2N BONE HEAD BATTERY CHARGE

Mister Norborne · Aug 7, 2017

OK, 2N Performed great....last winter...the other day I did a dumb thing and put charger on my 6V battery. Of course I did not disconnect the cables. Yes this is a pos ground, and in a big hurry I connected red charger cables to Positive + on my old battery. Replaced battery now......I have nothing...no lights, no starter click, just a little movement of the gauge needle. Oh yes the new battery is OK. What did I burn up? Thanks in advance.

rvirgil_KS · Aug 7, 2017

What is the problem with charging with battery connected? It is often done with 12 volt negative ground.

Battery charger output has a Positive cable (usually red) and a negative cable (usually black). A battery charger knows nothing about ground, only positive and negative.

Connect charger positive to positive, negative to negative, forget about ground. I assume you used a 6 volt charger.If you hooked red charger cable to + on the battery, that would be correct.

Where did you connect the black charger cable?

If you connected Red cable to battery + and black cable to battery - I suspect you now have a battery cable or cable connection problem

If you connected red cable to positive and black to tractor frame of your positive ground tractor, you likely heard a loud buzz and saw smoke coming from the charger due to + and - shorted together

John P. · Aug 7, 2017

I always charge mine while connected.

Bruce (VA) · Aug 7, 2017

I'm not following you.

Is your positive battery post connected to the frame of the tractor? (that means it's positive ground)

IF the red charger cables are positive (and they probably are) and you connected it to the positive post on the battery, AND you connected the other charger cable (black, I assume) to the negative post on your battery, then you did it exactly right. See tip # 60.

You have " nothing...no lights, no starter click, just a little movement of the gauge needle" because you have a bad cable, connection or ground.

Get out your multimeter & follow the volts.

It's nice to remove a cable when using a charger. But I never do.
75 Tips

ratface · Aug 7, 2017

I always spill gas when filling the tank when first tilting the 5 gallon can spout into the hole. For that reason I don't charge the battery on the tractor. We all know it sits under the gas tank and an inadvertent spark scares me. It's also the simplest battery to remove of all my batteries.

HFJ · Aug 8, 2017

[b:7b5ef03322]"I always spill gas when filling the tank when first tilting the 5 gallon can spout into the hole."[/b:7b5ef03322]

i used to have that problem. these days, i no longer try to pour from 5 gallon cans. i have an 8 or 10 foot long piece of rubber fuel line i use now. set the can across the opening in the hood, set the hose up so it gets nice and low and then back up, suck on it for a second or so, and u still have loads of time to get it out of your mouth and into the tank.

the only battery i disconnect to charge is the one in my riding mower, because it's so easy. it's a car battery that i got some tool-free cable ends for - they just slide on and off the posts. in a car, i'd imagine they'd fail miserably - but it doesn't take much current to turn over a single cylinder intek engine, so they work great

Bruce (VA) · Aug 8, 2017

Haven't spilled a drop since I got one of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/BEHRENS-INC-Lock-On-Galvanized-Tractor-Funnel/45823995?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3005&adid=22222222227033128786&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=76975729751&wl4=pla-133672571591&wl5=9008418&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113146015&wl11=online&wl12=45823995&wl13=&veh=sem
75 Tips

HCooke · Aug 8, 2017

I assume you used a 6 volt battery cahrger. If so you did not do anything wrong. You are supposed to connect pos to pos and neg to neg no
matter how it is grounded!

"I have nothing...no lights, no starter click, just a little movement of the gauge needle. Oh yes the new battery is OK. What did I burn up?
Thanks in advance. "

Probably do not have good tight cable connections, OR the cables are bad.

Dell (WA) · Aug 8, 2017

Norborne........Cookie is rite. Battery cable kenn be BAD under the insulation. HOW? WHY? 'cuz when charging a battery (even 6-volts) Hydrogen gas is emitted and condenses on the COPPER under the insulation and corrodes it. The ONLY thing that will let the smoke out is trying to use a 12-volt charger onna 6-volt battery. Ground hazz 'nuttin' to do with it. So the rule is: positive (+) to positive (+) and negative (-) to negative (-) when charging a lead acid battery. Simple, eh? ..........chemical Dell

Arvin Haslem · Aug 8, 2017

When some electrical problem doesn't make sense, CHECK THE GROUND CIRCUIT. Also do you have any of those cheap replacement ends on the
battery cables? Those clamps must have grease worked in the end of the bare wire before putting the clamp on or they will corrode.
It's best to replace the whole cable. I have also seen cables loose contact within the the original end. Check your voltage at the
post, the clamp, and then the end of the cable. Also a completely dead battery can be charged backwards. I have seen it twice.

souNdguy · Aug 9, 2017

post back.. sounds like you hooked up correctly. perhaps you have a bad connection of the ground strap to frame.

Mister Norborne · Aug 14, 2017

Swear I get dumber every day! thank you, friends and thank you for being patient with me....the Neg cable was new, the connector was sized for the Pos terminal on the 6 volt battery, I could not get it tight enough. Shimmed the post with a lead shim and guess what? The old baby fired. I cannot thank all you that "lead" me along the process. The multimeter check was the trick. Hope I can help someone with their issue someday. Be well and "do not stare at the sun!"

Bruce (VA) · Aug 14, 2017

Tnx for the follow up! Glad it's running.

2N BONE HEAD BATTERY CHARGE

Mister Norborne

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rvirgil_KS

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John P.

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Bruce (VA)

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ratface

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HFJ

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Bruce (VA)

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HCooke

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Dell (WA)

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Arvin Haslem

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souNdguy

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Mister Norborne

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Bruce (VA)

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