THX A LOT ! With hurricane IAN coming to Tampa Bay, this is exactly what my 'new' Generac Generator needed....and, saved me the time & effort of trying to FIND that manual that came with it a year ago!
Great video. One comment though... ALWAYS check the water (electrolyte) level in the battery. The recharging system in whole-house (standby) generators have a tendency to overcharge the battery. What this causes over time is the evaporation of excess water from your battery. If your electrolyte level gets low enough, starting your generator gets much harder. Buy you some Distilled Water from Walmart and top off each of the six (2 volt) cells in the battery as needed. I have no idea why standby generator manufacturers don't include this info in the maintenance section of their owner's manuals. This problem/issue is too common for these generators. It's almost as though the manufacturers WANT to keep us in the dark. Have a great day!
Just a timer that clicks “time to check the battery.” As you said not a failure or problem. Just a maintenance reminder. Might be a good idea to get a handheld battery tester. You can have good voltage but a worn battery that has low cranking amps. You will know it is bad the day it doesn’t start. Especially if you are in an area where it gets cold,
I had a brand new Generac 18KW generator installed on 11/28/22. The battery failed to start the generator in July of 2023. When the tech came to install a new battery (free), he simply said that with the pallets and pallets of batteries that Generac gets in (from Exide, by the way), it's not uncommon to find a "bad one" now and then. The batteries are warrantied for 2 years, based on the sticker on the side of the battery, so if the new one fails shortly after 2 years, I'll just replace it with a decent AGM battery. I'm surprised Generac doesn't provide something better right from the start, but penny-pinching seems to be the name of the game with a lot of companies these days.
Odell thanks for stopping by and checking out my channel! I appreciate you, please subscribe like share and ring that notification bell 🛎. Have a Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Great video. Thank you. Our unit is right at 3 years old. I supplied the battery for my installers and bought the 36 month free replacement battery at Sam's club. I'm getting a reading of 13.2 volts on my app but I'm thinking about NEXT June 2024 just going ahead and replacing it and not taking a chance on failure during peak hurricane season here in Florida. Thoughts on this?
If you live in northern latitudes where it gets colder you probably have a battery warmer pad installed under your battery. There is a temperature sensor attached to the side of the battery that must be touching the battery otherwise you are sensing ambient temperature and the pad will continue to warm the battery causing boiling of the acid. I found this by replacing my battery two weeks ago and the positive terminal already had corrosion on it and I was getting a check battery alarm. I called Generac for help and they told me about this issue with the sensor needing to be attached to the battery. I taped it to the side using electricians tape.
Properly testing a battery requires a 'load test' w/ the proper tool. checking voltage doesn't do much. A voltage check on a 10yr old junkyard battery can say 12+volts--------------------till it's suddenly put under a load
Battery was new ish and starting fine video was done to show the warning message and how to clear, most homeowners don’t have anything to load test , however I did start it and check voltage before and after. Thanks for watching and the great comment.
I just recently hooked up my generator and the battery seems to go dead within a week. Do you know where the built-in trickle charger is located? I’m wondering if that’s not what’s wrong
I just purchased a generac powerpact generator. So far I have used 3 batteries and within 3-4 days before the test exercise the batteries are dead. If anyone can help, I need to know what’s the best GU1 12 V with minimum 300CCA. Help
Thanks I haven't gotten that reminder yet maybe mobile link will send it to me soon? I am surprised that since my 20KwH was installed 13 December 2016 that the battery has not been an issue, yet.
Wow I can’t believe your battery is still going strong that’s crazy ours only lasted 16 months before we replaced. My mobile link my be set up for the reminder your may not ? Thanks buddy for watching have a merry Christmas 🎁🎄! Please like and share. I appreciate you subscribing!
@@JustCantSitStill mobile link is reading the battery at 13.7 volts. I know I am pushing my luck with this battery it is now 5 years old. I am gong to replace it before a cell decides to die and it won't start in a storm it would be my luck. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
First, your meter is reading the charging voltage supplied by the built-in battery charger, not the actual battery voltage. These generators constantly trickle charge the battery. Secondly, starting the generator by pressing the manual button doesn't truly test the battery. To test the battery, you need to cut utility power to the house by using the manual switch in your transfer switch cabinet. Only then will the battery alone start the generator.
