Not enough alternator on my L4060?

[ctfjr]

Should check the battery condition ,the alternator and what the ACTUAL current draw is for all them loads.
possible issues....
A weak battery will never fully recharge. Might need bigger battery,if original.
A weak alternator won't put out 60Amps...
A loose belt won't let alt charge..
Incorrect wire size draws more power...
Before you order an alternator, you need to know what power you actually are using.
Say you buy the 90A alt...then find out you're using 93A...it'll just take longer to have the 'no start' problem occour..

Above is mostly true. Incorrect wire size (can only mean too small) will add resistance to the circuit. That will cause a voltage drop in that wire so you will deliver less voltage to the device you are powering. Its the reason undersized wires get warm/hot - they are dissipating energy. For example if you had a total of 20' (a pair of wires running only 10') of 20ga and had 10amps flowing through it you would lose just over 2 volts. The power dissipated in the wire would be 2v * 10a = 20watts. You would feel that wire getting warm - probably more than warm.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re:
.. The only thing not stock are the two LED cube lights, each drawing 26w.
well that's only another 4-5 amps
BUT... there's ALSO the heated seat pad....maybe 10 amps ???
it'd be nice to know the 'actualfactory spec' for the alternator output , plus the real current needed for the seat heater.
the bad combo is a 'weak' battery, 'marginal' altenator and high load demand.

 

[troverman]

re:
.. The only thing not stock are the two LED cube lights, each drawing 26w.
well that's only another 4-5 amps
BUT... there's ALSO the heated seat pad....maybe 10 amps ???
it'd be nice to know the 'actualfactory spec' for the alternator output , plus the real current needed for the seat heater.
the bad combo is a 'weak' battery, 'marginal' altenator and high load demand.

I took the heated seat pad out in the summer and have not replaced it.

Ran fine yesterday, but did not operate it at night.

 

[200mph]

re:
.. The only thing not stock are the two LED cube lights, each drawing 26w.
well that's only another 4-5 amps
BUT... there's ALSO the heated seat pad....maybe 10 amps ???

With LED's one can't go by the claimed package values. I've measured 8 different sets of LED lights and the actual current draw is significantly less than what's typically published. Measured data puts it inn the neighborhood of 35% to 50% less. I believe most claim using the max rating of the individual LEDs, but they don't drive them anywhere near max rating.

I don't know why Kubota hasn't gone full LED to aid with their marginally sized alternators.

To the OP (wholegoods price list is older and should verify before ordering):

DEFOGGER KITS

L8340 Defogger Kit, Rear Window Requires High Amp Alternator Kit 28 lbs $281.00
L8381 Defogger Kit, Corner Windows Requires High Amp Alternator Kit 18 lbs $307.00

ALTERNATOR KITS
L5533 High Amp Alternator Kit for L3560 $463.00
L5534 High Amp Alternator Kit for L4060 / L4760 / L5460 / L6060 $463.00 $463.00

I added the corner window kit to my L4740 and it was a easy swap. (Already had the rear defogger).

 

[troverman]

Thanks a lot 200mph. My LED cubes are not the cheap Chinese ones. They are Baja Designs Squadron Sports and cost $120 per cube. Spectacularly bright.
I do agree a modern tractor should move to LED lighting, and Kubota is starting to on newer models. The Grand L 60 series is an old model though.

 

[Magicman]

I installed an "always on" voltmeter. It should read 12.7 before it is cranked showing that the battery is good. A reading of ~14.6 indicates a properly charging alternator.