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24 Posts
Good Day.
Last fall, we arrived one morning to a "dead flat" battery on our 575R. We managed to get it boosted, ran it for 30 min to charge, shut it down and threw a digital voltmeter on it. Dropping like a stone... figured a dead short in a battery cell. Replaced battery - (hint: It had all the classic symptoms of a battery with a dead short...)
In the meantime, we also developed the habit of using the battery disconnect switch, and then over time, we got cocky and started leaving it hot overnight. It was fine for a while, then one morning a few weeks later, flat again.
We noticed that our grid heater wire had got warm and melted the end off at the relay, so we replaced the relay, and put a good righteous soldered-on end on the wire. This was thought to be the gremlin as the battery was dropping capacity so fast it wouldn't start after a few hours of being stationary, and would be dead flat overnight. Hmm - probably that relay that got it's internals half melted...
Went several months after this of leaving the battery disconnect in the on position, and had no issues. This week, after having been run a few days earlier, went to move it - dead. Through an ammeter in the circuit at the battery, and we have 10 amps going somewhere with the key off. Checked the alternator out - often a prime candidate, and it checks out.
We can start trying to isolate this thing by process of elimination, but before we do, are there any high risk offenders that should be investigated? - Ag Leader Elevator moisture sensor (wired direct), - our EZ Guide / EZ Steer is on a keyed circuit, 2 way is wired hot, but shouldn't consume 10 amps (but we will check that one out).
Any other sources of intermittent 'leaks' on these machines?
Luke (aka Ken in SW Ont)
Last fall, we arrived one morning to a "dead flat" battery on our 575R. We managed to get it boosted, ran it for 30 min to charge, shut it down and threw a digital voltmeter on it. Dropping like a stone... figured a dead short in a battery cell. Replaced battery - (hint: It had all the classic symptoms of a battery with a dead short...)
In the meantime, we also developed the habit of using the battery disconnect switch, and then over time, we got cocky and started leaving it hot overnight. It was fine for a while, then one morning a few weeks later, flat again.
We noticed that our grid heater wire had got warm and melted the end off at the relay, so we replaced the relay, and put a good righteous soldered-on end on the wire. This was thought to be the gremlin as the battery was dropping capacity so fast it wouldn't start after a few hours of being stationary, and would be dead flat overnight. Hmm - probably that relay that got it's internals half melted...
Went several months after this of leaving the battery disconnect in the on position, and had no issues. This week, after having been run a few days earlier, went to move it - dead. Through an ammeter in the circuit at the battery, and we have 10 amps going somewhere with the key off. Checked the alternator out - often a prime candidate, and it checks out.
We can start trying to isolate this thing by process of elimination, but before we do, are there any high risk offenders that should be investigated? - Ag Leader Elevator moisture sensor (wired direct), - our EZ Guide / EZ Steer is on a keyed circuit, 2 way is wired hot, but shouldn't consume 10 amps (but we will check that one out).
Any other sources of intermittent 'leaks' on these machines?
Luke (aka Ken in SW Ont)