12V Negative Ground

Hiker_64 · Aug 13, 2012

Next question on the 8N --side mount

After working on the carb and draining the battery when I went to hook up the charger the positive post was hooked up to the ground to frame strap.

All of the wiring is inside a loom and long term would be to start over with a new harness. However, for the short term do I need to turn the battery around and hook the negative to the ground strap?

I've ran the tractor for about 15 hours set up like this and have no idea how long the PO had it this way.

JMOR · Aug 13, 2012

(quoted from post at 21:11:39 08/13/12) Next question on the 8N --side mount

After working on the carb and draining the battery when I went to hook up the charger the positive post was hooked up to the ground to frame strap.

All of the wiring is inside a loom and long term would be to start over with a new harness. However, for the short term do I need to turn the battery around and hook the negative to the ground strap?

I've ran the tractor for about 15 hours set up like this and have no idea how long the PO had it this way.

hat charging system is on it? What generator or what alternator? What does ammeter show?

Hiker_64 · Aug 13, 2012

Deco 3 wire with #2 post not hooked up. Ammeter not working since purchase (just sits at zero). I do have a older sw volt meter I could hook up.

Dell (WA) · Aug 13, 2012

Hiker_64.........you do know the 8N came from the factory 6-volts, positive (+) ground, don't you? There are some "obscure" technical reasons for positive ground ...but... iff'n you have a 12-volt conversion, ALL ALTERNATORS require negative (-) ground. Its them dang electrons inside the alternator need negative (-) ground. You do know how to tell the difference between 6-volts (3-caps) and 12-volt (6-caps) batterys, don't you? ........respectfully, Dell

Dell (WA) · Aug 13, 2012

Hiker_64.......3-wire Delco 12-volt ALTERNATOR. BIG stud on back of alternator is connected to 12-volt battery. The #2-post is supposed to be connected to the BIG stud on back of alternator. The #1-post should be connected to the ignition ON terminal thru an idiot-lamp just like God and GM intended. Without the idjut-lite, you can NOT turn yer engine OFF. .........Dell, 12-volt advocate for the right reasons, who knows 8-ways to convert to 12-volts and they all work the first time

JMOR · Aug 13, 2012

(quoted from post at 21:27:07 08/13/12)
Deco 3 wire with #2 post not hooked up. Ammeter not working since purchase (just sits at zero). I do have a older sw volt meter I could hook up.

f Delco, alternator, then it is about 99.44% certain that it needs NEGATIVE ground battery. There is such an animal as POSITIVE ground Delco alternators (specialty conversions), but very rare in numbers. If your alt is standard, then unless some wiring is disconnected or burned up to the large connection on rear of alt, then the alt is probably burned up inside from battery being connected as Positive ground.

Royse · Aug 13, 2012

You may want to have that alternator tested at your local parts store.
PO hooking it up with positive ground probably fried it.
The rest of the system won't much care. Starter, solenoid, etc.

Hiker_64 · Aug 13, 2012

As always thanks for the quick and detailed replies.

Yes sir, I'm positive it's a 12v batt.

I will be taking the alt to an auto parts for testing

old · Aug 13, 2012

With that alternator if you did hook it up + ground you would let the smoke out of the alternator the moment you hook it up. Alternators are almost always - ground and to hook up the battery back wards of that will fry an alternator in less then a nano second

NOXJohn · Aug 14, 2012

Use your volt meter to measure the battery voltage before you start the engine. After you start the engine measure the battery voltage while running. If the running battery voltage is not higher then the non running battery voltage then you alternator is not charging. If it is then keep on tractoring. If not get the alternator checked.

Hiker_64 · Aug 14, 2012

Just curious, would she have run for 15 hours on just the battery?

JMOR · Aug 14, 2012

(quoted from post at 06:53:55 08/14/12)
Just curious, would she have run for 15 hours on just the battery?

YES. Without lights on, the main battery drain is starter & those are short duration & probably not too many in 15 hours of operation & ignition is the long duration (15 hour) drain & it averages less than 2 amperes, a cake-walk for a 70 Amp-hour battery.

NoNewParts · Aug 14, 2012

(quoted from post at 08:34:18 08/14/12)

(quoted from post at 06:53:55 08/14/12)
Just curious, would she have run for 15 hours on just the battery?

Click to expand...

YES. Without lights on, the main battery drain is starter & those are short duration & probably not too many in 15 hours of operation & ignition is the long duration (15 hour) drain & it averages less than 2 amperes, a cake-walk for a 70 Amp-hour battery.

sure will
I have a few I haven't gotten to the wiring yet, that haven't been charged all summer (which reminds me......)
just a 12v battery to starter/solenoid and a switched wire to the ignition.
Got a few off brand tractors with magnetos that are instant starters,
since I'm not selling them, they might never get a charging system!
float charger is much cheaper

12V Negative Ground

Hiker_64

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JMOR

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Dell (WA)

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old

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