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Tractor Battery Recharge Run Time

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jlmacfad
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 13 PEI, Canada
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2011-11-24          181351


I've always been told that I should not turn on my tractor unless I'm going to have it running long enough to recharge the power discharged by the starter. Nobody, however, has ever been able to suggest what that amount of time should be. Should I expect that the tractor will need a half hour run to replace the battery power consumed by the starting process... or one hour... longer...shorter?
Any suggestions would be appreciated since I don't want to find out the hard way that I haven't kept the battery charged up by running the machine long enough for the generator to re-charge the battery.

Thanks....John




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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2011-11-24          181353


My battery is 7 years old, I usually run it for 1 to 2 hours each time I use it. When I know I am going to be starting and stopping it alot for yard cleanup for example, for the first run I keep it going for about 15 minutes. The first run usually shows that the engine has warmed up a bit. Then after that I just run it as needed for spurts as short as 5 minutes. Before I store it always seems I get a 15 minute run in.

I have never had to jump start it, it is stored in an attached garage that never goes below freezing though :)

....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2011-11-24          181355


Quote:
Originally Posted by jlmacfad | view 181351
Should I expect that the tractor will need a half hour run to replace the battery power consumed by the starting process...
Too many variables; how long it cranked, condition of battery, alternator output, wiring, etc. Simplest way is to observe the ammeter. Note that while cranking the needle goes negative. Once running at sufficient RPMs, the needle will go positive. From there it will drop slowly back to zero. At that point, you're battery's been topped up.

If your Belarus doesn't have an ammeter, they're inexpensive and easy to install.

//greg// ....


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bristan8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 69 Camden NSW, Australia
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2011-11-24          181358


Well using a really rough but conservative guestimation:
If say your starter draws say 200 amps and your alternator is putting say only one amp back into the battery, (just ballpark figures). You could say that if you had the starter on for two seconds then you would need about 200 times two or 400 seconds of charging to top up the battery.
Probably,in reality, your starter draws less and your charging rate is higher, which would mean less than 400 seconds for a two second start. ....


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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-11-24          181359


You could get a battery tender or whatever they're called. Canadian Tire sells them for $30-40. It's low-amp (1.5) charger that pushes a little juice in only when the battery voltage falls low enough. Thus, you can leave it connected and plugged in all the time, especially in the winter, without overcharging. It also means that if your tractor's charging circuit fails, you can get along with just this. ....


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jlmacfad
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 13 PEI, Canada
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2011-12-02          181460


I think what you are referring to is called a "trickle charger". Sounds like a good approach, though. Thanks for the input ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2011-12-02          181465


Never heard the need to be sure it ran enough to recharge but can understand that especailly when little if any ability for a jump if need be. To me the issue has always been if there is no real need then don't start it due to the wear on any cold engine. ....


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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-12-02          181470


A trickle charger pushes in a small (generally one amp) but nonstop current which can harm the battery after it's fully charged. They're fine if you check the voltage every few days and connect/disconnect accordingly. If they fail it's hard to tell.

The new breed pushes in a little more (usually 1.5 amps) if and when the voltage drops. That's what I have on all my equipment that's in seasonal or dead storage, hardwired to the battery. The signal light lets you know it's working. ....


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jlmacfad
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 13 PEI, Canada
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2011-12-05          181523


Quote:
Originally Posted by auerbach | view 181470
A trickle charger pushes in a small (generally one amp) but nonstop current which can harm the battery after it's fully charged. They're fine if you check the voltage every few days and connect/disconnect accordingly. If they fail it's hard to tell.The new breed pushes in a little more (usually 1.5 amps) if and when the voltage drops. That's what I have on all my equipment that's in seasonal or dead storage, hardwired to the battery. The signal light lets you know it's working.
wouldn't happen to have a brand name of this type of charger, would you. Sounds like it's exactly what I need since the tractor is only used seasonally.

Thanks

John



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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-12-05          181524


Ask a store that stocks battery stuff if they have an account with the wholesaler QuickCable (US firm, branch plant in Toronto). QuickCable's version says 87002 CENTURY BATTERY CHARGER AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF 12 VOLT 1.5 AMP.

I saw another brand at Canadian Tire, priced higher. ....


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