Genny starter battery intrigue [RE-wrenches]

[Ron Stauffer]

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We have measured everything from 0 to 140 milliamps draw from a genny
battery while it is standby.  We have used el cheapo 1.5w "battery
maintainers" on Dynagen engine control (14ma draw standby)and they have
worked well.  But we do not clip the end off as there is a fuse and diode in
the end of the brand we use.

Generac type generator standby controls will use 140 ma and takes a 8-10w
panel with controller to keep generator battery charged.  We do have a
couple customers with these that use an AC trickle charger off of the "shore
power" and these work well outside the phantom load issue.  I do have one
customer that has no generator battery charging source but his solar system
is way too small and the generator runs a couple hours every day.  The
generator's built in charger keeps it topped off.

The best thing to do is measure the idle draw with an inline meter and
charge the generator battery separate with a small solar panel.  Anything
requiring more than 1.5w, use a controller to regulate overcharging.

Ron Stauffer
www.timeforsolar.com
Montrose CO
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I have a customer who's rarely used backup genny can't keep it's battery
alive.  It is a northstar cheapo from northern tool and it is fine for his
needs (so far) except for when his battery self-discharges.

It came set up with a built in AC trickle-charger, complete with it's own
plug and cord.  The customer also bought a little el cheapo "battery
maintainer" pv panel that came with a cig lighter plug... meant to go on the
dashboard.  It is an amorphous panel, about 16" x 4", and I have no idea if
it has any self regulation or diode...

so- this thing is hooked up to the batt... last I looked the batt terminals
read 13.5 on a sunny day and now the batts dead.  I am going over to
troubleshoot for him... I guess I'll use my fluke to check for a diode - do
you listers think nighttime discharge is the problem?  Maybe there was a
built in diode in the car lighter he clipped off to hardwire this in?  How
would I test for nightime discharge.... isolate the batt and the pv and
monitor voltage drop over time?  I'm assuming the amperage is too small to
be picked up with my clamp on.

Or might there be some other drain to suss out...  I will look for
continuity - the starter should be out of the system by the relay right?

Our back up plan is to plug the shorepower trickle charger in (we did send
an ac light/plug circuit to the genny shed) but I would like to avoid
another phantom load - although this system can take it)

For a brighter energy future,

Geoff Greenfield
NABCEP Certified Energy Practitioner

THIRD SUN SOLAR & WIND POWER Ltd.
340 West State Street
Athens, OH 45701

www.third-sun.com
(740) 597-3111

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