Good catch thanks for watching the charge voltage is very little one could pull the 7.5 amp fuse and test just the battery alone. The onboard charging will not aid in starting the generator. The app tell me the voltage as well I just did this for more a a visual , if you had a bad battery you would know regardless of the onboard charging.
Nice series on your setup. I'm having a 24kw Generac getting installed next month. On your battery voltage test, is it skewed at all by any onboard trickle charger/maintainer if not disconnected/powered down?
Thanks for watching please subscribe! It is possible that I got a bit of voltage from the on board but it’s just basically a reminder to check the battery and all was good. I hope your install goes smoothly! Have a great weekend 👍
@@JustCantSitStill Install is complete and working great (in test mode, no emergencies so far:) Process took a while between natural gas meter upgrade, pipe run to generator , and final electrical install. I hope I never need it, but great peace of mind if I do.
Thanks for posting this. I have a generator installed. It works great but I'm still confused about the "Charger missing" error. Is there a wire that connects to the battery to charge/maintain it? My setup is a manual, core lock in the main house panel. It simply prevents both power company and generator breakers from being on at the same time. I bought a quality battery maintainer but the Generac manual says not to use external chargers. Thanks.
I have one the motor bad at 2 hrs of the test run but they came and replaced the motor everything is good but I can’t get the WiFi to reach the generator I saw that antenna on yours
Gary this one is Mobile Link runs off its own LTE network and works great , the previous one was omnimetrix or something like that and it was terrible and it did not have an antenna. Thanks for watching buddy have a merry Christmas 🎁🎄
Can you use a motorcycle lithium battery or a sealed AGM battery instead of the lead acid battery? Wanted to add, my MC is 1600 so bigger then this generator.
Just to be clear: Generac lists AGM batteries that are compatible per model. Yes, they work, just need to select right one. For example, the brochure for 20-24kw generators shows this: 12 Volts, Group 26R 540 CCA minimum or Group 35AGM 650 CCA minimum
Yep 👍 good idea 👍 it’s a pretty new battery but that would be a good practice. Thanks buddy for the comment and checking out my channel please subscribe like and share
Possibly I don’t remember, when this video was taken it was a fairly new battery the check battery notification is basically a timer ⏲️, it was starting fine and had plenty of voltage. Soon as these get weak I just replace this is definitely something you want to start when you need it.
I received a msg " low battery " after I had a propane refill..the generator has been running since last Thurs( hurricane ian) .I have not tried this, but could this fix the battery or is it the actual battery that needs to be replaced. Thank you
Gary this one is Mobile Link runs off its own LTE network and works great , the previous one was omnimetrix or something like that and it was terrible and it did not have an antenna. Thanks for watching buddy have a merry Christmas 🎁🎄
the battery heat pad needs to be disconnected come summer. it is not thermostatically controlled and will prematurely (cook) age your battery. my first battery lasted only 20 months
The battery warming pad IS in fact thermostatically controlled, as is the oil filter warmer. My battery failed after only 8 months after my brand new generator was installed and this was the first thing I asked the technician when he came out to install the new battery. The battery was made by Exide, and he said it's not uncommon to find a "bad one" occasionally among the pallets and pallets of batteries Generac gets in.
Perfect video. No extra language needed. Straight to the point.
Thanks for watching! I appreciate your support.
THX A LOT ! With hurricane IAN coming to Tampa Bay, this is exactly what my 'new' Generac Generator needed....and, saved me the time & effort of trying to FIND that manual that came with it a year ago!
Mike I wish you safety with the upcoming storm. FL is our home away from home. Thanks for watching glad it helped stays safe brother.
Great video. One comment though... ALWAYS check the water (electrolyte) level in the battery. The recharging system in whole-house (standby) generators have a tendency to overcharge the battery. What this causes over time is the evaporation of excess water from your battery. If your electrolyte level gets low enough, starting your generator gets much harder. Buy you some Distilled Water from Walmart and top off each of the six (2 volt) cells in the battery as needed. I have no idea why standby generator manufacturers don't include this info in the maintenance section of their owner's manuals. This problem/issue is too common for these generators. It's almost as though the manufacturers WANT to keep us in the dark. Have a great day!
Thanks for watching and the great comment!
