Re: Help with Electric Plow Rig


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Posted by Joe Cimoch [ Boardmaster ] on Monday, January 15, 2001 at 10:35PM :

In Reply to: Help with Electric Plow Rig posted by Joe S on Monday, January 15, 2001 at 9:27PM :

I asked the same question last week in forum #35 got good responses. I'll send you Rick's pictures, sounds like you need them right away.

Posted by Rick Larsen on Monday, January 08, 2001 at 2:22PM :

In Reply to: 12V Plow on 24V M37? posted by Joe Cimoch on Monday, January 08, 2001 at 1:00PM :

For years I tried to plow snow with my M37 at my house in NW Ma, hooked to one side of the batteries, it continually drained the battery and shortened its life.

I finally decided something had to be done to make it work!
I converted the old generator to a 60A-24V alternator with a 4 belt pulley. Change over harness is available from Vt. Com. Salvage.
Used a 100A water pump and crankshaft pulley, both 4 belters, to replace the original ones on the truck.
I had my local alternator shop BUILD me a 12V low RPM high out put GM 2 wire alternator, which I installed on top of the 60 Amp one.
Two belts drive the 24V and 2 the 12V.
The 12V is wired to a 3rd battery under the drivers seat, with an on-off switch on the dash to act as an exciter for the 12V sys.
The batteries (3) have been in the truck for over 4 years without any trouble. The system seems to always be charged and the plow works flawlessly without
any low battery problems.
All my lights and strobes are 24V the only thing running on the 12V system is the plow, my CB and radio.
I will try to get some pix this weekend and TRY to post next week.
Good luck
Rick

Posted by Rick Larsen on Tuesday, January 09, 2001 at 5:29PM :

In Reply to: Re: 12V Plow on 24V M37? posted by Henri on Tuesday, January 09, 2001 at 5:01PM :

The motor that controls the plow will suck the battery dry of its charge with the normal usage of the plow.
The original generator set up is NOT a low RPM unit, ie.. you must be driving down the road at a decent speed to charge the system.
When plowing with the forward and back motion you don't "generate" enough RPM to recharge the system fast enough....result low battery and no lift on the
plow.
You could however go to the expense of replacing the plow motor with one of 24V....big bucks, and still have the same problem of not being able to charge
the batteries enough.
Rick

And another great idea:
I really pondered the 24 volt sysytem on the truck versus the 12 volt plow. A new motor would be over $250. I didn't want a
second 12 volt charging system along with a battery. I knew a center tap off the existing batteries would probably ruin them. I simply put a 12 volt
battery on the upper plow frame. I had to build a frame for the pump and motor unit anyway. The cable runs from the battery to the solenoid switch
under the hood and out to the motor.

The battery is charged for a hour or so every couple times I plow. When I do plow I will plow our home and lane, maybe an hour or so and then drive
into town and plow my business, another hour or so. I also run a couple of 500,000 candlepower 12 volt lights mounted on top of the upper plow
frame. I have never ran the battery down. I bet I raise and angle the plow a couple of hundred times each time I use it.



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