RE: (ET) Intro: Just bought an Elec-Trac

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

The best marine 12V deep-discharge are wimpy compared to golf cart 
batteries.  Having said that, 12V golf cart batteries can work, but the 
capacity is really a function of how much total plate area you have.  (6) 
of the 12V deep discharge golf-cart batteries, wired in pairs of 2 might 
be suitable, BUT then you have no 18V nominal tap off for the lift.  There 
isn't any free lunch; the thing was made for (6) 6V deep discharge 
batteries, you would be well advised to use it that way.  Same for the 
front mower.  The E12M is the only 'larger' tractor with a belly mount.  
If you just have to have a belly mount, find an E12M.  The wheelbase on an 
E20 just won't accommodate it.  Besides, a front mower is easier to put on 
and off, and folds up so it doesn't take up much space.

Lastly, the charger takes a fair amount of power.  Max current is 14.5 
Amps at 115V.  That's more than your 1400 W inverter, but typical high 
current is 'only' about 8 Amps.  I don't think your panels will charge the 
thing in a single day, and probably not in two.  

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Zach [mailto:czach computer org]
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 8:22 PM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: (ET) Intro: Just bought an Elec-Trac


Evening all!

My name is Christopher Zach, and I just bought a new Elec-Trac tractor.
Well, actually I just won the bid on Ebay, now I have to get up to NJ to
pick the thing up :-)

This is my first electric tractor, but not my first LV DC project. I am
actually very intereted in solar power, and last year I took the plunge and
wired up my work shed (16 foot*12 foot) for 100% solar power. Basic system
has about 250 watts of panels, 24 volts DC, a 1400 watt inverter (old UPS)
and about 80ah worth of gel-cell batteries. Loads include the lights, 
tools,
whatever I need.

The system has been working perfectly. Never run the batteries down, and
always have enough solar to keep things peaked. However I have a Craftsman
lawn tractor, and I thought "You know, I could charge enough batteries to
run an electric tractor...

And the rest is history. This new one is an E20 with mower on the front. 
I'm
planning on putting new batteries in, and replacing the main charger with a
12 volt input to the batteries (in parallel with diode blockers). Then I 
can
hook it to the 12 volt PTO on the shed and charge the batteries with a 
solar
charger.

Well, in theory. Couple of quick questions to start:

1) Can one run 3 12 volt batteries, or does the Elec-Trak need 6 6volts?
2) Can one use standard golf cart batteries, or do I get the T105's?
3) Anyone live in NJ and want to help me get this thing onto a truck? :-)
4) Is it possible to put the mower on the center of the tractor instead of
out front?
5) Is it possible to put a clipping bagger on the tractor, or is that not
going to work?

Thanks; this is going to be interesting...

Chris Zach