Electric Clutch & Amperage

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Well with my present project Snow Blower Automation on the tractor will be mounted 2 overhead lights on the Cab Along with a Strobe Light. I also plan on motorizing the chute with two motors I was also going to run a small 12v fan for heat and I was thinking of installing an Electric Clutch on the PTO.

How much Amperage does the charging circuit of a C-120 supply? And How much does the electric PTO clutch draw? And incidentally I could use a clutch if anyone has one, send me a PM Duke

[refracman 167]

Duke,

Hate to pop you ballon on this but from experience with my GT14 with a 15 amp system, which should be the same as yours, between the lights and clutch it just kept the battery up. By that I mean it wasnt discharging nor was it charging. I believe you might get away with all you want without the electric clutch but if you throw that in the mix you'll be asking to much of it.

edit: i was running high output auto bulbs 30watts I think

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Duke,

Hate to pop you ballon on this but from experience with my GT14 with a 15 amp system, which should be the same as yours, between the lights and clutch it just kept the battery up. By that I mean it wasnt discharging nor was it charging. I believe you might get away with all you want without the electric clutch but if you throw that in the mix you'll be asking to much of it.

edit: i was running high output auto bulbs 30watts I think

Hmmm okay 30W X 2 =60 watts / 12 = 5 amps WoW does that clutch pull the remaning 10 Amps? 10X12 = 120 Watts for the clutch! Well if that be the case I guess no clutch for me! :hide:

[Don1977 605]

You can get a 300 amp battery in lawn and garden size. I have one on my wheel horse now. Don't know anything about electric clutches. I ran two 55 watt lights mowing at night in the summer wired and fused direct from the battery but I had a 400 amp top post car battery mounted behind the trans. housing. I believe the 300 amp would do what you want to do. The worst would be you might have to put a charger on it after you finish.

[Duff 206]

This may be an "apples and oranges" comparison, but I run a Marine Safety Unit with a fully-rigged pontoon boat for rescues. We run day and night, so I've got full night lighting on the boat and two humongo batteries with an A/B/Both switch. I tried to keep the batteries charged with the alternator from our 60 horse Merc outboard and it couldn't keep up. After burning up two voltage regulators and one alternator, our local boat mechanic finally told me I was asking too much from the charging system on a continuous basis and the components just couldn't handle the load over the long haul (we've since switched over to a Honda generator). I offer this only wondering if putting that much load on the charging system from one of these small engines might not do some damage? Experts, your thoughts?

Duff :scratchead:

[Sparky-(Admin) 24,031]

Duke. In the latest Northern Tools catalog I just recieved they have the yellow strobe lights in LED as opposed to an incandecsent or halogen bulb. I bet it uses just a fraction of the juice a standard one uses. They even have LED spots.

You might want to look into that. Their much more expensive but I think if ya cooked the charging system it would cost a pretty penny and plenty of your time to repair which might just justify the added cost of the LED's.

Mike........

[pfrederi 19,293]

I would give some second thought to the electric PTO beyond the power issue. Starting a blower can be difficult especially if there is snow/ice in it when you engage the clutch. With a manual you can slip it to avoid shock to the various components. I have an electric PTO on a C175 and I used it one winter on the blower...nothing broke but some times I got a really bad feeling as there were several unusual noises during start up when she had snow in her.

This winter the C175 will be on plow duty the 418a with manual PTO will have blower duty. I am not a huge fan of hydros in the winter...I get tired of waiting for them to warm up. This way I can use the C175 8 speed to clear out next to the doors while the hydro warms itself up for blowing....

I need another high horsepower 8 spd with a manual PTO :scratchead:

[Save Old Iron 1,573]

Duff,

There are electronic circuits called constant CURRENT regulators as opposed to constant VOLTAGE regulators.

These regulators can be programmed to provide a charge current up to but not beyond the capacity of the charging system. For example, a 10 amp constant current circuit could be hooked to a 15 amp stator circuit and never supply more than 10 amps to charge a needy battery. This would protect the charging circuit on the tractor / boat and provide a certain amount of recharge of the battery when the motor is running.

Google "constant current regulators" and check it out. The circuits can be built by anyone handy with electronics.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Duke. In the latest Northern Tools catalog I just recieved they have the yellow strobe lights in LED as opposed to an incandecsent or halogen bulb. I bet it uses just a fraction of the juice a standard one uses. They even have LED spots.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Here are the lights I got a couple weeks ago at my local Autozone on Sale for $32.00 looks like they are 55 W Bulbs X 2 = 110W / 12.5 V = 8.8 amps + the strobe at 2.1 amps gives me 10.9 amps <_< Im about 4 amps from Maxing things out! Maybe instead of Suitcase Weights on the rear. Ill do like Duffer Said and put a couple 600 CCA Car Batteries!

[linen beige 16]

Hey Duke, Did ya fergit about these guys?

http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=gen...=RL028&cat=2705

Notice the current draw. You'de hardly know it was there.

Another thing to consider about Gall's... They will take a return or make an exchange on ANY item, no questions asked.

[bitten 134]

Duke

I have an early 310-8 with the 3amp system and have done a lot of looking for alternatives to the present lighting system.

We have LED headlights on our forklifts at work and they put the par 36 35 watt 4411 bulbs to shame that are mounted on our older lifts( and used on the 310-8). They are mounted in there own housing and would be the chit on top of a cab. They are very expensive at $150 apiece. I have found par36 LED bulbs for $70 each that you could put in there own housing and mount to your cab. I don't know how bright they are but will be using them on the 310-8. I have got a pair of LED 1156 bulbs that really put the light out that I'm going to put on the rear as soon as I figure out how to do it in a clean manner.

I'm not at work today, but if you want more info on the headlights I can get it for you tomorrow.

Another Idea would be to mount a alternator/generator and run a coffee pot TV and an electric blanket.

P.J.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Hey Duke, Did ya fergit about these guys?

http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=gen...=RL028&cat=2705

Notice the current draw. You'de hardly know it was there.

Another thing to consider about Gall's... They will take a return or make an exchange on ANY item, no questions asked.

yeah I did <_< I see their catalog about every day on the Quartermasters countertop, when I tap his coffee pot as I make my rounds through the facility! That looks like a prretty good light for the moola!

PJ send me a turbo alternator I could us a blanket in there us Ole guys like it warm! :hide:

[linen beige 16]

Course if'n ya REALLY want to be seen you could splurge and get one of these.

http://lightbars.stores.yahoo.net/14ledli.html

Although the site doesn't show it they can be had with all amber lenses.

[MikesRJ 558]

Course if'n ya REALLY want to be seen you could splurge and get one of these.

http://lightbars.stores.yahoo.net/14ledli.html

Although the site doesn't show it they can be had with all amber lenses.

I can see Duke getting the LEO set, and then comes to mind the vision of him being loaded into the back of the cruiser in hand-cuffs...... hehehehe

[pfrederi 19,293]

Referencing your original question about Electric PTO current draw... Checked mine today and it draws about 5 amps.

[linen beige 16]

I can see Duke getting the LEO set, and then comes to mind the vision of him being loaded into the back of the cruiser in hand-cuffs...... hehehehe

Think they'de let ya drive a 'Horse up into the paddy wagon? :scratchead: