Battery For Portable Generator

[D45]

I ended up with a 250cca UL1 mower battery

Added a 1.75a trickle charger

Starts and runs great!

 

[ToolsRCool]

Tanget: If that is a Vanguard series engine, those are pretty good. Actually made in Japan, just Briggs labeled. I've had many of them, and they all start and run really well. Best thing you can do is shut the generator off with the fuel valve and let it run the carb out.

Neighbor wanted to run his central air on a genset, so we got him a V-twin unit. Works perfect, but does **** a lot of fuel, almost a gallon per hour loaded. At that rate it was almost $100 per 24hrs, and we had a 3 day outage. He didn't care one bit about the almost $300 cost, is what it is I guess. Still better to have one vs not.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Installing Permanent Jumper Cables to start a hopefully rarely needed generator set will save you both time and money.

 

[D45]

Yes it's a vtwin Vanguard

I have an 18hp twin Vanguard in my golf cart so I am very familiar with these engines

I always shut the gas valve off and let the motor run dry

 

[CTyankee]

Mine has had a dead battery for years so I usually use the pull cord. It will start by hooking up my small lithium jump pack too.

 

[D45]

I sold the generator for $600. Good profit margin too.

I bought another used generator for $80 and it has a ton of great features, including electric start!

Guess what, it needs a battery. The replacement is a sealed 12v available on Amazon for $40

 

[pbon]

Mine has had a dead battery for years so I usually use the pull cord. It will start by hooking up my small lithium jump pack too.

My generator has sat unused for its entire life — probably about 10 years. I have run it a few times just to check on it. A year ago, I moved it outside and bought a cover for it. Battery is long dead. I could keep the battery inside on a trickle charger but that also takes up space for something I don’t use. I do have lithium jump packs for 3 cars so I can use those.

If I needed it periodically, I would be more inclined to have a battery dedicated to it.

 

[D45]

Generators that I flip just sell better when all the features work and function

 

[nadogail]

Is there any reason why you can’t rig a connection on your generator to allow you to quickly plug a jumper to your daily driver for starting?

 

[D45]

Because that's a niche market and I have sold dozens of flipped generators, I just know what works for my local market......

Sure jumpers would work, but a self sufficient generator is also valued

 

[rmanrman]

Because that's a niche market and I have sold dozens of flipped generators, I just know what works for my local market......

Sure jumpers would work, but a self sufficient generator is also valued

I have a Battery Tender now for 18 years to keep my boat batteries charged for 8 months that I it’s sitting next to my garage. I’m in northern nj only 4 months of boating maybe 5 sometimes. When I uncover the boat in the spring I check both batteries for water level and voltage and amperage and both check out Ok
The charger stays on all winter long. This year was down to 5 degrees in January

 

[Old Man Roger]

I have a Battery Tender now for 18 years to keep my boat batteries charged for 8 months that I it’s sitting next to my garage. I’m in northern nj only 4 months of boating maybe 5 sometimes. When I uncover the boat in the spring I check both batteries for water level and voltage and amperage and both check out Ok
The charger stays on all winter long. This year was down to 5 degrees in January

Although batteries function better when warm, cold isn’t nearly as bad for them as heat is.

 

[nadogail]

Is there any reason why you can’t rig a connection on your generator to allow you to quickly plug a jumper to your daily driver for starting?

This could be in addition to the dedicated starting battery, I very seriously considered adding An alternator to my generator set, but we have only had one outage in the last several years; it was because a balloon was released into the power lines.

 

[Old Man Roger]

This could be in addition to the dedicated starting battery, I very seriously considered adding An alternator to my generator set, but we have only had one outage in the last several years; it was because a balloon was released into the power lines.

Your electric start generator doesn’t charge the battery?

 

[bugnut]

@nadogail in post #27 I show and mention exactly what you are asking. I added a positive and negative terminal connection. Can jump from any available 12vdc source. And if really concerned could use cables instead of post, so they stay with the genny.

 

[nadogail]

@nadogail in post #27 I show and mention exactly what you are asking. I added a positive and negative terminal connection. Can jump from any available 12vdc source. And if really concerned could use cables instead of post, so they stay with the genny.

IMHO, there are so many ways to connect 12 Volts to your genny and believe it or not, all of them can be made to work.

 

[nadogail]

Your electric start generator doesn’t charge the battery?

The Chonda, engine made by Lifan, did not come with a charging winding on the magneto.