Battery Tender

[Petrol and Powder]

I use the SAE plug on the right. It's fairly universal and used with Battery Tender and BatteryMinder brands, so additional cords, pigtails, etc are easy to find. The SAE style is also used on many 12v accessories like pumps or sprayers. I'm not familiar with the one on the left, but I can see that it would be easy to use.

The round style plug is used on BMW motorcycles and some other applications. One of the advantages is that you can install a socket that accepts that plug and you don't need a loose pigtail then. I used one for a battery tender on an old motorcycle and it did double duty for a power source for heated gloves.

If I can find a spot on the dash of my tractor to install one of the those sockets, I'll likely go with that round style just for convenience.

 

[dickfoster]

I hear you reference the Generac internal charger. The problem is the internal charger, which is basically a battery tender itself, doesn't charge the battery anymore but it does seem to confuse an external charger. I suspect the diodes that prevent that back feeding may actually be defective. I don't know for sure because it's just not worth my time to trouble shoot that control board and not worth the money to replace it.

I installed a battery disconnect and I just open it when I charge the battery. Everything works as it should and it's a cheap solution for now. I installed the generator myself about 15 years ago and I'll likely try to get a few more years out of it before I replace it.

I have a schematic and could help you figure out how to disable the internal charger if you want and would be comfortable enough to dig into it. That is if your generator is anything like mine. A quick look shows the internal charger as a separate unit and pulling fuse F2 just might do the trick for ya. With a little finesse you could likely even replace the internal charger with the charger you have and have it work like it came from the factory. From a quick look at the schematic it's a 110V unit and a transformer steps the 220V that should be feeding the generator from your electrical service down to 110V for the charger. In fact check your F2 and make sure that's not your problem. It should be a 5A cartridge fuse in a fuse holder on your control panel.

 

[Petrol and Powder]

Thanks, I have the manual and it includes the schematic. The fuse is fine. I'm not sure it's the same unit because the charging circuit on mine appears to be part of the control board for the automatic operation. It is fed from the house current that is used to sense a power failure but it doesn't appear to be a separate unit. Honestly I haven't had the panel open in over a year and I may be relying on bad memory but I don't recall seeing a simple way to substitute a new charger. I do appreciate the offer.

 

[dickfoster]

Thanks, I have the manual and it includes the schematic. The fuse is fine. I'm not sure it's the same unit because the charging circuit on mine appears to be part of the control board for the automatic operation. It is fed from the house current that is used to sense a power failure but it doesn't appear to be a separate unit. Honestly I haven't had the panel open in over a year and I may be relying on bad memory but I don't recall seeing a simple way to substitute a new charger. I do appreciate the offer.

If only I could get a look at your unit.

 

[RNeumann]

Is anyone else laughing?

Mahindra owners have way more fun!

 

[Petrol and Powder]

Well at least he didn't say package......

 

[Ford850]

The round style plug is used on BMW motorcycles and some other applications. One of the advantages is that you can install a socket that accepts that plug and you don't need a loose pigtail then. I used one for a battery tender on an old motorcycle and it did double duty for a power source for heated gloves.

If I can find a spot on the dash of my tractor to install one of the those sockets, I'll likely go with that round style just for convenience.

You can get sockets for the SAE style too. Here's a good weather proof style Amazon.com: OptiMATE CABLE O-2, Weatherproof SAE socket, front panel mount: Automotive
Paul Short has a good video on it here Kubota BX25D Bulkhead Connector - YouTube

 

[Petrol and Powder]

Yea, but if I use the round style I can use my heated motorcycle gloves on the tractor :thumbsup:

And besides, I already have most of the components needed for that setup.

 

[Ford850]

Yea, but if I use the round style I can use my heated motorcycle gloves on the tractor :thumbsup:

And besides, I already have most of the components needed for that setup.

Good deal. I was just posting those links in case it was of interest to you or others. Lots of good solutions out there.

 

[dickfoster]

Is anyone else laughing?

Mahindra owners have way more fun!

Only the gay ones.