3 amp system - overchaging update

[boovuc 1,090]

Lagersolut,

 

If you have a good heavy tractor battery in another machine, swap it and see how it charges. Two of my oldest and best batteries charge perfect on the 3 amp circuit. The cheezy walmart batteries and a cheap Advanced battery don't.

[Lagersolut 613]

Lagersolut,

 

If you have a good heavy tractor battery in another machine, swap it and see how it charges. Two of my oldest and best batteries charge perfect on the 3 amp circuit. The cheezy walmart batteries and a cheap Advanced battery don't.

 

 

Yep , already tried that , 2 other tractors here I had the batteries out and get the same results , the old battery that was in this tractor is gone , decided to put a new one in, purchased the new battery at Lowe's. 

 

I'm considering running this charge circuit through a toggle switch so it can be turned on and off,  the only thing on the battery is the starter and a pair of LED lights installed on the back .

 

My main concern with the overcharge or 16 volt charge/ is it being hard on the battery and the 12 volt rated lights installed,  ( spliced the feed for these at the ignition switch  hot )  this engine is an M10 with ignition from the magneto so I'm not pulling off the battery  from a coil .

 

Not sure if the Lowe's batteries are what would be considered  " good " or not, I do know the Diehards are but  they are a little pricey ....if they last 5-7 years maybe it's worth the additional 20-30 bucks.

[meadowfield 2,545]

Am I missing something?

Isn't this an unregulated system? So it just rectifies, if you run the motor faster then you get a higher voltage. You need to either switch the charge circuit out, or dump the power into something else.

Also a new battery will hold charge better and also present a lower resistance to the charge circuit, so the voltage should be lower for the same charge current. A weak battery will show a higher charge voltage if charged unregulated.

Mark

Edited December 21, 2014 by meadowfield