theft deterent.

 

[mlauk]

I would check the alternator first by running the tractor and checking the DC voltage with an ohm meter on the battery posts. It should read around 13.8volts. If it is reading 12 volts, it isn't charging the battery.

 

[vic4news]

If the battery is dead after sitting for a couple of weeks, you may have a short that is draining the battery. Hook up a 12v light or a voltmeter between the ground cable and the negative terminal. If the light is on or you have a voltage reading with everything off, then you have a short somewhere that is draining the battery.

Vic

 

[fishpredator07]

Excellent suggestions, thanks to all. I'll have some things to try this weekend.

 

[George2615]

Like Vic said, use a test light. Disconnect the negative battery post and connect a 12V test light )or a voltmeter) between the post and the cable. With the tractor key off the light should not be lit. If it is then you have a circuit drawing current. Pull out tractor fuses one by one until the light goes out. That will be the circuit draining the battery. Just remember to put the fuses back in the right places later.

 

[fishpredator07]

OK here's where I'm at:

Tested the battery under load and got 14.3 volts, I assume that means its not the alternator.

With everything turned off, disconnected the negative battery cable and tested, got 10.98 V. I assume that means I have a short. Heading for the fuses now.

You guys are great, thanks.

 

[fishpredator07]

Here's where it gets weird!!!

Pulled the fuses one at a time and had current(whatever I'm no electrician) with each one removed. 11.x. the "current" never stopped.

Any thoughts or suggestion? Thanks guys.

 

[wushaw]

Like Vic said, use a test light. Disconnect the negative battery post and connect a 12V test light )or a voltmeter) between the post and the cable. With the tractor key off the light should not be lit. If it is then you have a circuit drawing current. Pull out tractor fuses one by one until the light goes out. That will be the circuit draining the battery. Just remember to put the fuses back in the right places later.

A volt meter is not good for this test since since you can get 12v but no current draw. It takes amperage to light up a light bulb.

A test light is the best method for checking for a draw when ya go to pullin fuses and wires.

 

[yankeerider]

Coupla suggestions:

Make sure the top of the battery and connections are clean. Batteries can discharge themselves over a period of days through dirt on the top.

If that voltage measurement with the ground cable removed was terminal to terminal, you've likely got a bad cell in the battery. Should have 12 volts with no load. (I'm assuming the 14 volts you measured "under load" was actually with the engine running.)

If none of these answers make sense, borrow a multimeter with DC current measuring capability. Connect it in series with the battery when everything is off and see if there's any flow. Trying to diagnose light current drains using voltage measurements can be difficult.

 

[fishpredator07]

Yes, 14.x was with the engine running.

I used a test light this time and didn't get a light from the negative cable to the post with the key off. In light of that, here's my assumptions:

1) not a bad alternator because I was getting 14.x across the posts with the engine running and i'm not running the tractor long enough to drain the battery with a bad alternator.

2) not a short cause I'm not getting a light on the tester with the negative cable disconnected and testing in sequence between the neg cable and neg post.

Agggh.

Guess I'll check the voltage across the posts again, but think I did that already and it was at 12.x.

Posts are clean.

Think I should be focusing on the battery itself?

Thanks.

 

[Willl]

A way to find out for sure would be to disconnect the fully charged battery, wait a few weeks, then reconnect and turn the key.

 

[wushaw]

Get a hydrometer ( any parts store will have them ) and check each battery cell electroylite level.
Put battery on a trickle charger over night before checking.
Also you should have like 13.2 volts in a 12v battery.

 

[fishpredator07]

Checked the water. One cell was almost empty. The others were all over the map on the hydrometer readings. Topped them off and charged it up yesterday. 13.2V. This morning, 12.6V and with the hydrometer one cell was null and void. 2 were fair and 3 were good. Will be taking the battery back to the supplier this evening. Thanks for the advice, I've learned a bunch. Hopefully this does the trick.

 

[wushaw]

A hydrometer is a very good tool to have on hand to check the health of a battery.

 

[fishpredator07]

parts store confirmed the battery was bad and I'll get a free! replacement. I'll pick that up and install tonight.

Over the course of the next few weeks to a month I'll know if that was truly the root cause of my problems but seems like it. Meanwhile, I can start going after my hydraulic problem....Thanks all!

 

[Sully2]

Battery voltages ( 12V and 6 V) and electrolite specific gravity should be...;