(ET) Altrax installation

["David CR Buchanan" <buchanan buchanan at>]

I did an altrax conversion last year and most things work ok. Remember I  
am not an electrician so  one of the more experienced guys can probably  
give you better advice, but here is what I did.

question 2 you take the wire from M- directly to the CB and then from the  
other side of the CB to the moter. I don't think it matters which terminal  
on the CB you use since it should work in both directions.

question 3 I did not use a power shunt since the original one on the  
tractor looked like it would create a negative ground, and I didn't want  
any grounding. the only thing you lose is the power load meter, and I  
decided that I didn't need one, since I adjust my speed based on cut  
quality, and I don't really care how much energy I use per hour, as long  
as my "fuel Gage" doesn't show empty.

question 4  yes, you have to guess which one is F1 and F2. if the tractor  
runs backwards then you just reverse the two. This can be done at the  
controller, but if you use take apart connectors at the motor, it is  
easier to switch.

question 5 I took power  "+" from the main disconnect as the only way to  
turn off the auxillery outlet and then ran the "-" through the 50amp CB  
which is shared by the charger. I don't know if this is the correct way,  
but it works and I have had no problems, but it might cause a problem if  
you left an auxillary tool plugged in when you were charging.

Question 6 definatly use the charge/run switch it protects the Altrax  
contoller from power surges caused by the charger. If you don't use it you  
could fry your contoller. I used an ordinary 50 amp (12 volt the biggest I  
could find.) switch from the auto parts store and it works fine. I sustect  
you could also repurpose the original reverse switch and then replace it  
with a simple on off switch for controlling reverse, but I prefer to have  
the charge/run switch be distincly different from all the others.

David Buchanan