Overcharging problem

[Sharp153]

My Kubota L225 overcharges the battery, up to 17 volts. I replaced the voltage regulator with a new regulator. I had the battery and alternator checked. I cleaned the terminals on the regulator and alternator connections. What could be the problem? Is it possibly the new regulator is defective?

 

[EE_Bota]

My Kubota L225 overcharges the battery, up to 17 volts. I replaced the voltage regulator with a new regulator. I had the battery and alternator checked. I cleaned the terminals on the regulator and alternator connections. What could be the problem? Is it possibly the new regulator is defective?

I suppose your new regulator could be bad too. But to be on the safe side, make sure that the regulator actually "knows" the system voltage by making sure all the wiring and connections are good.

 

[mitch becton]

your tractor shows the alternator to be external regulated in the box the regulator came in should have been instructions on how to polarize/set the regulator to function if not post several on this site can tell you how

 

[k0ua]

And after you get the regulator problem fixed, check the battery for water level and cracks in the case. The overcharging causes outgassing really bad that can crack the case due to build up of pressure of hydrogen gas and boils the water in the electrolyte off pretty fast. If you have a crack and a leak of electrolyte you will fight corrosion on the metal parts of the battery area for years.. At least that is what happened to me.. And mine wound up being a loose wire.

James K0UA

 

[Coyote machine]

Anything over 14.5 volts presents the possibility of the battery exploding and causing serious damage to anything in its vicinity especially humans.
Today lots of stuff is junk right out of the box, but if not, you need to find out what is allowing the overcharge state to occur, and fix it before that battery goes off like a bomb.

 

[Soundguy]

i think that's a lil on the low side to worry about explosion.. ie 14.5.. quite common to see 14.7v and while rare.. i have seen 15.1.. I wouldn't want that to be long run / low load.. nor would I want higher..

check ground reference from vreg to chassis and alternator.. resistance to ground from the vreg reg reference will be seen as higher output voltage.

 

[DieselMonk]

at least the battery is equalized and desulphated! couldn't resist...

 

[igpoobah]

Are you relying on the in dash voltmeter for this assessment? If so I would put a handheld unit on it to verify it is reading right.

 

[tcartwri]

Change the battery in your DVM! :thumbsup:

 

[Little_Grizzly]

Change the battery in your DVM! :thumbsup:

Gonna have to agree with that suggestion. I don't think it's possible to get to 17V. The gassing threshold is 14.4V (at 25 deg C). There would be no water left in your battery by the time you over-charged it that much. Your DVM is bad or has a dead battery.

 

[k0ua]

Gonna have to agree with that suggestion. I don't think it's possible to get to 17V. The gassing threshold is 14.4V (at 25 deg C). There would be no water left in your battery by the time you over-charged it that much. Your DVM is bad or has a dead battery.

Sorry.., Full output of the alternator is about 17 volts, and that is what I saw on the battery terminals with a good digital volt meter,when I had the wiring problem with the regulator on my old Long. 2360. Full field any alternator (like the handy dandy tab provided in the hole on the side of a GM integrated regulator alternator and you will measure 17 volts.. Yes it boils the battery and can crack or explode the case.. Mine cracked the OEM battery.. dealer replaced it and said he could not find anything wrong... cracked the second one, and I went to fixing it my self... replaced battery, (dealer paid), and fought rust for as long as I owned it.

James K0UA

 

[Little_Grizzly]

ah ha! I misunderstood your measurement. You said, it was "overcharging" your battery to 17V. Not possible. Your alternator getting up that high, yeah that's possible. Bad but possible. My vote is either a second bad regulator or the field sense wire is open.

 

[Sharp153]

Thanks for the ideas. It is the output to the battery that is 17 volts. The battery does not retain 17 volts, but it has boiled out some liquid. I will check the output with another volt meter. I will also check the ground connection on the regulator.

 

[Sharp153]

Another volt meter gives the same readings of excess voltage up to 16.9 volts. I am checking with the dealer to see what help he will give me.

 

[Coyote machine]

It is the overcharging and resulting out-gassing of explosive vapors you need to be wary of. I've seen it too many times to want to count. All you need is an ignition source of any kind, and you may end up wearing the case and acid present. I'm speaking from practical experience of having owned and run a foreign car shop for over ten years with all the best Snap-On diagnostic tools for charging systems.
Protect your eyes, face and any exposed skin from potential worst case possibilities with gloves, safety glasses and long sleeved shirt.

Diagnostically speaking I agree with a couple of possibilities: open sense circuit, another faulty regulator*, (*my personal favorite, can you say outsourcing to third world?), or a bad ground to your chassis, (read cooked internally, cable), from either the battery or the alternator/V.reg.

You could, to keep your current battery from completely self-destructing, add some water to each cell to the full line, but again I would exercise extreme caution if you choose to do so.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd be running a ground jumper as a check post haste..