Generac problem

KL in Wi · Jan 25, 2019

I know everyone hates Generac but, I have one. It's 14K. Has worked perfect the last 8 years. Today, I noticed that the yellow light was on. I looked at the screen and it said, low voltage. The manual says that means the battery is under 11.9 volts. I tested the battery and it's at 13.5 volts. I reset the screen and it says, examine battery. I reset it again and, examine battery came up again. Any idea what the problem is? Thanks

jm. · Jan 25, 2019

Can,t tell you why or what the problem but I will bet you a new battery and things will be OK.. they like good voltage for sure. May be that the battery will not take a charge ,even though it appears not to need charging. Sit another battery down beside it and connect with jumper cables and see what it tells you.

jeffcat · Jan 25, 2019

Also check the battery connections. Have seen just the slightest oxidation mess up a sensitive system. Have also seen batteries start good and you think nothing is bad but the tester will show No Go. The Schumacher charger maintainer will do that. Hook the charger to the battery and after a minute or two the little red no good lite pops on. Battery still works but it tests something internally that is an imminent failure coming down the road. Couple of weeks from now the battery just goes phhhht. I have a little Generac 3500 generator that works just dandy.

KL in Wi · Jan 25, 2019

Thanks for the replies. I'll do some more testing but, it will have to wait a couple days. It's gonna be a bit chilly the next week to be out there playing with that thing

Russ from MN · Jan 25, 2019

That 13.5 must be with the engine running, or is the battery on a maintainer? What does the battery test with the engine off and one cable off the battery?

Hobo,NC · Jan 25, 2019

I figure a man that can afford a 14K gen can afford a new battery every five years if for nuttin else for the peach of mine..

David G · Jan 25, 2019

I would agree, there is no way a non charging battery is at 13.5 volts, I would suspect bad battery.

KL in Wi · Jan 26, 2019

Engine was not running and it passed a load test.

timcasbolt · Jan 26, 2019

Maybe you could try temporarily swapping in a known good battery (like one from your car, maybe) and checking it again.

Billy Shafer · Jan 26, 2019

I would change the battery with one you know is good. I have had several over the years. That showed 13.5-14.5 on the meter. But put a battery load tester on them. They would drop to 0.

Hobo,NC · Jan 26, 2019

More than likely your reading was a surface charge you need to flash it of... In my world I would crank the engine a few times as soon as the engine fired off each time shut it off before the charging system has a chance to recover... Or put a load on the battery such truing the headlights on for a Minute.

In your case crank the engine a few times and immediately shut it down. Record the lowest voltage while cranking and the voltage once you turn the engine off...

The lowest voltage is somewhat of a load test..

After you crank it over and shut it down let it set a Minute take a voltage reading the voltage after its loaded is the true static voltage....

If your battery was checked with a conductance battery tester they lie BIG TIME its not a true load test its a calculated guess...

Once in a blue moon you will run into what I call a super cell it caries a high surface charge and will not take a charge it screws up the electronics of the charging system...

You have not reported enough info go test some more...

John T · Jan 26, 2019

The open unloaded voltage of a battery doesn't tell the whole story, its what voltage it can maintain under a certain load (Load Test) that really counts. I would take the battery for a good load test n see what happens. NOTE not everybody "hates" Generac, I agree their quality isn't as good as say Onan or Kohler and others but mine is working okay for now at least. If it ever quits I will likely replace it with an Onan Cummins...?...but as long as its working why fix what ain't broke.

John T

KL in Wi · Jan 26, 2019

I did a load test with a carbon pile tester, it seems to test out good. I loosened the battery terminals,I didnt take them off, then I wiggled them back and forth. Then I tightened them up again and reset the panel. The examine the battery readout did not come back on. I'm going to leave it now until the cold becomes less cold, -15 and hard on fingers, then I will clean the termianls and replace the battery. Thanks for all the replies

WGM · Jan 26, 2019

I don't hate Generacs. I have two of them. A 12 year old 6500 watt portable and a 4 year old 16000 watt pad mount. Both have operated flawlessly. Sounds like as others have said its a battery issue and needs to be replaced. Hardly a Generac problem.

Russ from MN · Jan 26, 2019

I wonder why the voltage would be so high without the engine running?

SEArk · Jan 26, 2019

the generator does not have a charger, the charger is in the Evolution controller or older ones its in the transfer switch. Nexus controller also has charger inside, unplug T1 fuse in transfer switch to disable battery charger. normally a yellow light is a yearly reminder to check and service, red light is something is wrong and it won't start. Let me know what kind of controller you have but the most common problem is a battery or the connections on top!!

SEArk · Jan 26, 2019

I ment to say the motor does not have a charger its in the controller or transfer switch

Hobo,NC · Jan 26, 2019

When I helped my uncle install his stand along I put a battery in it that would interchang with his old dodge work van that way every 3 years are so he could put the gen battery in his van and a new one in his gen...

I am rigging up a gen for my house I made/mounted a battery box so I can use most any size of battery...

SEArk · Jan 26, 2019

your gen is 8 years old I expect it has a Nexus controller, when it said under voltage it was talking about the 240 volts I think. check voltage at E1 and E2 at start up. an over load can cause it to lock out also a film on slip rings at brushes. this sometimes corrects itself after running a minute. there are many other reasons!! older Nexus (0h6680a) controller low voltage was 144v for 5 seconds, newer Nexus (oh6680B) controller is 204v for 10 seconds. IT should try to re-crank 3 times before locking out. if it locks out try pushing enter twice I think.the book does not say, could be enterescape, you can not hurt anything by pushing them. the Evolution controllers are easier and newer they give a fault code.

SEArk · Jan 26, 2019

could not sleep--under voltage on 240v would have been red light, yellow light would be 12v most likely. Too cold up there, nothing works good at those temps.

Texasmark1 · Jan 27, 2019

I love my 11kW. Bought it in 2014, only problem a crack developed in the spin on filter and started seeping oil....no biggie to fix. Course temp is moderate here if that's an issue.

SEArk · Jan 27, 2019

KL in Wi-- went out to truck this morning found older book--it said--LOW BATTERY The microprocessor will continually monitor the battery voltage and turn on the Low Battery Warning if the battery volts falls below 10.8 volts for 1 minute. No other action is taken on a low battery condition. Low battery voltage is a non-latching alarm which will automatically clear if the battery rises above 11.0 volts. Battery voltage is NOT monitored during the crank cycle.-- you don't have much of a problem, stay warm! Wade

SEArk · Jan 27, 2019

(quoted from post at 03:17:43 01/27/19) I love my 11kW. Bought it in 2014, only problem a crack developed in the spin on filter and started seeping oil....no biggie to fix. Course temp is moderate here if that's an issue.

ow temps that they are having can be a problem with 12 volt batteries. Generac sells battery warmers and oil filter warmers for air cool generators. they can be ordered from AP Electric in WI. or any supplier. Clifford Power in Little Rock changes their maintenance customers batteries out every 2 years no questions asked, but hospitals ect. must be dependable. the newer Generac's have a better controller and are more dependable, aiso a decent warranty now. You have to have a lap top to work on a Kohler.

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