preventing battery drain

[DJ54]

It may be possible, that the diode(s) is/are out in the alternator, allowing the battery to drain.

 

[Texasmark]

You have a series circuit....think water hose. Any where you squeeze the hose you will stop the water. Anywhere you disconnect the wire making the loop out of and back into the battery will stop the current.....assuming all the circuits are involved, like right at either battery terminal.

I think the one I bought with a green knob is sized to fit the negative battery terminal. I don't agree with that ideology as most of the tractor is at battery - (these days with 12v systems) making for ease of accidental short circuits allowing current to flow......seems the designers followed the thought that you disconnect the negative battery terminal first when servicing a battery since (as I stated above) if your wrench accidentally connects to part of the tractor chassis or something connected to it you won't get sparking and current flow.

But changing a battery is one thing...disconnecting your system from the power supply is something else. I tried to expand one once for my home standby power unit as the + terminal was closer to my access area but it was a cast part (copper coated pewter seemed like) and as soon as I started expanding the connection it just broke off.

 

[jaxs]

You should track down the drain even if/after installing the disconnect. Why worry about it once the battery stops discharging? Because
if the drain is through the alternator,the alternator will soon stop working (possibly at the worst time). If drain is through a short,it can suddenly become a full blown short resulting in burnt wireing harness,battery explosion and/or tractor fire involving fuel tank. Fine example of "a stitch in time saves nine".

 

[k0ua]

Not to hijack the thread, but I noticed your username is your callsign. I just got my ticket back in August (jumped straight to general). One of the projects slated for my new tractor is digging trenches for my ground system. Between that and all my other projects it's going to be a busy summer! KC3LZH

Congratulations on getting your License, 73 James K0UA