Generator start leads
So... fixin' to do some electrical upgrades to our TC - LiFePO4 batteries, DC-DC charger, solar... "the usual" ?? One part that has me scratching my head a bit is the starter leads for the generato...
Forum Discussion
memilanuk wrote:
Well, until someone else actually puts a meter on the start leads a similar Onan 2500 LP generator...
Got everything back together, started the generator with the meter clamped on one of the start leads. Let it run about 15-20 minutes, then shut it down. Pulled it out, took the first pick, cleared the MAX hold, set it again, and about 15 minutes later, started it again.
I'm still quite skeptical of the measurement. Even as a transient. I've measured a few small engine starters with equipment designed to record the transients and never seen anything that high. That meter was not designed to measure rapidly varying currents, and a starter motor, even when cranking at steady state has rapidly varying currents.
Here is an example of the voltage and current starting my 1250cc BMW motorcycle (100 HP 4 cylinder). Current varies between about 160 and 60 amps with each compression stroke. Either your meter is wrong or your genset starter is seriously damaged.
