Battery questions???

[Blue2Orange]

Tractor use is now down to just driveway maintenance. Which is just winter snow removal. Spring and autumn grading if needed. Hauling firewood in the Spring and Autumn from stacks spread around the 40. Summer? Tractor for the past decade has more or less just sat.

The NH had an Optima since day 1. First one lasted IIRC 13 years. Tractor was used regularly. 2nd one ~10 years. Tractor use was down to seasonal like now. Optima #2 when put on the cheapo load tester noted "medium" when "fully" charged. That's when I considered replacing. Purchased a battery charger/maintainer with the 3rd Optima and just traded it in for the Kubota. Great timing. One year of use for a $269 battery.

Question #1:
Unsure if true or BS. Even if the battery starts your tractor. If on the low end it is hard on your alternator?

Probably should have charged the battery on day one to full. Took me until couple days ago to attach the charger/maintainer connector to the battery. Plugged it in. Battery was only at 75%.

Question #2:
What temperature and rpm is required for the alternator to efficiently charge the battery?

During the break-in hours I have been just lightly using the tractor. Hour meter just broke 9 hours prior to attaching the battery maintainer/charger. RPMs from low idle (~1500) to short periods maxing at 2400.

 

[JonM]

#1 makes no difference.

#2 if your going to charge the battery with a charger disconnect it completely before using a charger.

 

[Russell King]

Idle speed will not charge the battery very quickly.

At some speed the alternator will be charging it at the max voltage and amperage output. to figure that out (on the voltage) is pretty simple if you have a DC volt meter. Just attach the meter and have the tractor at idle, should be around 12-13 volts. Raise RPMs and the voltage will increase up to around 14 to 14.5. So go to max RPM to see the max voltage output. Then see what slower RPM gives you that voltage.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

which 'charger/maintainer' ? Most 'maintainers' are just smart trickle chargers...maybe 2 amps so could take days to recharge a lowish battery

 

[JonM]

i use noco smart chargers. you can get a usable charge in a few hours. place it on charge when your not using the tractor until its done

 

[jaxs]

You are smart by staying on top of this, it will pay dividends in longer battery life, keep starter healthy, easier starting and peace of mind.
#1. True
#2. Varies but charge is sufficient at operating rps to at minimum maintain charge.

Some chargers sold as maintainer don't have as good of circuitry as some. I've used Deltran brand Battery Tenders for over 20 years with excellent service. I have all them hooked to something all the time. Boat and rv often sit unused for months and never get low on water nor overcharge. Vehicles that are often on and off charger are hooked up through lighter plug.

 

[Blue2Orange]

Was running Optima battery for the past 24 years on the NH. The "smart" charger/maintainer was the smaller Optima unit. Had a quick disconnect. Right now using that charger on the BX. Charger allows selection of type and voltage of battery. Unsure how many Amp charger. When attached it noted the BX's battery at 75%. By next morning it was fully charged.

Noco 5amp charger was on my "wish list". On sale and in need of a 2nd maintainer/charger. So I purchased it along with their version of the quick connect "eye" attachment.

Do have an ancient analog Schumacher(?) brand charger. Not a maintainer or conditioner. Works fine the times I've needed it to charge dead vehicle batteries to at least start and get into town to replace. I do pull the battery out of the vehicle when using this charger.

 

[jaxs]

1. Sitting with less than full charge is detrimental to amp-hour and battery life (deeper the discharge and longer the time,the more harmful).
2. Slower the recharge (charger output) the better for battery health. Boost/quick charge as last resort.