Wacker Neuson dumper not charging

[Anygmatic]

Morning All,

I have a 1t high lift Wacker Neuson dumper that is killing batteries. Fully charged battery lasts about a day (average 5 starts max.). Even a brand new battery is ruined rapidly.

Checked all fuses and all ok.

Suspect a faulty alternator, but before I launch down that route, wondered if anyone on here had any ideas or experience?

Thanks

 

[V8Druid]

Morning All,

I have a 1t high lift Wacker Neuson dumper that is killing batteries. Fully charged battery lasts about a day (average 5 starts max.). Even a brand new battery is ruined rapidly.

Checked all fuses and all ok.

Suspect a faulty alternator, but before I launch down that route, wondered if anyone on here had any ideas or experience?

Thanks

faulty alternator boiling the battery dry? or dragging it down rapidly with a dead short

 

[Anygmatic]

faulty alternator boiling the battery dry? or dragging it down rapidly with a dead short

Short sounds interesting avenue of investigation. I suppose that would drain the battery even when sitting unused? I can charge the battery fully, then come back in a few days and it's as dead as a dodo.

How would I trace a short?? I'm ok mechanically, but pretty ropey when it comes to electrics.

Thanks

 

[Brendan]

What's the alternator outputting to the battery when running
Disconnect the earth and put a multimeter in between the earth cable and battery post to see what parasitic drain you have

 

[V8Druid]

Short sounds interesting avenue of investigation. I suppose that would drain the battery even when sitting unused? I can charge the battery fully, then come back in a few days and it's as dead as a dodo.

How would I trace a short?? I'm ok mechanically, but pretty ropey when it comes to electrics.

Thanks

try running it with the alternator unplugged ? ..... see what sort of voltage it's producing .. also unplug it last thing when leaving the machine stand and see if the battery is still getting dragged down .... rectifiers in the alternator will give a dead short when faulty

 

[Diggerdave]

I've repaired my alternator a couple of times on my neuson 1 ton dumper. It is very easy to spill diesel on it when topping tank up as it is right next to it.

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

Hang on is it alternator or generator? Depends on age!

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

Photos will help!

 

[Anygmatic]

try running it with the alternator unplugged ? ..... see what sort of voltage it's producing .. also unplug it last thing when leaving the machine stand and see if the battery is still getting dragged down .... rectifiers in the alternator will give a dead short when faulty

Good suggestions - will try at the weekend

 

[Anygmatic]

Hang on is it alternator or generator? Depends on age!

Both!? I thought an alternator generates electrical current...

 

[V8Druid]

Both!? I thought an alternator generates electrical current...

yeh but one is AC, one is DC ... alternator needs a rectifier to turn it into DC ... both need a regulator and both capable of frying a battery if not properly regulated

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

yeh but one is AC, one is DC ... alternator needs a rectifier to turn it into DC ... both need a regulator and both capable of frying a battery if not properly regulated

Yep

 

[Gecko]

One thing to check - Does the "Charge" light on the dash light up when the engine is not running?

 

[Steve]

One thing to check - Does the "Charge" light on the dash light up when the engine is not running?

And does it have a dim glow when it is running which could be a failed diode , so it charges when running & drains when switched off.

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

One thing to check - Does the "Charge" light on the dash light up when the engine is not running?

Again age and spec, bulb or LED

 

[lloydjames]

Hello,I'm having the same issue with my 2020 thwaites 1ton dumper, the battery is draining flat after few days,fitted new battery, same issue,had the alternator tested and that's fine was wondering if anyone had any advise,

Thanks
Lloyd

 

[V8Druid]

Hello,I'm having the same issue with my 2020 thwaites 1ton dumper, the battery is draining flat after few days,fitted new battery, same issue,had the alternator tested and that's fine was wondering if anyone had any advise,

Thanks
Lloyd

fit a battery isolator .. probably some 'box of tricks' causing the issue, which'll take some finding, if the alternator tests out as OK

 

[Brendan]

Do as above plus you could try
Disconnect earth terminal, connect multimeter and see how big the parasitic drain is.
When it's running use the multimeter and see what voltage the battery is at

 

[lloydjames]

Thanks for this,it has an isolator switch already fitted, would a faulty relay cause the drain,

Thanks

 

[V8Druid]

Thanks for this,it has an isolator switch already fitted, would a faulty relay cause the drain,

Thanks

shouldn't be anything connected to drain it, if the battery is isolated properly ????