Starter/Generator warning Light!!??

[CADplans]

Has anybody added a charge warning light to a S/G equipped Cub Cadet?

This sounds like a good way to monitor the charging of a tractor when you are too busy watching where you are going to look/analyze an ammeter!

I saw this in an off brand tractor manual, sounds like a good addition to a Cub!!


GENERATOR WARNING LAMP
Inspection
The generator warning lamp is connected between the
generator (G) terminal of the voltage regulator and the
light, (A) on ignition switches with 4 pins, and terminal (L)
terminal of the ignition switch with 5 pins. If the generator
output is at a higher voltage than the battery, no current
flows through the lamp and it remains extinguished. If the
generator output is at a lower voltage than the battery,
current flows through the lamp and causes it to
illuminate.
To check the generator warning lamp, disconnect the
wire from its terminal on the lamp. Then use a multimeter
to check the resistance across the lamp terminals. Begin
with the red (+) multimeter lead on the terminal where
the wire was connected and the black (-) lead of the
multimeter on the other lamp terminal. The resistance in
this direction should be high (500 ohms or higher). Then
reverse the multimeter leads on the lamp terminal. The
resistance in this direction should be much lower. If not,
the generator lamp is bad and should be replaced.




Since my only operating Cubs do not have a S/G, I can not be the guinea pig.

Anybody care to try this? sounds simple, just add a light bulb!!

[jbrewer]

You could also probably put a Green LED across the ammeter with a series current limiting resistor...say.... 1K resistor. If the green light is on, current is flowing from the S/G to the battery and you're good!

BAT side of Ammeter-----|<---/\/\/\-------- S/G side

Any old LED will work. 1K resistor, half watt size .

John

[jbrewer]

You could put a red LED pointing the other way in parallel with the Ammeter (and the green led/series resistor) indicating a discharge.



Batt side of ammeter S/G side

o------------->|--/\/\/\--------------------o
( red LED 1K res)

o-------------|<---/\/\/\--------------------o
Green 1K

[Matt G.]

Is it really that difficult to look at the ammeter and see which direction the needle is pointing?

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Matt G.

Is it really that difficult to look at the ammeter and see which direction the needle is pointing?

If I am doing something like blade work (ie.. moving snow) I am too busy watching what I am doing to look at a meter.

And snow blade work is done at night a lot, with too many lights on, another reason to need a warning light.

Mowing the grass, yea, check the ammeter every hour!!

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by jbrewer

You could put a red LED pointing the other way in parallel with the Ammeter (and the green led/series resistor) indicating a discharge.



Batt side of ammeter S/G side

o------------->|--/\/\/\--------------------o
( red LED 1K res)

o-------------|<---/\/\/\--------------------o
Green 1K

OOHHH!!! I like that!!

Radio Shack is going to get a few bucks$$$!!

[jbrewer]

PM or email me your address and I'll send you some ....

[Merk]

by cadplans
If I am doing something like blade work (ie.. moving snow) I am too busy watching what I am doing to look at a meter.

And snow blade work is done at night a lot, with too many lights on, another reason to need a warning light.

Mowing the grass, yea, check the ammeter every hour!!

If your too busy to watch a meter you will be too busy to watch a light. Anything more than the factory style lights is too hard on a Cub Cadet's charging system. If you need to run more lights you better increase the charging system output. Any generator needs to run a minimum rpm level to charge the electrical system.



I not big on cutting/modifing the wire harness under the dash. Adding gagets like extra lights is a accident waiting to happen.

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Merk

If your too busy to watch a meter you will be too busy to watch a light. Anything more than the factory style lights is too hard on a Cub Cadet's charging system. If you need to run more lights you better increase the charging system output. Any generator needs to run a minimum rpm level to charge the electrical system.



I not big on cutting/modifing the wire harness under the dash. Adding gagets like extra lights is a accident waiting to happen.

An LED is like eating celery, almost 0 energy consumption.

A light will catch my eye, a slight movement of a needle will not.

My tractors are in BIG trouble!!

DSC_0087640x380.jpg

But, my mods are my fun!!

[Matt G.]

Originally Posted by CADplans

If I am doing something like blade work (ie.. moving snow) I am too busy watching what I am doing to look at a meter.

And snow blade work is done at night a lot, with too many lights on, another reason to need a warning light.

Mowing the grass, yea, check the ammeter every hour!!

So when you're driving your car, you are too busy to check the speedometer to see how fast you are going? I'm with Merk, it takes just as long to look at the ammeter as it would a light, and the ammeter will tell you a lot more. All this mod will do is make it like the idiot light setup on the 'cylops' tractors...it'll tell you if it is or isn't working, but not why. A very common failure mode for the voltage regulators is having the contacts stick and create an overcharging condition that'll peg the ammeter to the right and cook the battery to death. Your green light won't be able to tell the difference because all it knows is that it's charging...