Forum Discussion

jeff14's avatar
jeff14
Explorer
Dec 02, 2013

Generator charging

I want charge my battery while it is in my generator, it is diffecult to remove the battery. Is it possible for me to solder two additional wires to the positive and negative posts. Then attach those wires to bolts and extend them through the side of the generator so I can keep the battery charged.
  • Hi,

    I did add a charging/boost cable to my Yamaha 3000 iSEB. I did not have to solder anything as the battery had terminals.

    I used a different sized connector on the exposed part of the wire to prevent accidents.
  • You can charge your bank with ANY amount of amps that is more than the amount of power that the batteries lose by self-discharge and your normal usage. I am not sure if it is the "Amps" or the "hours" aspect of the "Ampere Hours" that you seem not to be grasping.
  • If you plug the rig into the generator, if the generator is not already installed in the rig, the convertor will charge the batteries.
  • Hi eHoefler,

    The converter won't charge the battery in a stand alone generator such as the Yamaha 3000 iSEB.
  • I am sorry this is a portable generator and the battery is a small 12v 5amp battery that is used to start it. It has the f1 type connectors on the battery.
  • Hi,

    I'd look for an f1 adapter that has two wires--a "Y" connector rather than soldering on an additional lead. Or if you can't find one--roll your own.
  • Ten years ago I let the battery in the Honda3000 run down and did not replace it. I just use the pull cord ever since. But I would have had to use a trickle charger to keep that battery up between using the gen since the gen does not get enough run time or used often enough to keep the battery up.

    The gen rides in the back of the truck so a couple years ago I got the idea of using the truck battery to start the gen so I wouldn't have to use the pull cord. I did run wires from the gen's inside battery compartment to hang outside the gen and I keep the ends of those wires covered when not in use (wire nuts)

    I made an adapter to go from the slide-in camper plug the truck has (behind the cab and in front of the box) over to the wires I added to the gen. So with that plugged in, the electric start worked.

    Since that worked, I don't see why if there were a proper battery in the gen, that you couldn't attach a trickle charger to those added wires hanging out and keep the gen's battery charged.

    BTW I gave up on my electric start method even though it worked as it was too much bother with the adapter, and am back to using the pull cord, but the wires that I added are still hanging out of the gen.