How To Keep Generator Battery Charged: A Comprehensive Guide 

The generator is a device that needs a full battery charge to operate successfully and provide you electricity at the time of need.

But the question that needs your attention is: how to charge a generator battery?

This is not rocket science; the ideal method for the generator’s battery charge is using a complete 240 Volt battery charger for the AC output of the generator. This is the perfect, easiest, and most accurate way. 

To charge the portable generator battery, plug the wires into the power outlet to charge the portable generator battery.

When power cuts off, attach the generator with the house wiring so it will charge the battery fully, and you will not face difficulty in an emergency. 

A generator with a fully charged battery will run better and provide you with enough voltage necessary for running various appliances.

A fully charged battery will add up to the generator’s life, and it may stay with you for 30 years at least.

Always have an eye on the battery charge and if you notice less charging, immediately go for a recharge. 

Stay along; this informative article covers a lot more for your convenience!

How To Keep The Generator Battery Charged: Quick Steps And Techniques 

A question that comes to mind is: how to keep the generator battery charged?

Users are not familiar with charging a generator battery because either they are not aware of the functions of generators or may be using this device for the first time.

But no need to worry, this is not difficult. There are a few important steps to follow. 

• Firstly connect the battery with your generator
• Plug the charger into that power outlet
• In this step, plug the other side of the charger with the generator
• Always ensure that you have a proper power source without any interruption

To keep the battery charged, don’t forget to check it from time to time and after prolonged hours of use. To check how much it charges, disconnect the charger from the battery or check from the multimeter.

It would be better to measure the battery’s voltage before switching on your generator. Record this value somewhere and again start, then stop the generator.

Now again, measure the voltage shown by the battery. This is the easiest method to know how much your battery is charged and whether it needs to recharge again. 

What About Portable And Other Generators? 

Generally, most models of portable generators do not have batteries. But those that run on electric start should be charged completely before switching on.

If you own one, it is necessary to plug the battery in the trickle charger to keep it charged at 100 %. By doing so, the generator will run at full speed, and performance will be top-class. 

As portable generators are not so big, the battery of these generators needs less time to charge. The charging time depends on other factors. 

The generators operated using diesel as fuel will take at least 8 hours for battery charge.

The battery sometimes charges in a few hours or might take a whole day, but it depends on the generator’s running time, the charge level left before you again plug in for a charge, and most importantly, the battery’s age.

Remember that when you start the generator, the battery will be discharged; in this case, users need to run it for some seconds, so it will replace that charge. 

What To Do Before Charging Generator Battery? Tips To Follow Must:

Another important question running in users’ minds is what to do before charging the battery. Whether they have to disconnect both battery terminals, in expert opinion, you have to know the proper charging method to remain safe and secure.

For this purpose, they suggest first disconnecting the negative lead and reconnecting it at the end, or else you may bear a sudden shock when trying to touch the other terminal, which means a positive one.

A clamp is a tool that connects both of these terminals. You can tighten or lose them by using a bolt present at the side. 

As you know, there are two types of generators, AC and DC. So, if you plug your generator into an AC power outlet, the battery takes around 2 hours to go up to 100 %.

The charging time may extend if the RV battery is less than 20 %.  

Is Depleted Battery A Headache? What Do You Think?

Experts clearly state how important batteries are for generators. If you don’t want to waste time powering on the generator after the power outage occurs, it is always suggested to keep the battery charged fully.

A generator with a charged battery starts immediately when you turn it on. Contrary to this, when the battery is dead or depleted, the chances are high that the generator does not start. 

It shows the importance of generator batteries. Generator manufacturers receive many calls from users whose generators do not start, and in most cases, the reason is a generator battery dead.

So if you want to save your energy and time, always check the battery level and avoid making it dead, as sometimes the battery also dies due to remaining idle for so long. 

If you are fortunate enough, your area does not receive power loss for months.

Still, you have to start the generator for 15 to 20 minutes, so it will remain functional, and the engine might not get cold, and the battery will not be depleted. 

Battery Is Not Charging: Troubleshooting Ways:

Unfortunately, if you face a battery not charging issue, no worries; there are some ways by which you can get rid of this problem.

Read the below-mentioned methods; we hope they might help you. 

• Trying to change the fuse might resolve this issue. If the fuse of the transfer switch bursts or explodes, go for replacement. If you are an experienced professional dealing with electronic equipment, then this is a piece of cake for you. If you noticed nothing wrong with the fuse, then the issue might lie in the breaker. A tripped breaker is the reason sometimes the battery won’t charge. 
• Go for battery replacement in severe cases. Batteries that sit idle for so long become dead, and you have to spend some bucks on a new one. If your multimeter tells you that the battery is not charging, replace it. Unluckily, there is no option left. 
• A malfunctioning voltage regulator needs replacement as soon as possible, or the battery drains faster. This is due to the regulator not giving the required voltage to keep the battery charged.   

See Also:

How To Make Your Generator Quiet As A Cricket
Can I Use 5w30 Instead Of 10w30 In My Generator

Video Help:

For complete guidelines, watch the full video.