[Farmall] FARMALL H BATTERY DISCONNECT

Wed Oct 8 12:41:30 PDT 2014

The normal method would always be to disconnect the HOT side of an 
electrical circuit, (ie: the positive battery terminal).  That's why the 
negative is always taken directly to ground on your car. All the switches 
in your car are used to break power, not ground. Also think of how your 
house is wired. The switches are always in the HOT side of the circuit.

As to whether to put the switch on the positive or negative terminal of 
your tractor, it should go the terminal that DOES NOT go to ground. Either 
way you do it would really work, but neither is going to guarantee that 
your battery doesn't drain to nothing. If a short develops in the cable 
that goes from the battery to the switch, the switch is not even going to 
be in the circuit, and the battery will drain because you will have a dead 
short across the battery.

If your battery drained on you over a few days, check all the wiring for 
cracked/broken/worn insulation. Look for lugs that are bent over and 
grounding out. Look for wires that are clamped to make sure there's 
insulation under the clamps.

Also, check the output of your generator. You may be putting out enough 
power to run the tractor, but not charge the battery. The output voltage 
of the generator needs to be about 2 volts higher than the normal battery 
voltage in order to charge. If your only putting out 10-12 volts on a 12 
volt system, the tractor will run, but the battery won't charge. The 
battery will try to make up the difference until it gets to the point 
where it's discharged. On a 6 volt system you need to be putting out about 
8 volts. You didn't specify what battery voltage your H is.

Then there's the battery itself. Is it too old to take a charge? Does it 
have an internal short? Are all the battery terminals clean? Take it to an 
auto parts store and have them test it. 

If you're putting a cover over the battery when it's in its battery box, 
is the cover causing a short across the battery terminals? Check terminal 
height, cover insulation, etc.

Carl Szabelski

The Borg Are Wrong, Resistance Is Not Futile ..... It's Voltage / Current

From:   "Darrell Ratliff" <dbigdog at columbus.rr.com>
To:     "Farmall/IHC mailing list" <farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com>, 
Date:   10/08/2014 02:55 PM
Subject:        Re: [Farmall] FARMALL H BATTERY DISCONNECT
Sent by:        farmall-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com

Ed ? I have to respectfully disagree.  Opening either leg will disconnect 
the battery from any possible current path.  A short to ground cannot 
conduct current unless one end of the battery is connected to ground.  An 
open disconnect in the ground lead cannot carry current.

From: H Page 
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2014 2:23 PM
To: Farmall/IHC mailing list 
Subject: Re: [Farmall] FARMALL H BATTERY DISCONNECT

I believe putting the switch on the hot side will keep the battery charged 
even if there is a short in the electrical system.  If it is on the ground 
side a short can still discharge the battery.

      From: Ed Greany <crest25 at verizon.net>
To: Farmall/IHC mailing list <farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2014 11:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Farmall] FARMALL H BATTERY DISCONNECT

Hi Richard,

I'm in Pinon Hills and have a 46 Model H.
I don't think it depends on which terminal you attach your switch to. 
Either way will block the circuit. I attached mine to the hot lead.
My former owner also installed the On/Off switch upsidedown so when it is 
in the ON position, it is really OFF and visa versa. The reason. To keep 
juveniles from playing with it when it was parked unsupervised and they 
wouldn't be able to start it.

Ed

On Wednesday, October 8, 2014 7:39 AM, Richard Pope <popeman at verizon.net> 
wrote:

Long time reader, first time post.
I just bought a restored 1950 Farmall H.  Three days after bringing it 
home from Phoenix, AZ, I took the tractor to it's first event.  Wasn't I 
surprised when it had a dead battery and I couldn't even get it off the 
trailer.
I have purchased a NAPA battery disconnect switch, part # SW181.  The H is 
positive ground, which is new to me.  My 1953 Super M is 12 volt negative 
ground.  Anyway, which cable do I install the switch on?  The positive 
side of the battery going to ground?  I want to be able to park the 
tractor for several weeks at a time and not have a dead battery when I go 
to start it.
Thanks,

Richard Pope
Apple Valley, CA
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