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Bruiser 
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Joined: 11 Apr 2016
Location: Ill
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 Topic: Battery Maintainer Question
Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 3:01pm |
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My WD45 has an 8 volt battery, but is it ok to use a 12 volt maintainer? Right or wrong I'm a fan of maintainers and use one on all tractors and mowers but everything else is 12 volt. This is a Schumacher 1.5 amp 6v/12v model: SEM-1562A-CA. Thanks for your reply.
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DougS
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Joined: 03 Nov 2011
Location: Iowa
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 3:06pm |
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No. At 12 volts it will boil ( or whatever they call it) the battery. At the 6 colt setting it will not put enough juice to the battery. 8 volts is an oddball size. I’ve seen the occasional 8 volt charger, but not an 8 volt maintainer.
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HoughMade
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Joined: 22 Sep 2017
Location: Valparaiso, IN
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 3:10pm |
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With an 8 volt battery and automatic voltage sensing, that is, there is no switch between 6v and 12v (I have a model that is similar, but I think a generation of two older), it will either charge too low or too high. In 6v mode, it probably won't charge more than 7.1-7.5v or so and in 12v mode, it will charge at something like 13.5-14.1v or higher and never switch into "maintain" mode. That can't be good. If it had a switch, you could at least put it on 6v and keep it from overcharging and keep the battery from going completely flat, but with it being automatic...who knows what it will try to do?
Edited by HoughMade - 19 Nov 2018 at 3:11pm
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1951 B
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chaskaduo
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Joined: 26 Nov 2016
Location: Twin Cities
Points: 5200
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 3:19pm |
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An electronics supplier my be able to figure which diode or resistor you need for your setup i.e. what maintainer you plan to use specs. I've have a 12v to 6v one for my minnow miser bucket aerator.
Hooks between battery and aerator.
Edited by chaskaduo - 19 Nov 2018 at 3:20pm
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1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp
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BrianC
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Location: New York
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 3:55pm |
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jaybmiller
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Location: Greensville,Ont
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 4:16pm |
Well you could make up a series string of 6 diodes and that'll 'drop' about 3.6 volts. If you add a White LED with a 1K resistor across the diodes, you'll get a free 'power / charge' indicator. Put this mess of parts between the +ve of the charger and the +ve of the battery.
The diodes need ratings better than the charger, so if the charger's good for 2 Amps, use power diodes good for 5 amps ( or better). Now unless you can make the module or have akid do it, just buy the maintainer BrianC links to. Also, some will ask why the 8 volt battery. It should be 6 volts or you could upgrade to 12 volt. There's pros and cons to each, though I prefer 12V. Cheaper batteries, easy to boost,etc. though the 'correct cops' will take off points as it should be 6 volt.
Jay
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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chaskaduo
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Joined: 26 Nov 2016
Location: Twin Cities
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 4:37pm |
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1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp
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bradley6874
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 5:02pm |
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Was the generator on the tractor ever change from 6 volt to 8 volt if not it's never going to charge but 6 volt so just use a 6 volt that's the best it's going to be when it's running
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You can wash the dirt off the body but you can’t wash the farmer out of the heart and soul
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HoughMade
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Joined: 22 Sep 2017
Location: Valparaiso, IN
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 5:06pm |
 jaybmiller wrote:
...Also, some will ask why the 8 volt battery. It should be 6 volts or you could upgrade to 12 volt. There's pros and cons to each, though I prefer 12V. Cheaper batteries, easy to boost,etc. though the 'correct cops' will take off points as it should be 6 volt.
Jay
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If the starter, generator and ignition (battery or magneto) are in good shape, 6v is all you need...but I'm not going to arrest someone for doing what they want.
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1951 B
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Gerald J.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Hamilton Co, IA
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 5:51pm |
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6 volt systems need the battery posts and connectors cleaned twice a year because the system can not stand the voltage drop of corroded connectors.
An 8 volt battery in the 6 volt system is a crude way to get around cleaning battery posts as often, but probably like a 12 volt system needs post and connectors cleaned every other year. At least when the battery can leak acid vapor around the posts to cause the corrosion.
In some vintage 6 volt systems with a cut out and a three brush generator that generator will charge the 8 volt battery reasonably well. Lamps won't last as good seeing over 7.1 volts more like 9.5 volts when the battery is fully charged, but the lamps will be bright until they burn out.
8 volt battery is simply a cobble to avoid maintenance but doesn't necessarily work well.
Gerald J.
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Dusty MI
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, Mi
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Posted: 19 Nov 2018 at 9:56pm |
I had a '53 WD that had the engine replaced by local A.C. dealer. That new engine had a little more compression and if I stalled it working it too hard it would hardly turn over when trying to restart it. I put an 8 volt battery in it, that fixed starting it hot. That's all I did to it, the 6 volt generator kept that 8 volt battery charged. The 6 volt battery ignition worked well and 6 volt lights worked well also.
Dusty
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917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express"
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