Ford 820 Electrical

[B. B. Stanfield]

My system does not seem to be charging. The generator is ginnin' and the regulator seems to work properly. I have yet to verify all settings, cut in and out points, etc. When it sits for a few days the battery is fully discharged and it's fairly new. I can charge the battery and the tractor will start and run fine. The meter simply bounces or shows a heavy charge for a couple of minutes then settles to 0.

A meter on the system shows the generator putting out the stated power, the voltage regulator is seeing the power at the terminal, but I'm not sure it's getting to the battery. The cables are proper guage, new and have good connections. The wiring harness is also new. The meter was wired backward by the local shop but is now fixed. I put a new battery on the system and it also starts the tractor fine, then will discharge in a few days. Can there be a "leak" in the electrical system and if so, where are likely places to look? (I suspect the regulator, generator, (rebuilt last year), and starter relay.)

Thanks guys,

 

[GlenIdaho]

It sounds like a leak somewhere in the wiring. If you will search the archives using the words "not charging" you'll find some recent posts that were generated due to a similar problem that Jim UT experienced. They may help you diagnose the probelm. In addition to those, there are numerous others that may help as well.

 

[Joe)NYC)]

Are you saying that battery discharges after a few days of usage or that it discharges after a few days just sitting idle? If it is the sitting idle, I would disconnect the battery(make sure it has a good charge first) and let it sit a few days. Then if the battery goes low or dead you can blame the battery. If the battery still has full charge then the problem is in the wiring.

 

[B. B. Stanfield]

Thanks guys. I presume it's the electrical system "leaking" also. The battery holds a charge when disconnected. It also does not discharge when used, but it doesn't seem to charge from the generator either. I'll do a search for "not charging" and see what recent items are available to try. Thanks again, hope it works.

 

[john in la]

If you think you have a electrical leak take off the + battery cable. Hook a test light between the battery post and the cable. If the light comes on you have a leak. Now start taking wires loose till the light goes off. The last wire you take off or the one that makes your light go out is the leak.

 

[bustedknuckles]

You said the meter was hooked up wrong. Makes me wonder if the generator was polarized correctly.

web.utk.edu/~tprather/.../TechTips/PolarizeGenerator.html