Played an unfortunate April Fool’s joke on my mower

[Elkins45]

I stored the battery on a tender over the winter. When I went to install it tonight I reversed the polarity. Don’t ask me how I did something so boneheaded, it’s too stupid and embarrassing to recount. It was getting dark so I just disconnected it and didn’t reinstall. I’ll do that tomorrow morning. Hopefully I didn’t fry something in the charging or ignition system.

I’m apparently becoming a danger to myself and others in my advancing years.

 

[Fitter30]

Did that once charger was plug in. Didn't even turn on.

 

[Fattylocks]

I stored the battery on a tender over the winter. When I went to install it tonight I reversed the polarity. Don’t ask me how I did something so boneheaded, it’s too stupid and embarrassing to recount. It was getting dark so I just disconnected it and didn’t reinstall. I’ll do that tomorrow morning. Hopefully I didn’t fry something in the charging or ignition system.

I’m apparently becoming a danger to myself and others in my advancing years.

We all make mistakes. And yes getting old is a drag but consider the alternative.

 

[Lubener]

I once seen the after effects of such a mistake. It resulted in massive destruction of the riding mower's electrical system and was eventually parted out which I took advantage of.

 

[mk378]

Often this will simply blow the fuse since when polarity is wrong the diodes in the rectifier/regulator pass current like a short circuit.

 

[Elkins45]

The Lord was apparently looking over my shoulder because after I correctly installed the battery it started right up. Even more amazing is the fact the ammeter indicates the charging system still works. That was what I feared would most likely have been damaged. I think fortunately the terminals had enough corrosion that it didn't get a strong enough current flow to overload anything. I gave them a good wire brushing this time and triple checked the polarity.

Lesson learned for next year for sure!

 

[John105]

Bummer but it could happen to anyone.

Annoying yes, but not that bad in the big picture. I too hate self inflicted wounds but try to let them go. Last one was getting an Amex card and not getting the $200 promised. Being older I’m not wasting time arguing I moved on

 

[tcp71]

Fuseable links often pop in this scenario. Check for them where you least expect them to be.

 

[Cujet]

I often mark the + and - terminals on a battery with a paint pen. And the wires if not obvious. That way I don't mess up when I am in a rush.

 

[Donald]

Recoil start is your friend.

 

[Dutchy491]

The Lord was apparently looking over my shoulder because after I correctly installed the battery it started right up. Even more amazing is the fact the ammeter indicates the charging system still works. That was what I feared would most likely have been damaged. I think fortunately the terminals had enough corrosion that it didn't get a strong enough current flow to overload anything. I gave them a good wire brushing this time and triple checked the polarity.

Lesson learned for next year for sure!

All’s well that ends well. But now discontinue your habit of removing the battery at the end of your growing season and simply leave it in, and attach the maintainer.
Unplug, remove, start it up, next season….

 

[Elkins45]

All’s well that ends well. But now discontinue your habit of removing the battery at the end of your growing season and simply leave it in, and attach the maintainer.
Unplug, remove, start it up, next season….

Unfortunately the mower is stored in a barn with no electricity.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Unfortunately the mower is stored in a barn with no electricity.

So get a solar panel and call it a day. My folks have been maintaining their lawn tractor battery out in the stable for decades using just a 20 watt solar panel. I run a significantly more complex system in my garden shed consisting of a 90 watt panel, MPPT charger controller, 1 kWh LiFePO4 battery and a 2000 watt pure sinewave inverter. It was far less expensive that running AC juice out there plus I have 12 VDC lighting anytime needed.

 

[Sumboodie]

I hooked a jump pack on my forklift backwards. Only noticed when the alternator started glowing.

I fixed the cables after that. I knew they were backwards (red was ground), just was dark and brain gave up that morning I guess.

A 70s D50 Dodge happens to use the same alternator, so was pretty cheap.
It actually still worked sort of, but wasn't charging well (why the battery was dead in the first place. Well, and it was -20*)

 

[Slick]

Unfortunately the mower is stored in a barn with no electricity.

Time to run electricity to the barn.

If to long of a run the cost of small solar panel systems with battery and inverter to have 110vac are getting lower all the time.

I have battery tenders hooked up to my tractor, mower, motor cycle, and 2 jet skies. Easy with the quick connects and battery life has increased. The motor cycle battery was just changed and it was IIRC 11 years old.

Plus with electricity in the barn I am always listening to good music while tinkering in the barn

 

[odie]

I stored the battery on a tender over the winter. When I went to install it tonight I reversed the polarity. Don’t ask me how I did something so boneheaded, it’s too stupid and embarrassing to recount. It was getting dark so I just disconnected it and didn’t reinstall. I’ll do that tomorrow morning. Hopefully I didn’t fry something in the charging or ignition system.

I’m apparently becoming a danger to myself and others in my advancing years.

+1 . Many gaffes .