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Dave(inMA) 
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Grafton, MA
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 Topic: Charging 8V Battery
Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 3:19pm |
I have an 8v battery for one of my tractors and would like to charge it off the tractor. I've got a simple (read: cheap) charger that offers 6 and 12 volt options, both at 6 amps. The 6v setting would seem to lack the volts to get to a decent charge on it, and using the 12v setting causes the internal regulator to pop on and off rapidly.
Are there any suggestions on getting this done as well as possible? Thanks much!
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WC, CA, D14, WD45
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GregLawlerMinn
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Lawler, Mn
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 4:00pm |
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Your 6 volt gennie should charge the 8 volt battery nicely. You may have to adjust your 3rd brush on the gennie.
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Gerald J.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Hamilton Co, IA
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 4:05pm |
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A three brush generator has NO voltage regulation. The third brush gives current limiting or current regulating. It only knows to charge at the full current, though that current is probably modified by the light switch adding resistors or removing them from the field circuit. No need for third brush adjustment when going to the abusive 8 volt battery to get around poor connections in the starter circuit.
Gerald J.
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Jeff Z. NY
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 4:10pm |
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Dave(inMA)
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 4:19pm |
Jeff, thanks for the link. That gadget could be an option.
Appreciate the other input......though it's been a while since I've been accused of being abusive! I do pay attention to grounds - they get cleaned 1-2 times a season.
Edited by Dave(inMA) - 13 Apr 2010 at 4:22pm
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CTuckerNWIL
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Location: NW Illinois
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 4:35pm |
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My "new" G has an 8v battery and it was low when I got the tractor. I just hooked up the charger and put it on 6 V and left it overnight. It has worked fine. I need to look at the charging system when I get to it but the battery spins it over just fine.
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Gerald J.
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Location: Hamilton Co, IA
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 4:46pm |
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Not only grounds, but ALL starter circuit connections. Battery posts, grounds, wire connections to the starter switch or solenoid and the starter. Starter brushes do wear down and break wires off. Starters wear out bearings (bushings) and let the armature drag on the field poles. That really kills a starters output because the magnet forces that make the armature spin pull it to the field poles too. That and the side thrust from the gears wears bushings. Not to forget sturdy battery cables. Wallyworld kiosk cables are as good as a broken cable on a 6 volt system, there's not nearly enough conductor.
Gerald J.
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Jeff Z. NY
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 6:17pm |
Gerald, That last post was better. The other one could make a person mad
We'll leave the mad people to the political section.
Now there you will find some ugly mad folks.
Where was I:
I had a D-17 that would not turn over with a brand new battery.
I took the whole electrical system apart including the starter and cleaned everything.
It then turned over like the day it was new.
Your advice on this subject is perfect.
Edited by Jeff Z. NY - 13 Apr 2010 at 6:20pm
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Coke-in-MN
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Afton MN
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 6:27pm |
When charging some small batteries for real slow charge I used a old train transformer .
I hooked one lead through the variable voltage lead and used the pointer to set the amp rate and common lead out to bat. Also have used a large coil of wire to vary the resistance to cut charge rate.
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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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Dave(inMA)
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Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 7:21pm |
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Interesting points. As it happens, that particular tractor, a C, has heavy duty cables (NAPA) and a rebuilt starter. It's due to have the surfaces that provide ground for the starter polished as well as the ground post connections before the battery goes back in, but at the moment the electrons in that battery are pretty quiet. I'm suspecting that it may have sulfated over the winter...... I think the battery maintainers are a good idea for equipment that sits - my motorcycle was on one all winter, and that battery is in great shape.
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WC, CA, D14, WD45
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