Battery Post Disconnects/Polarizing?

Kendog · Dec 12, 2010

The battery terminal cut-off switches (unscrew to disconnect contact & screw in to resume contact) are quite popular.

But is it required to re-polarize the genny after each re-connect?

I question this because it was my thinking that you needed to polarize each time the battery has been disconnected.

John T · Dec 12, 2010

NO, you shouldnt have to re polarize the Generator just because you temporarily took the battery out of the circuit using a disconenct...

Think about it, when the tractor shuts down and a properly working Cutout Relay (regardless if a stand alone or part of a full fledged Voltage Regulator) opens/disconnects, the Genny is disconnected (its sure not trying to spin)from the battery (similar to a battery disconnect opening) BUT YOU DONT FEEL A NEED TO POLARIZE THE GENNY NEXT TIME NOW DO YA???

It takes a longggggggggg time for a genny to loose its polarity and thats so regardless if the battery cable is connected to the battery or not. Polarization occurs when a current is passed through the gennys Field windings and that imparts some degree of residual magnetism in the soft iron field poles around which the fields are wound, and it lasts a long time before its exhausted.

NOPE, NO NEED TO RE POLARIZE JUST BECAUSE YOU USED A BATTERY DISCONNECT, but hey if it floats your boat youre welcome to go for it lol

John T

Janicholson · Dec 12, 2010

I will add to John's answer,
The cutout relay, (imbeded in the VR or in older systems by itself) disconnects the battery every time the tractor is shut off. THus there is no issue with disconnecting something already disconnected. Jim

JDemaris · Dec 12, 2010

Generators don't usually need polarizing unless they've been zapped the wrong way,. . . pulled apart, or have sat for many years without being run.

The reason for polarizing is to make sure the residual magentism is in place (and with correct North and South).

A generator can hold that magnetism for many years when it's all together. Take it apart though, and it loses it fast.

Same goes for the redidual magentism in ignition magnetos - although they have stronger magnets. When all together, they last a long time. Take them apart, and they go dead very fast - unless you lay a piece of "keeper" metal next to the magnet.

Battery Post Disconnects/Polarizing?

Kendog

Member

John T

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

JDemaris

Well-known Member

Similar threads