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Wally61 · 05-03-2019, 06:08 PM

Ok I have a 5000 onan gen ben starting fine went to start it just clicked jumped it it started coach batteries brand new frame battery not so good hooked up to shore power. Tried to use house battery to start still nothing. Where does the gen get the power to start should I replace frame battery thanx in advance

ret60sp · 05-04-2019, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally61

Ok I have a 5000 onan gen ben starting fine went to start it just clicked jumped it it started coach batteries brand new frame battery not so good hooked up to shore power. Tried to use house battery to start still nothing. Where does the gen get the power to start should I replace frame battery thanx in advance

Most - Not All - Gen sets start from the main/starter batteries, not the house batteries.

Put a multimeter on your start batteries and check the voltage. If the voltage is below 13 VDC, put a LARGE battery charger on them overnight. Make sure the battery charger is NOT A TRICKLE CHARGER. The next morning check the voltage after you turn off the charger, wait an hour and see if the voltage is still the same. If it's 13-13.2 VDC your batteries are probably okay. Have someone take a voltage reading on the batteries as you attempt a generator start, and if the voltage drops below 11 VDC abort the start attempt and replace your batteries. If the start just clicks and the voltage remains 13+, you need to disconnect and clean all of the power connector(s) (especially the ground) between the start batteries and the genset.

Another thing to consider is the start solenoid. It is the contactor that bridges the battery bus to the genset starter. It could be old and shot.

twinboat · 05-05-2019, 01:28 AM

I would say that most generators start from the house batteries, at least the gas engines ones.

Many of them don't have charging systems and depend on the house battery and its charging system for power to keep running.

puttin · 05-05-2019, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

I would say that most generators start from the house batteries, at least the gas engines ones.

Many of them don't have charging systems and depend on the house battery and its charging system for power to keep running.

Yes, all our rigs have been off the house batteries. If your gen is just clicking, check the battery post connections and/or voltage. Do you have problems with any other 12v items in there? Depending on what you find- it may be the 12v connection to the starter relay at the gen also. Let us know what you find...it doesn't sound too complicated.