Help Support SkidSteer Forum:
SkidRoe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2009
- Messages
- 1,887
Let me answer your question with a question: why do you ask? Are you getting some indications that it is not?
First thing I would do is look at the gauge - LOL!!
The easiest way to determine whether your charging system is working is to check the voltage at the battery with the engine off and then running. With the engine not running, you should see a voltage of about 12.2-12.6 volts if your battery is fully charged. Engine running, you should be seeing a voltage of 13.5-14.5 volts if everything is working properly.
That said, if you do not see that voltage, it may not be from a faulty alternator. You could have a broken wire or a bad connection. Up to you to locate that.
If you are still unsure, you could take your alternator off and take it to an auto parts store. they will usually test it for free.
HTH - SR
First thing I would do is look at the gauge - LOL!!
The easiest way to determine whether your charging system is working is to check the voltage at the battery with the engine off and then running. With the engine not running, you should see a voltage of about 12.2-12.6 volts if your battery is fully charged. Engine running, you should be seeing a voltage of 13.5-14.5 volts if everything is working properly.
That said, if you do not see that voltage, it may not be from a faulty alternator. You could have a broken wire or a bad connection. Up to you to locate that.
If you are still unsure, you could take your alternator off and take it to an auto parts store. they will usually test it for free.
HTH - SR
battery and cables are a year old- no problems, ran off and on all weekend and Monday. Tuesday I get home and go to start machine and nothing, absolutely nothing. I jump it and run it for half hour- battery gauge was at half- I turn it off and it starts right back up this morning I go out and try and nothing again. I am guessing battery is good but not being charged so alternator is bad?
SkidRoe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2009
- Messages
- 1,887
Either that or there is a parasitic load draining your battery. Do the checks I mentioned in the previous post using a multimeter. If every thing checks out, try leaving one battery cable disconnected over night, and see if you have a starting problem the following morning.
HTH - SR
You may wish to check out the thread I started on Compact Track Loaders. I had a very similar experience over the weekend. I can tell you that just because your battery is relatively new, that doesn't mean it is good. I've had new Bobcat brand batteries fail after remarkably short periods. That said, I would look to the starter. As a side note, I started the machine up today with air temp about 40* and it fired right up. The alternator was charging at about 14.9v, which is higher than I like to see, but it is still within specs. I suspect the starter brushes are making intermittent contact. When they do, it's all fine. When not, the solenoid is trying to send juice to the starter motor, but it is dead.
So I jumped the machine and got it running- at idle the battery was at like 13.something The alternator was at 14.something I turned machine off and disconnected the negative cable and will try to start tomorrow night. If it starts then I suppose something is drawing power, if it doesn't start then I guess it is the battery not holding
SkidRoe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2009
- Messages
- 1,887
Sounds like your alternator is doing it's job. That is good news.
Cheers - SR
So I got home and put the negative cable back on and tried to start the machine. Started right up so now I have to start trying to locate the draw
If you have 13 volts @ the battery & 14 volts @ the alternator, then you have a pretty significant voltage of drop. (If you have 14 volts at the alternator, then you should have 14 volts at your battery.) The most likely problem is a weak / bad wire between the battery & the alternator OR a bad battery.
7LBSSMALLIE
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2012
- Messages
- 1,295
HOW TO FIND BATT DRAW> remove neg cable. install old school test light(with bulb not led) if its lit. remove fuses one at a time till it goes out . this isolates circuit. check schematic see whats on circuit . disconnect one at a time till light goes out. probally something stupid like interior cab light. or weather band radio. next step disconnect alt. this will tell you if one of three diodes has failed. these b the three most likely culprits.
7LBSSMALLIE
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2012
- Messages
- 1,295
note. some schematics do not show cab interior light. makes hard to find draw. yet trust me its there, and worth a look
good news and bad news- good news = I found/fixed the draw problem bad new = I confirmed I am a dumb@ss the draw was from the door wiper being left on. during the storm the wiper broke so I temporarily put an extra one on that was too long- it worked. I guess at sometime the wiper hung up on the door weather stripping and I thought it was off---- I was sitting in the seat thinking about where to start looking and I saw it...... I turned the switch and let it sit a day and tried and she started right up----- problem solved. I am amazed it didn't burn the wiper motor up......... time to get the right length wiper blade
SkidRoe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2009
- Messages
- 1,887
Glad to hear you found the problem, and it was something simple. No shame in being a dumba$$, we all do it from time to time!
Cheers - SR
GOOD JOB MAN!! Skidroe is right, we ALL do something stupid from time to time. Celebrate the fact that it did not ruin anything or cost you very much. To try to make you feel better, imagine if that wiper got hot enough to burn the machine to the ground. THAT would suck!!!
