Battery charger doesn't work

[Amethyst]

We bought a battery charger for our tractor, and it's not working.

Everything seems to be connected properly. The electric outlet is OK. Battery terminals are clean. When the charger is connected to electric power, the charger lights flash for a couple of seconds. Then, nothing. The charging light is supposed to come on after 5 seconds, but it doesn't.

The very inadequate Troubleshooting section in the manual merely says "Check electrical outlet. Check electrical connections. Check battery."

Here are photos of the way I connected the charger to the battery and tractor chassis. Does anything look wrong? The instructions are to attach the positive charger clip to the positive battery terminal, and that's what I did.

 

[REWahoo]

Try clamping the negative to the negative battery terminal rather than the chassis.

 

[MRG]

I used to touch the clips together, very briefly, to verify that the charger was providing juice. If that's true the problem is generally the posts on the battery are not really getting the juice from the charger. Little steel wool or anything abrasive to get the contact clean. Same way on the ground make sure it's on bare clean metal.

FWIW my chargers 40+ years old. I don't know what a modern charger might do when you intentionally ground it.

 

[MRG]

Try clamping the negative to the negative battery terminal rather than the chassis.

+1

 

[ERD50]

Try clamping the negative to the negative battery terminal rather than the chassis.

Yes, you might not be getting a good connection there, or that part not be a good ground.

However, there is a slight risk to that - they should instruct you to make that the last connection, so any spark is away from the battery, in case there is any hydrogen gas that could be ignited. I would unplug the charger, make the connections and then plug the charger back in. And reverse that to disconnect (unplug charger first).

Also, if the battery is very dead, some of these 'smart' chargers will just shut down, because a very low battery can indicate a fault condition. But that is kind of a catch-22. Might need a jump or a dumb charger to get it kick-started.

-ERD50

 

[Big_Hitter]

Try clamping the negative to the negative battery terminal rather than the chassis.

that's what i do

 

[Amethyst]

Not what the instructions say to do, but I guess it wouldn't hurt.

Try clamping the negative to the negative battery terminal rather than the chassis.

 

[Sunset]

that's what i do

Me too, I always connect directly to the battery.

I always put the + one on the batter first, then the negative one, and only then do I plug in the charger.

I do it this way so if the clip slips off and hits car metal while I'm putting it on, I won't get any big sparks.

 

[Amethyst]

We don't plug in the charger until both clips are in place. For that very reason.

I do it this way so if the clip slips off and hits car metal while I'm putting it on, I won't get any big sparks.

 

[38Chevy454]

To test the battery maintainer, you could temp hook it to your car battery and see if it functions as it is supposed to. If it does, then likely your tractor battery is either too discharged or dead. A battery maintainer is not intended to be able to charge a too low battery. The function is to maintain a full charged battery.

Assuming the maintainer is working correctly. You could hook up your tractor battery to a std battery charger and let that go for 24 hours or so. Then disconnect the std charger and hook up the maintainer. If battery is OK shape, the maintainer should work at that point.

 

[braumeister]

A battery maintainer is not intended to be able to charge a too low battery. The function is to maintain a full charged battery.

True.
The OP's photo shows a 1.5 amp charger/maintainer, which would only put out a trickle charge. The poor little thing is probably just overwhelmed at what you're asking it to do.

 

[travelover]

Some modern chargers look for a voltage on the battery before they provide an output. So, the old trick to touch the leads together and look for a spark, doesn't work. Also, they won't charge a totally dead battery.

 

[Amethyst]

The manual says that if the battery is damaged or dead, there's an indicator that should light up on the charger to let you know. *Nothing* is lighting on the charger, after the first couple of seconds.

 

[Car-Guy]

First thing - Check the charger with a Volt meter when it's not connected to the old battery.

 

[Walt34]

The OP's photo shows a 1.5 amp charger/maintainer, which would only put out a trickle charge. The poor little thing is probably just overwhelmed at what you're asking it to do.

What he said.

I'd try leaving a regular battery charger (8 amp or higher) for at least a few hours and bring it up to regular voltage. Then try the maintainer.

 

[Car-Guy]

Try clamping the negative to the negative battery terminal rather than the chassis.

+1

 

[MRG]

The manual says that if the battery is damaged or dead, there's an indicator that should light up on the charger to let you know. *Nothing* is lighting on the charger, after the first couple of seconds.

If the leads are not getting good contact my guess is it won't light the indicator.

 

[easysurfer]

I've never had the need to charge a car battery. But did find a video by car guy Jay Leno (yep, same guy) about battery charging and a good charger very interesting:

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

The manual is here

 

[Texas Proud]

Yes, you might not be getting a good connection there, or that part not be a good ground.

However, there is a slight risk to that - they should instruct you to make that the last connection, so any spark is away from the battery, in case there is any hydrogen gas that could be ignited. I would unplug the charger, make the connections and then plug the charger back in. And reverse that to disconnect (unplug charger first).

Also, if the battery is very dead, some of these 'smart' chargers will just shut down, because a very low battery can indicate a fault condition. But that is kind of a catch-22. Might need a jump or a dumb charger to get it kick-started.

-ERD50

In this vein.... do you have a manual switch? There are times when I want to charge my boat battery and it will not 'turn on'.... but when I switch to manual battery instead of deep charge battery is starts charging....

 

[ls99]

I've never had the need to charge a car battery. But did find a video by car guy Jay Leno (yep, same guy) about battery charging and a good charger very interesting:

The somewhat useful info starts aroun 4 min mark. Up to then is the sales spiel for the latest and greatest gizmo. There is some pure unadulterated BS as well about acid diasapperaing. It is the water that boils off, not the acid. Really nothing but shameles product plug. Yecchh!



For the OP: find a used basic no frills battery charger to get the battery initially charged. Then use trickle charger.

 

[Sunset]

We bought a battery charger for our tractor, and it's not working.
....

Wow I totally messed up my answer.

What do you mean by not working, as maybe we are not solving your issue ?

 

[Amethyst]

Not working, as in "does not do anything."

It has 3 little LEDs that light up for 2 seconds when connected to power source.

Then the lights go out, which they are supposed to do.

Next, either a "charging" or a "something's wrong" light are supposed to come on. Even if the battery is dead or damaged, the "something wrong" light should come on. But instead, nothing at all happens.

So I'm thinking that the charger itself may be defective.

 

[ERD50]

Not working, as in "does not do anything."

It has 3 little LEDs that light up for 2 seconds when connected to power source.

Then the lights go out, which they are supposed to do.

Next, either a "charging" or a "something's wrong" light are supposed to come on. Even if the battery is dead or damaged, the "something wrong" light should come on. But instead, nothing at all happens.

So I'm thinking that the charger itself may be defective.

As suggested earlier, try it on a known good battery. If this battery is completely "open", I think you will also get the "nothing" indication, like no battery is there at all. That's different than detecting a defect in a battery (very low voltage).

-ERD50

 

[Sunset]

Can you hook it up to a volt meter ? See if it generates voltage.

Maybe it's working, but the lights are burned out.