• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Cat telehandler wiring

Jsconst

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
9
Location
Alberta
Hi. I have a cat telehandler with some wiring issues. The alternator does not seem to charge the battery. The battery runs down after a couple days of light use of the machine and I have to put it on a charger. I took the alternated to a rebuilder and he tested it and said it was fine. Also my hourmeter does not work along with most of my dash lights. My headlights have no power to the switch. I have power leaving the fuse block but none to the headlight switch. The work lights out on the boom work fine though as well as other electrical switches and components ( steering mode, etc.)don't know if the problems are related or where to start so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
 

Mark250

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Messages
1,243
Location
victoria,Australia
Occupation
heavy equipment technician
hi, to enable the alternator to charge (assuming original type alternator) fuse #3 supply's power to the charge indicator light which in turns sends power to the alternator D+ terminal on the alternator once the alternator starts to charge ,(so check your globe is working with ignition switch on and that you have power to the D + terminal.) The D+ terminal on the alternator will then supply power to the hour meter, fuse #3 also supply's power to the oil pressure indicator light
the dash lights are supplied power via wire #308 from the ignition switch directly into the gauge panel
the head lamp relay is activated via wire #308 directly from the ignition switch and should be live while the ignition switch is on
Fuse # 20 supply's power to the headlamp switch and the cab interior light and has power available to it at all times regardless of ignition switch position

Mark
 
Last edited:

Jsconst

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
9
Location
Alberta
Thanks for all the help! So to update: I did not have a chance to work on the machine myself so finally took it to a mechanic. He ended up finding some corrosion in the terminals around the fuse panel. He polished that up and replaced some fuses with inline fuse holders and 98% of my electrical problems disappeared! The corrosion did not allow power to the indicator light on the dash and thus on to the alternator so it would not start to charge. The corrosion also affected my other lights signals etc. Anyhow, thanks again for the help and advice!
 
Top