Just a timer that clicks “time to check the battery.” As you said not a failure or problem. Just a maintenance reminder. Might be a good idea to get a handheld battery tester. You can have good voltage but a worn battery that has low cranking amps. You will know it is bad the day it doesn’t start. Especially if you are in an area where it gets cold,
Frank thanks buddy for the comment and checking out my channel please subscribe like share and merry Christmas 🎁🎄 to you and yours
I had a brand new Generac 18KW generator installed on 11/28/22. The battery failed to start the generator in July of 2023. When the tech came to install a new battery (free), he simply said that with the pallets and pallets of batteries that Generac gets in (from Exide, by the way), it's not uncommon to find a "bad one" now and then. The batteries are warrantied for 2 years, based on the sticker on the side of the battery, so if the new one fails shortly after 2 years, I'll just replace it with a decent AGM battery. I'm surprised Generac doesn't provide something better right from the start, but penny-pinching seems to be the name of the game with a lot of companies these days.
Thanks for the info and for watching I appreciate it.
Sometimes checking the battery is more than opening up the lid, and says, "yep, it's still there"
Yep I agree thanks for watching hope it was helpful
Not complicated at all. Great info shared. Thanks! 🔋
Odell thanks for stopping by and checking out my channel! I appreciate you, please subscribe like share and ring that notification bell 🛎. Have a Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Great video. Thank you. Our unit is right at 3 years old. I supplied the battery for my installers and bought the 36 month free replacement battery at Sam's club. I'm getting a reading of 13.2 volts on my app but I'm thinking about NEXT June 2024 just going ahead and replacing it and not taking a chance on failure during peak hurricane season here in Florida. Thoughts on this?
Yes I have the same thought, don’t chance it. Thanks for the comment and for watching.
If you live in northern latitudes where it gets colder you probably have a battery warmer pad installed under your battery. There is a temperature sensor attached to the side of the battery that must be touching the battery otherwise you are sensing ambient temperature and the pad will continue to warm the battery causing boiling of the acid. I found this by replacing my battery two weeks ago and the positive terminal already had corrosion on it and I was getting a check battery alarm. I called Generac for help and they told me about this issue with the sensor needing to be attached to the battery. I taped it to the side using electricians tape.
Just a reminder to check the battery. We are in the south
Properly testing a battery requires a 'load test' w/ the proper tool. checking voltage doesn't do much. A voltage check on a 10yr old junkyard battery can say 12+volts--------------------till it's suddenly put under a load
Battery was new ish and starting fine video was done to show the warning message and how to clear, most homeowners don’t have anything to load test , however I did start it and check voltage before and after. Thanks for watching and the great comment.
I just recently hooked up my generator and the battery seems to go dead within a week. Do you know where the built-in trickle charger is located? I’m wondering if that’s not what’s wrong
I just purchased a generac powerpact generator. So far I have used 3 batteries and within 3-4 days before the test exercise the batteries are dead. If anyone can help, I need to know what’s the best GU1 12 V with minimum 300CCA. Help
Thanks I haven't gotten that reminder yet maybe mobile link will send it to me soon? I am surprised that since my 20KwH was installed 13 December 2016 that the battery has not been an issue, yet.
Wow I can’t believe your battery is still going strong that’s crazy ours only lasted 16 months before we replaced. My mobile link my be set up for the reminder your may not ? Thanks buddy for watching have a merry Christmas 🎁🎄! Please like and share. I appreciate you subscribing!
@@JustCantSitStill mobile link is reading the battery at 13.7 volts. I know I am pushing my luck with this battery it is now 5 years old. I am gong to replace it before a cell decides to die and it won't start in a storm it would be my luck. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Solid stuff once again! TY Sir, from a friend in Canada :)
First, your meter is reading the charging voltage supplied by the built-in battery charger, not the actual battery voltage. These generators constantly trickle charge the battery. Secondly, starting the generator by pressing the manual button doesn't truly test the battery. To test the battery, you need to cut utility power to the house by using the manual switch in your transfer switch cabinet. Only then will the battery alone start the generator.
Good catch thanks for watching the charge voltage is very little one could pull the 7.5 amp fuse and test just the battery alone. The onboard charging will not aid in starting the generator. The app tell me the voltage as well I just did this for more a a visual , if you had a bad battery you would know regardless of the onboard charging.
