More lights on TC18?

[JohnDeereGreen]

With the electrical system on this tractor, how many more lights can be added? I would like to add 4 of them on the top of the ROPS or somewhere in that area, 2 forward and 2 rearward. I think this would help greatly while moving snow with the FEL. The current head lights are pretty much useless with the FEL. I wanted to do something similar to what the guys do with the lights on the roll bars of their 4 wheel drive trucks. Is it possible? and what are my limitations, if any?

Thanks, in advance for any help.

 

[PineRidge]

If you are talking about four 55 watt lamps that is a total of 220 watts divided by 12 volts = 18.3 amps if my math is correct. Check your operators manual and see what your alternator is rated at.

TC-40D SS web pictures click here

 

[KiotiJohn]

Or there should be a tag on the alternator that tells the amps.
Not sure on that model, but many only have 15 amp alternators, with probably most around 40. Mine is 50 amp, but I don't think that's as common. You'll need to figure up what everything else is using, and then add the 18+ amps to that, or cut down on the number of lights if too high. John

 

[Mansker]

I added these two 55watt lights to mine with a switch and wired it to the hot side of the batt. They work great

 

[JohnDeereGreen]

BTW, for those asking, the alternator on this tractor is a 20 Amp unit. My next question was that if I wanted to use these "new" lights simultaneously with the existing lights on the tractor, would I not have to subtract the amperage of the existing lights from the 20 available and stay within that limit? That question seems to be answered in the second reply.

Thanks, again for the advise.

 

[kayssupply]

I had the 55watt lights on one of my tractors. Two would blow fuses. I am in the process of changing to LED lights. They aren't as bright but only draw 1 tenth the power of Halogens. The other factor was that they are not effected by vibration. My halogens usually blow out before they wear out, even if you aren't using them. The LEDs wash the area with light rather than cutting and glaring. I figure until I get over 50mph with my tractor, I won't " overdrive" the LEDs.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'm far from an electrical expert, in fact I don't even pretend, but I did install 5 lights on my TC24. Two rear facing 35 watts on the upper ROPS bar. 1 rear facing 55 watt at the base of the ROPS. 2 front facing 55 watts on the upper ROPS bar. Now first, I do NOT light them all at once. But I do use the front lights with the headlights and don't have any problems. Each is fused and run through a relay. I may be exceeding my alternator, I really don't know what they put on the TC24 because I didn't bother to check. I was aware of what I was doing and I was/am aware that I may be exceeding my alternator output. But I do know enough about batteries, alternators, and current draw to know that for relatively short term/occasional useage, I may run my battery down a little bit, but at least the way I use them, I'm not causing any real issues. Now IF I was going to spend MANY NIGHTS WITH MANY HOURS of night time running with the lights on then I would check into the alternator. For for the occasional hour or two us use (snow blowing early morning for an hour or the occasional hour or two of night mowing) then I know that my daytime use will recharge my battery IF it is drawn down a little from the occasional night time use.

So I guess you might want to examine HOW OFTEN and HOW LONG you plan on running your lights, if you plan on EXTENSIVE use of lights for long periods on a regular basis, then you may have to do some serious work. If you simply want bright lights for the occasional night job, then just make sure you wire the lights up properly with good wire, fuses and relays and don't worry too much about it.

4 lights on my ROPS

55 watt AUX light next to my new tool box

 

[PineRidge]

Kayssupply I was aware that LED's have been used for running, stop, turn and the like but I was unaware that they were being used for headlamps. I have several LED flashlights and they just don't seem to put out the same light as a conventional halogen bulbs. I would really be interested in hearing if you are happy with yours after you make the conversion.

Please let us all know.

TC-40D SS web pictures click here

 

[Soundguy]

I know leds are making it into stage lighting as well. They don't have the brightness or distance of regular par cans.. but do ok at 15' or so.

Soundguy

 

[hazmat]

Nice Idea on the LED lights. A quick google turned up these jw speaker LED work lights. They are kind of spendy - a pair of lights is $220. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I know that in the long run they are cheaper - no outages, but it still hurts the wallet.

Please share your source.

 

[hazmat]

Bob,

At my previous job we built ambulances & rescue vehicles. The electrical loads often exceeded the alternator's output. The high tech solution was to use a load manager that turns off non-essential lights and appliances if the alternator can't keep up (voltage drop).

The low-tech solution is your setup. Overdraw the alternator for "short" periods of time, and let the batteries recover later.

It should be noted that frequent deep drains on the battery will shorten it's life. Generally you only want to use less than 1/2 the batteries reserve. You can easily calculate how long you can run your lights - simply divide your battery's amp-hour rating by your discharge rate (load-alternator).

The batteries on our little tractors generally have low-reserve ratings. They are designed to have enough juice to start the engine & little else. The ambulances generally had 2-3 large batteries & the rescue trucks often had 4. Also - the emergency vehicles had on-board battery chargers they would plug into "shore power" at the station to top off the batteries before the next run.

 

[jwstewar]

According to the manual our 24s came with either a 35 or a 40 AMP alternator. I believe it actually has the 40 because the 40 was listed in the actual specs of the tractor, but the 35 was listed elsewhere and just wasn't updated when it changed. I have 2 55 watt lights on the roll bar, and one facing rear (I also believe it to be 55 watt) and I run all of these concurrently with the 4 55-watt headlights. I've run these for several hours at a time w/o any problems - some of that at even at idle or slightly above. Sometimes I tend to use my tractor as a really big flashlight. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( BTW, for those asking, the alternator on this tractor is a 20 Amp unit. My next question was that if I wanted to use these "new" lights simultaneously with the existing lights on the tractor, would I not have to subtract the amperage of the existing lights from the 20 available and stay within that limit? That question seems to be answered in the second reply.

Thanks, again for the advise. )</font>

To answer your question. Yes, you have to subtract the amperage load of the existing lights.

The dynamo/generator (my Kubota doesn't have an alternator, and I suspect your JD doesn't either) capacity rating is the total rating. All loads have to be counted if you want to stay within the stated capacity.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sometimes I tend to use my tractor as a really big flashlight. )</font>

On many occasions I have done that as well. One time the wife lost a nice watch in the pasture.. I hopped onthe old 8n.. (2) 6v - 35w headlights.. and a 6v-35w rear worklight.. and drove up and down the pasture.. and found the watch.

Other times I use that same tractor to haul feed down to the pigs and chickens. It throws enough light for the chickens to come of fthe roost and eat some cracked corn scattered on the ground.

Soundguy

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I hopped onthe old 8n.. (2) 6v - 35w headlights.. and a 6v-35w rear worklight.. and drove up and down the pasture.. and found the watch. )</font>
I can picture me doing the same thing, and finding the watch under one of my tires, all smashed! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John