Alternator Lash-Up to Power 385 Planter
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48036
Printed Date: 28 Aug 2025 at 6:19pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Alternator Lash-Up to Power 385 Planter
Posted By: AllisUpstate
Subject: Alternator Lash-Up to Power 385 Planter
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 4:06pm
|
I'm cleaning up the 4 row Deutz-Allis 385 planter I bought last fall. It is in good shape overall, but now I have to figure out how to get enough electrical power to run the fans. I will be using our D17IV. The problem is, I just got the generator/regulator sorted out on the D17, and it is working great. However, the planter needs about 30 amps according to the manual, and the generator on the D17 is barely 25 amps I think. I hate to stop and change the D17 over to an alternator. So here's my brainstorm. I have a good 10si alternator. Why couldn't I fabricate something to bolt up to the rear pto, and power the alternator off of the pto? I could mount a battery on the 385, and hook up the wiring with a connector to the alternator, and even use a 3 wire setup. I will just have to weld up a pulley onto somthing sturdy that I can mount onto the pto shaft - probably just the front portion of an old pto shaft. I shouldn't need too big of a pulley, with just a little over twice the diameter of the alternator pully, I would be over 1000 rpm, which should be enough for the alternator. What do you guys think? Anyone ever drive an alternator off the pto to run electrics with? |
Replies:
Posted By: stray
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 4:50pm
|
It could work but you will have to more than double the speed of the pto to get it to work . ------------- 1969 190XT series 3 |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 5:23pm
|
The alternator needs a battery for stabilization. It will spike voltages otherwise. Last i tested a 10SI without regulator but self excited needed more than 1400 rpm shaft speed to build up voltage. One without a battery supply to the regulator takes something on the order of 5000 RPM at the alternator shaft on my 4020 to start. Once started it charges down to 1300 RPM shaft speed. If wired with a battery and a three wire connection it should charge fine at that slow a shaft speed, but you will need some speed to keep the voltage up at the 30 amp load. They do make weld a hub pulley hubs to fit the PTO shaft. Look at the belt drive for a PTO driven centrifugal sprayer pump. They speed up that pump a lot on a 540 RPM PTO shaft. You'd only have to adapt the pump pulley to the short alternator shaft. It would probably be easier to piggy back the alternator on the generator mount driven by the fan or newly added AC belt. Gerald J. |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 9:23pm
|
I've mounted an "SI" series Alt off a driveshaft on a T-bucket for a customer. Worked fine. Steve@B&B |
Posted By: David(Stockbridge)MI
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 5:32am
|
Ran my 385 last year with no problem with the factory 20amp generator. David ------------- All "NEW" Web Site http://www.djstractorparts.com 2035,A,U,UC,WF unstyled,WF styled,WC High Crop (cane),RC,B,IB,C,CA,WD,WD45,G,D10,D12,D14,D15,D15 II,D17,D19,WC styled,WC unstyled H3 crawler |
Posted By: AllisUpstate
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 7:09am
|
David, So do you think the manual is just being conservative by specifying a minimum of a 32 amp alternator for the 4 row/2 fan planter? The other thing I'm thinking of instead is to install a backup battery in parallel on the planter frame, to give me some extra reserve. The battery on the 17 is new and larger capacity than stock. Also, I'll be using the planter on smaller fields of not more than 5 acres at a time, so as long as it would operated properly, I could just recharge the battery every night. I'd prefer to keep things simple if I can, but I don't want the fans to fail part way through. |
Posted By: BrettPhillips
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 7:11am
|
Here's the solution as provided by A-C for the Air Champ unit planters:
There was a control box too, more details are available at AgcoPartsbooks.com |
Posted By: AllisUpstate
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 9:50am
|
Brett, Looks like AC stole my idea! So much for getting rich and retiring by patenting a pto driven alternator for all the 385's out there. I don't suppose anyone has one of these critters lying around the shed? I will play around with the planter this weekend, and see how the fans behave with the standard generator. I have just never used one of these planters before, but maybe the electric drain won't be as bad as the manual makes it sound. |
Posted By: AllisUpstate
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 10:39am
|
Oops! Just thought of something. I kept the stock positive ground with the generator - I don't think the blower motors or seed monitor will like that. Looks like it would be easier to bite the bullet, and just switch the generator out for an alternator. Without digging into it further, it looks to me like the fan on the 10si alternator I have is going to be really close to fouling the power steering belt. Anyone with any advice on problems I might run into mounting a 10si to the D17 IV? Will I need a different pulley and fan on the alternator? Thanks for all the help. Sorry to bug everybody on this. I wasn't planning on changing out the tractor generator, but that looks like the simplest solution to all this. |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 11:54am
|
You'll probably want a wide groove pulley for the alternator and that will move the belt far enough away from the alternator fan. Gerald J. |
Posted By: Skyhighballoon(MO)
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 1:28pm
|
What about finding a portable gas generator that has 12v DC output (along with 110v AC) and strapping that to the planter to run the blower? Mike
------------- 1981 Gleaner F2 Corn Plus w 13' flex 1968 Gleaner EIII w 10' & 330 1969 180 gas 1965 D17 S-IV gas 1963 D17 S-III gas 1956 WD45 gas NF PS 1956 All-Crop 66 Big Bin 303 wire baler, 716H, 712H mowers |
Posted By: Rawleigh
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 2:34pm
| Also you might want to go with a 12si as it is much more reliable when in open conditions like on a tractor. Better cooling fan too. |