[cirrus]

2012 EPS Ranger Crew is my model.

This winter during plowing ops the battery would drain down into the 8's on the dash indicator. Was running 2 LED light bars, warning light and Boss Hydraulic V Plow. I run two batteries that are tied together to act as one. After about an hour or two of plowing the lights would flicker whenever I used the plow controller.

Is there a way to get more battery? Is it as simple as installing larger batteries? Or do I need a more powerful alternator? Any help or advice would be appreciated..

Was worried with the battery drained so low I would not be able to restart the machine. Have a plug in charger that would bring it back up, but don't want to really on that after only a few hours of plowing.

 

[Expat]

Running just very few electrical add ons will use more amps than your stator will supply and thus starts depleting the reserve capacity of your battery. Options to upgrade your on board charging are very limited and generally accepted as not cost effective or have other downfalls. Most add another battery and there are 2 general ways to do that which are: 1. Adding an aux battery of larger capacity with an isolator to keep your starting battery from discharging. This seems to be the most popular method. 2. Replace the stock battery with one, much larger battery, or install 2 new identical batteries and wire them in parallel, effectively making one larger battery. This is the method I used and I have been VERY happy with it. Both methods have pros and cons but either will still require additional charging after extended periods of higher than stock amp loads such as yours. I recommend connecting to a trickle or smart charger when you are done each day. This will "top off" the reserve capacity of your batteries that has been depleted.

 

[commanderjjones]

Great explanation, Larry.

 

[rowe doo]

Well said larry.

 

[pede58]

I just added 2 wired as one but won't have any results till later this spring when spraying season starts. Couple of things to consider is quality of battery and amps their is a wide swing in both. After I started chocking when I priced 2 new Interstate's did some quick research, could have bought some from the local farm supply for around $40ea that had 130cca but went with the Interstates at $130ea that had 330cca. Keep in mind that discharge and recharge will dramatically shorten a battery life unless it's a deep cycle, and not sure if you can get one in this size.

 

[revrnd]

Not sure if the PC925 will fit you Ranger, gut it's the model most guys swap into their mid-size models.

Scroll down for the specs:
Extreme Series Battery Specifications ? ODYSSEY battery

When I had a 4x4 w/ a winch I added a 2nd battery (deep cycle) using an non-relay style isolator.

 

[ChiefSteve]

I also agree with Larry.

Just keep in mind that the stator (charging system) is the limiting factor. If you are removing more power from the battery than your charging system can replace you will eventually run the batteries low. Running the batteries down to 8vdc significantly degrades the batteries capabilities and life.

Again referring to Larry's post, at the end of your day you need to finish charging those batteries.

 

[Jaketye]

I think it will help you to know that at max output(engine RPM above 3000 if I remember correctly) you will have around 25 AMPs ( with a healthy electrical system...stator, battery, regulator/rectifier, good clean connections, etc.) to play with for all accessory electrical load. You can look at the power draw (in AMPS) for all your electrical accessories and add them...this will allow you to prioritize which are really necessary to have on. I think the max output of the stator is around 37 amps but you need to allow some for engine and instrument operation, power steering, and running/brake lights, etc. Keep in mind my figures are on the conservative side and I have not actually measured the power draw on the engine ECM, fuel injection system, power steering, etc. They are my best guess on info I could find. Good luck...hope this helps.

 

[DaveB.inVa]

The Diesels come with a full alternator and a battery under the drivers side seat that sits on a tray on the frame. It's only strapped down so eventually the left rear tire threw a rock into mine and busted a hole in it. The factory Diesel battery is bigger than the ones on the 800 but not a common automotive battery.

I took some measurements and fitted a Jegs battery box in the same location that accepts a full size group 24 battery. The group 24 is very common and certainly beats the factory battery in performance and price.

To put it in a gas engine you would have to do a little more wiring as the Diesel has a terminal block right beside the battery box that provides the factory connections. Coming up with a solution shouldn't be too hard though.

You also lose your underseat storage, the Diesels use a smaller box anyway and I never used it so the loss was no problem with me.

The battery I'm running is 700 CCA and 130 Ahr.

Here is a link to my writeup.

Diesel Battery Box Install


Here's another solution that provides a full alternator. Pretty expensive, but an option.


Ranger 800 Alternator Kit Free Shipping | RPM Off Road Fabrication | Metal Fab Work

 

[MBR]

I read some older posts about this option having issues wearing out the bearing on the engine. Does anyone know if that is still the case or have they improved the design?

Ranger 700 Alternator Kit Free Shipping! | RPM Off Road Fabrication | Metal Fab Work

 

[OU812]

put a group 24 deep cycle marine under the seat and wire it int the system is what i did nad it has worked flawlessly. at that point you could get rid of your little battery, if you so wish. i still recharge it off a trickle charger after if i am plowing alot.... the stator, as stated earlier, doesnt have enough capacity to recharge the larger battery or smaller for that matter with the amount of discharge we have put it through...

 

[OU812]

What I did with mine. This fall I may run new cable from the winch direct. The blue cable is a cheap left over amp kit, 4 gauge. The black I think is a 1, over kill in my opinion but I had it laying around. They are long enough that if I need to take the battery out to check or change the oil I can without disconnecting it.


Du