Hi,
After doing more digging I’ve come up with more questions than answers. I’m seeing voltage to the frame along with voltage across the PTO. However the current is so low that it won’t even light a 1.5V flashlight bulb. Maybe its so trace that the meter is giving a bad reading (I can get low volt readings just holding the leads in my two hands) but, I have tried a second meter with similar results. Ames DM1000 (built by Mastech?) and an old Radio Shack True RMS 22-174a. Let me also state that I’m no electrical ace. No visible issues with the wiring.
As I mentioned at the start, the tractor seems to run fine - with the exception of the power use meter readings that seem very high with lots of needle movement. I don't believe the readings are accurate otherwise I wouldn't be able to mow a 2-1/2 acre vineyard without running out of juice. But maybe it's tied to the volt readings that I am seeing to the PTO and chassis.
Here are some readings with the negative meter cable connected to the PTO neg (angled connector nearest the timer).
Pos meter lead to Pos PTO
Main disconnect off and key off - 1.3V
Main disconnect off and key on - 1.22V
Main disconnect on and key off - 1.9V
Main disconnect on and key on - 1.9V
Pos meter lead to chassis
Main disconnect off and key off - 13.8V
Main disconnect off and key on - 13.8V
Main disconnect on and key off - 22.4V
Main disconnect on and key on - 22V
I got similar readings with all the fused pulled. One stranger thing is that when I removed the blue wire on the rear pack for the lift, the 22V chassis voltages rose to about 32V.
So thinking (or hoping!) that the volt readings are meaningless I started doing some amp readings across the battery pack with the fuses back in.
.00 with main disconnect off
.02 with main disconnect on and key off
.12 with main disconnect on and key on
Don’t know if that is normal or not.
Then I purchased a Ames DC clamp meter (CM1000A) connected to the battery cable which goes to the main disconnect) to measure load compared to power use meter - the old style meter with just the single green, yellow, red sections
.04 with main disconnect on and key off
.10 with main disconnect on and key on. Both of these are similar to the one I took with my other meter above.
Transaxle in neutral, wide-open throttle - 14 amps - power use 1/3 into the green
Transaxle in D2, wide-open throttle on level blacktop - 27 amps - power use at the end of the green
Mower on, no drive - 20 amps - power use 5/8 into the green
Transaxle in D2, wide-open throttle on level blacktop with mower on - 46 amps - power use almost in the red.
Transaxle in D1, wide-open throttle and actual mowing - 55-65 amps - power use at the end of the red to the needle being pinned to the right.
Again, I don’t know if these amp loads are normal or not but can mow a lot of grass on a single charge.
It's "working” for now so I’ll probably hold off till winter to dissect the wiring.
Thanks for any input you may have.
Please let us know findings.
I suspect we will all see similarly odd happenings someday.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 9, 2023, at 6:36 PM, Dean Stuckmann <dstuckmann@icloud.com> wrote:
Thanks for your help
Looks like I have to chase some wiring…
Take care,
Dean
On Jul 9, 2023, at 8:12 PM, John Jeno <jjjeno@hotmail.com> wrote:
Main disconnect off.
Key off.
PTO off.
V = 0.024. Stray ambient?
Main on.
V = 0.024
Key on. Contractor clicks.
V = 0.025
PTO on.
V = 40.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 9, 2023, at 4:58 PM, Dean Stuckmann <dstuckmann@icloud.com> wrote:
I did not engage any throttle on the Alltrax. The PTO switch on/off also engaged and disengaged the Alltrax main solenoid.
What voltage were you seeing at the PTO when the key switch is off?
Thank you all
Take care,
Dean
On Jul 9, 2023, at 5:29 PM, John Jeno <jjjeno@hotmail.com> wrote:
When you say “cycle” of the Alltrax, do you mean from on to off to on again?
I haven’t opened up the panel to check but I do know there’s no hiccup in drive when I cycle the PTO switch.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 9, 2023, at 3:25 PM, John Jeno <jjjeno@hotmail.com> wrote:
One answer.
Voltage drops to a few mv with the first auto range flash of the Fluke when the PTO switch is opened.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 9, 2023, at 12:46 PM, Dean Stuckmann via Elec-trak <elec-trak@cosmos.phy.tufts.edu> wrote:
Hi,
I’m hoping that one of you Alltrax guys can do a quick voltage check for me. Let me give you a little background.
I converted my E16 to Alltrax in 2016. The tractor’s drive has always run perfect and still does. Yesterday I was finishing the mowing a 2 acre vineyard and turned off the mower while repositioning the tractor but it failed to turn back on. I cycled the PTO switch a few times and then the mower started. I mowed for about five minutes more and turned off the deck. This time when I try to start it, it would not go at all. I noticed that the PTO solenoid was very warm. I could touch it, but barely. Another thing I noticed is that the main contractor for the Alltrax would cycle when turning the PTO switch on and off (key was ON). Is that normal? I never noticed it before but the tractor is typically already moving when powering on attachments. I just assumed that I was hearing the PTO solenoid.
The PTO would restart after a cool down. I assumed that the solenoid was getting bad so I replaced with a spare that I had. It was was a used unit that was about 3/8” shorter than the original but looked almost like new. I checked it with an ohmmeter to make sure that the unit was cycling correctly and that there were no shorts to the case. It all checked out so I installed it in the tractor.
Then I did some voltage checks to test it all out before connecting the mower back up and noticed something odd. With the PTO off (and even the key in the Off position) there is between 5-9V between the 2 angled ports on the PTO socket. Voltage is similar with the key on. Even with the main disconnect open, there is about 5V that diminishes to zero in a minute or so. My stock I-5 reads zero in these tests, as I assume that it should.
I know that the Alltrax has some caps in it and I’m wondering if this voltage “leak” is coming from that. There is no voltage shown when the mower is plugged in. Maybe its the norm? I don’t recall doing a similar test when I originally installed the Alltrax so I can’t comment on that.
I'm hoping I can get some answers before I start tearing into all the wiring. If one of you Alltrax guys could get back to me regarding the following questions, it would be appreciated.
Key off, attachments disconnected. Do you see voltage across the 2 angled ports in the socket?
Do you see diminishing voltage when the main disconnect is opened?
Key on, attachments disconnected. Can you feel the Alltrax main contractor cycle when turning the PTO on and off?
Thank you all in advance.
Regards,
Dean Stuckmann
5432 County Road U
Newton, WI 53063-9624
920-901-2288
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