Wiring a 12 volt sprayer by connecting to utility wire under seat

rsmith02184 · Sep 16, 2011

CAn I do this? I have a 20 gallon sprayer that I usually connect directly to the battery. I then realized there is a utility light wire under my seat that gets 12 volts when I turn the lights on. I was thinking I could splice the connector from my sprayer into that line and not have to drape the wire all the way to the battery.

Should I do it?

Thanks

Btw: I have a 2000 jd 4100 compact utility

k0ua · Sep 16, 2011

I am not sure what the utility wire is fused for, and I don't own a JD CUT, but I hooked my 15 gal sprayer to the extra wire under the fender of my Kubota that Kubota intended for a work light. Since they draw about 5 amps, and the sprayer is about 2 amps. I figured I was safe. So far no problems, I would think you would be OK, but it would be nice to know how many Amps the wire is fused for by getting your hands on an electrical wiring diagram.

James K0UA

EddieWalker · Sep 16, 2011

How many amps does the pump on the sprayer require and how many amps is that utility wire rated for?

I just ran a wire from my fuse panel, where I put in a dedicated fuse for just my attachements that need 12 volts. I used a 4 prong plug for towing a trailer and wire the top two prongs for hot and ground.

I run my sprayer and diesel fuel pump off of that plug. I also put one on my other tractors so they all can power the fuel pump, and there is one on my Kawasaki Mule, so I can use it to pull my sprayer.

A cigerate lighter would work too.

Eddie

sunnyside360 · Sep 17, 2011

I wouldn't power my DC electric sprayer off a light plug. Those sprayers tend to take a lot more current than a light so most lighting wires would not be a good solution. I use a pto pump/sprayer now but when I used electric I ran a heavy stranded/fused wire (old/cheap battery cables) directly from the battery. Also too small a wire will give a voltage drop and not allow your pump to run at full pressure.

k0ua · Sep 17, 2011

The best thing to do is get scientific about it, and get that wiring diagram or get busy tracing the wire, and see what it is fused for, then you might look at this link and decide which pump you have and read the spec's on what the current draw will be. or better yet run your own wire and appropiate fuse at the battery. I reused a wire I knew was good for a least 5 amps and I knew I would be under that rating. But if we guess at ratings we may not guess right.

FIMCO High-Flo Pumps

James K0UA

kennyd · Sep 17, 2011

Run a new circuit from the battery...powering the sprayer through the headlight switch is a bad idea.

beenthere · Sep 17, 2011

On the other hand.....,
I have to say that I powered my 30 gal sprayer 12v pump (4 spray nozzles at 15 psi) off the wire to the rear tail light for 15+ years and didn't blow any fuse. Figured the wires were heavy enough to handle the fuse that was put in by the factory, and as long as I didn't have to put in a larger fuse then I should be good to go. It worked great IMO.

Had a two-wire connector hanging out and could plug-and-go.
Very convenient to just turn the light switch on to operate the pump.
This rigging was used over that time on my JD 425 and 445.

rsmith02184 · Sep 17, 2011

Well I will definitely do some research on this but...

The wire that powers the sprayer looks like 18 gauge or higher. The wire to the utility light is about the same gauge. I was thinking they are compatible. I don't want to run a new circuit...if there is one already back there under the seat...I would rather use that. The utility wire is supposed to run utility lights. My sprayer is a JD 25 gallon.

rsmith02184 · Sep 18, 2011

So please chime in with advice. The sprayer pump is not marked but a manual that I got online that looks like my sprayer says it draws 7 amps. How would I figure out the amps on the utility wire? I have the service repair manual.

Need advice on how to proceed....thanks

k0ua · Sep 18, 2011

rsmith02184 said:
So please chime in with advice. The sprayer pump is not marked but a manual that I got online that looks like my sprayer says it draws 7 amps. How would I figure out the amps on the utility wire? I have the service repair manual.

Need advice on how to proceed....thanks

Trace the wire back to the fuse panel (follow diagram or real world tracing) and see what it is fused for. needs to be at least 10 amps. Another way is if you know the wire is designed by the manufacturer to carry 2 auxiliary lamps that pull about 5 amps each then you should be good to go with your 7 amp load.

James K0UA