charging issue (beat that dead horse!)

[jamieg74]

I replaced my wiring harness, batt cable, lights, and switches a couple of months ago. Do I need to polarize the system? The batt is fairly new but it seems not to be charging. After plowing for several hours yesterday I now have to jump the thing to get it started. When it starts it runs fine but as soon as I shut it off, same thing, I have to jump it. I have coil ignition. It didn't have this problem before yesterday, it started fine after weeks of inactivity. Now what?

Jamie

[Rudi]

Jamie:

Every time you disconnect the battery you need to polarize the generator. Those who regularly do this, sometimes install a momentary switch to do this remotely without having scraped knuckles, needing to find someone with tiny hands.. etc... to squeeze under the hood. I personally got tired of taking off the hood, so I wired in a momentary switch to polarize the genny.

I am assuming you do not have a 12 volt system, but a 6 volt yes?

[jamieg74]

6 Volt, that is correct. Would not polarizing cause my symptoms?

Jamie

[Bigdog]

Jamie - the generator will not charge until it is polarized. Re-check all your connections and polarize the generator.

[midget-farmer]

This may explain my recent battery failure as well. I disconnect the battery every time I park it for an extended period of time & I have never polarized the generator. How would I go about doing that?

[Bus Driver]

In my experience, the only time that polarizing of the generator is necessary is if the generator or the voltage regulator is removed and replaced. So long as battery polarity is not changed, either by choice or by accident, the mere disconnect or changing of the battery does not require polarizing. And to help the few who may have one, attempting to polarize an alternator usually destroys it.

[Rudi]

This may explain my recent battery failure as well. I disconnect the battery every time I park it for an extended period of time & I have never polarized the generator. How would I go about doing that?

Quite simply follow the direction in the How To Polarize Your Generator which can be found in the Cub Book of Knowledge. Hope that helps.

As I stated above... this is for non-alternator equipped Cubs. If you got an alternator.. DO NOT attempt to polarize one..

And, whether or not this makes sense.. I have had to polarize Ellie just about each and every time I have disconnected the battery for any length of time... anything over a couple of minutes. I never paid attention to the short timers...

[jamieg74]

Is the process the same if it is a cutout relay rather than a regulator? I didn't see anything about this in the previous posts.

Jamie

[Rudi]

Jamie:

Yes, it applies to a Cut-Out. Ellie and Granny both have Cut-Outs.

[grumpy]

And, whether or not this makes sense.. I have had to polarize Ellie just about each and every time I have disconnected the battery for any length of time... anything over a couple of minutes. I never paid attention to the short timers... [/quote]

Odd.... I've always disconnected my battery and never had to polarize after hooking back up and everything works fine. Grump

[jamieg74]

I am going to give it a go. Do I polarize with the tractor running or off?

How do I know if my ammeter is hooked up the right way? The two posts on the back are not labeled. When I turn the starter over it indicates a charge. Is this a polarization issue or do I just have them backwards?

Jamie

[Bigdog]

Jamie, polarization is done with the tractor not running. To verify your ammeter connections turn the lights on with the tractor not running. You can also observe the ammeter while starting the tractor. The ammeter should show a discharge anytime the battery is carrying a load without the engine running. Typically, after starting, the ammeter will show a fairly high charge rate at first and then taper back down to just a few amps after the battery is re-charged.

[jamieg74]

Thank You Big Dog. I am going to go try it right now.

Jamie

[Hengy]

I am going to give it a go. Do I polarize with the tractor running or off?

How do I know if my ammeter is hooked up the right way? The two posts on the back are not labeled. When I turn the starter over it indicates a charge. Is this a polarization issue or do I just have them backwards?

Jamie

Funny you should say that. My ammeter goes to the positive side when I start (not far, just slightly)... I have a 4-position switch with a cutout, and when I turn the switch to high charge, the needle goes to the positive side (pretty far!)...

I wonder why the meter goes positive when we all know that the starter is a STRONG drain on the battery... Perhaps because the current flowing to the battery doesn't go directly through the ammeter and because there is such a strong draw on the battery current flows "backwards" through the auxilliary wiring and back to the starter switch post... (that is completely conjecture on my part!)

Mike in La Crosse, WI

[jamieg74]

I swapped the wires on the ammeter and it indicates a discharge with the lights now. One problem fixed.

When I did the polarization I got a spark but it still is not indicating a charge. I am lost with electricity, now what?

Jamie