JD 650 Battery Polarity Issue

[Soundguy]

Could please list some of these later model machines that have 12V positive ground battery connections???? Thanks,Jim

we have a white truck at work that uses a positive ground. When i was doing research finding it's altrernator up at big truck parts.. I saw a listing ont he wall with about 20 or 30 alternators that were all either positive ground, or case isolated ground. If you want to find more.. the data is out there. I know the UK has produced a few.

 

[Tx Jim]

As I previously stated probably 99+ % of later model machines are negative ground

 

[RickB]

At the risk of being annoying, redundant and picayune, I don't see why it is such a burden for all involved to supply concise, detailed instructions for boosting and charging from external sources that don't invite those with non-standard system polarity to cause a battery to explode because they happen to follow directions. It really isn't that difficult, and most participants in this thread are fully aware of how such instructions and cautions can and should be written for the benefit and protection of all.

This topic is important to me because I sell about 20 or so 6 volt batteries every year to go into old tractors, 99.5% of which are positive ground systems. It's just not that hard to get right if you care.

 

[Coyote machine]

At the risk of being annoying, redundant and picayune, I don't see why it is such a burden for all involved to supply concise, detailed instructions for boosting and charging from external sources that don't invite those with non-standard system polarity to cause a battery to explode because they happen to follow directions. It really isn't that difficult, and most participants in this thread are fully aware of how such instructions and cautions can and should be written for the benefit and protection of all.

Precisely because 1%, or whatever the actual number is doesn't rate special attention in a standard protocol. It is because the percentage you want included is rare, antiquated and the exception, not the rule. And in the real world not everything is done as it 'should' be done, contrary to many's expectations.
One can argue this 'till blue in the face, but it's not going to matter or change anything one iota. Write your congressman if you want change.

 

[BobRip]

At the risk of being annoying, redundant and picayune, I don't see why it is such a burden for all involved to supply concise, detailed instructions for boosting and charging from external sources that don't invite those with non-standard system polarity to cause a battery to explode because they happen to follow directions. It really isn't that difficult, and most participants in this thread are fully aware of how such instructions and cautions can and should be written for the benefit and protection of all.

This topic is important to me because I sell about 20 or so 6 volt batteries every year to go into old tractors, 99.5% of which are positive ground systems. It's just not that hard to get right if you care.

I think that the more complicated the procedure, the more likely people will be to ignore it and not even read it. I have seen many manuals with several pages of safety warnings and I bet the only people who read them were the author, maybe his boss, and the lawyers. Total accuracy and complexity do not always add value. It would be better to make a charger that if connected backwards did not cause an issue. Then the complexity is left at the designer end and not the user.

 

[Looking4new]

Could please list some of these later model machines that have 12V positive ground battery connections???? Thanks,Jim

Although NOT that 'later model', my 1961 Morris Oxford was Positive ground as was my 1955 Packard. Both of them 12 volt systems.

 

[Coyote machine]

I think that the more complicated the procedure, the more likely people will be to ignore it and not even read it. I have seen many manuals with several pages of safety warnings and I bet the only people who read them were the author, maybe his boss, and the lawyers. Total accuracy and complexity do not always add value. It would be better to make a charger that if connected backwards did not cause an issue. Then the complexity is left at the designer end and not the user.

The professional Snap-on charger I have from about 1986 or so has a three light polarity check built into the handle which is designed to test the battery BEFORE hooking up the unit to charge the battery.
I said early on in this discussion that total inclusiveness of every oddball or antiquated grounding possibility is left out of the standard because it will only create more confusion, not less, for most trying to figure out how to charge a battery. Are there exceptions to the standard? Yes. Are they left out on purpose? Yes. Does it make everyone happy? No. Is life a B, then you die? Yes.

 

[Coyote machine]

Could please list some of these later model machines that have 12V positive ground battery connections???? Thanks,Jim

Although NOT that 'later model', my 1961 Morris Oxford was Positive ground as was my 1955 Packard. Both of them 12 volt systems.

I believe a white truck of unknown make was listed?!:confused2:

 

[MikePA]

I said early on in this discussion that total inclusiveness of every oddball or antiquated grounding possibility...

'Every oddball or antiquated grounding possibility...'? There are only two.

 

[Coyote machine]

'Every oddball or antiquated grounding possibility...'? There are only two.

So EVERY would cover both. Huh?!