Same process is used with the Honeywell generators too. Same exact as the Generac, except the enclosure is different color.
Thanks for watching Brent !
Nice series on your setup. I'm having a 24kw Generac getting installed next month. On your battery voltage test, is it skewed at all by any onboard trickle charger/maintainer if not disconnected/powered down?
Thanks for watching please subscribe! It is possible that I got a bit of voltage from the on board but it’s just basically a reminder to check the battery and all was good. I hope your install goes smoothly! Have a great weekend 👍
How did the install go?
@@JustCantSitStill Install is complete and working great (in test mode, no emergencies so far:) Process took a while between natural gas meter upgrade, pipe run to generator , and final electrical install. I hope I never need it, but great peace of mind if I do.
@@truck57us awesome 😎
Thanks for posting this. I have a generator installed. It works great but I'm still confused about the "Charger missing" error. Is there a wire that connects to the battery to charge/maintain it? My setup is a manual, core lock in the main house panel. It simply prevents both power company and generator breakers from being on at the same time. I bought a quality battery maintainer but the Generac manual says not to use external chargers. Thanks.
Thanks for watching, mine does have a wire that charges the batter from main power coming in , I am not sure which wire it is.
I have one the motor bad at 2 hrs of the test run but they came and replaced the motor everything is good but I can’t get the WiFi to reach the generator I saw that antenna on yours
Gary this one is Mobile Link runs off its own LTE network and works great , the previous one was omnimetrix or something like that and it was terrible and it did not have an antenna. Thanks for watching buddy have a merry Christmas 🎁🎄
Can you use a motorcycle lithium battery or a sealed AGM battery instead of the lead acid battery? Wanted to add, my MC is 1600 so bigger then this generator.
I definitely want to get away from lead acid batteries for this, I need to look at the manual, I had one tech tell me AGM’s where a No go.
@@JustCantSitStill tech is wrong
Cool
Just to be clear: Generac lists AGM batteries that are compatible per model. Yes, they work, just need to select right one. For example, the brochure for 20-24kw generators shows this: 12 Volts, Group 26R 540 CCA minimum or Group 35AGM 650 CCA minimum
Check for loose battery connections
should have popped the caps and checked the water/acid level in the battery and added distilled water to the bottom of the filler neck.
Yep 👍 good idea 👍 it’s a pretty new battery but that would be a good practice. Thanks buddy for the comment and checking out my channel please subscribe like and share
I have a sealed lead/acid Duracell from Sam's club in mine. 3 years old and shows 13.3 volts. I'll replace it NEXT JUNE 2024 just to be safe.
You are suppose to disconnect the batteyr charging cable before doing this.
Fuse was pulled
you didn’t check the battery. you just checked voltage. did you check acid level?
Possibly I don’t remember, when this video was taken it was a fairly new battery the check battery notification is basically a timer ⏲️, it was starting fine and had plenty of voltage. Soon as these get weak I just replace this is definitely something you want to start when you need it.
Batteries are better at not loosing acid as with older ones
I received a msg " low battery " after I had a propane refill..the generator has been running since last Thurs( hurricane ian) .I have not tried this, but could this fix the battery or is it the actual battery that needs to be replaced. Thank you
Ours never said low battery , what’s the voltage? Mine is currently 13.7 according to the app
Also don’t forget to shut down and check/add oil if needed if you can. Stay safe
Cause I use the WiFi link they give any help so I can get WiFi
Gary this one is Mobile Link runs off its own LTE network and works great , the previous one was omnimetrix or something like that and it was terrible and it did not have an antenna. Thanks for watching buddy have a merry Christmas 🎁🎄
the battery heat pad needs to be disconnected come summer. it is not thermostatically controlled and will prematurely (cook) age your battery. my first battery lasted only 20 months
Thanks for watching and the comment, mine being in the south does not have this feature.
The battery warming pad IS in fact thermostatically controlled, as is the oil filter warmer. My battery failed after only 8 months after my brand new generator was installed and this was the first thing I asked the technician when he came out to install the new battery. The battery was made by Exide, and he said it's not uncommon to find a "bad one" occasionally among the pallets and pallets of batteries Generac gets in.
im so unimpressed withmobilelink... rather do Genmon.
We had ominmatrix previously and it was useless
Huh…well genmon shames mobile link
@@cravey44 cool thanks for watching