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Portable Generator Battery Ideas

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D45

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I have a 501cc Briggs powered 7, 550 W / 13,500 W portable generator.

It has an electric start feature and I'm trying to find the largest battery that will fit in the battery tray.

Yes, there's a trickle charger.......

Unfortunately, the POS/NEG cables use the top flag post style connections.

I was initially thinking a lawn and garden battery, but after looking online at the specs, none will fit.

I was thinking an automotive battery, but I can't find any this size.

The battery tray dimensions are:
7" Long
6" Wide

Specs online suggest 200-300 cranking amps.

The height doesn't matter, as there's plenty of clearance

Any ideas?
 
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madhatter

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pa
D45 said:
I have a 501cc Briggs powered 7, 550 W / 13,500 W portable generator.

It has an electric start feature and I'm trying to find the largest battery that will fit in the battery tray.

Yes, there's a trickle charger.......

Unfortunately, the POS/NEG cables use the top flag post style connections.

I was initially thinking a lawn and garden battery, but after looking online at the specs, none will fit.

I was thinking an automotive battery, but I can't find any this size.

The battery tray dimensions are:
7" Long
6" Wide

Specs online suggest 200-300 cranking amps.

The height doesn't matter, as there's plenty of clearance

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
nothing stopping you from changing the cable ends to what ever you want.
One example:
amazon.com/Schumacher-BAF-MT1-Marine-Terminal-End/dp/B0060YHLJS/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ks6rQjByLP9mg2CjBeRuzqV1hvGuUI6OVm0AP-AQYmOLFOf3xKJHhQvdWDV98JUJJLKMVxsSwEZEUzC8014Le9Q27htQshjWGB7tnQCHTjEwBW0xgCNaaPkXH5f6rkKUxhxSnrLQBWit4BvhTdSA0ZUnh8mmhF5SjqQ2IauU7VH8CqH58ShyN2UVCQe6rAYF5tj_r1imL9SKtqYeoho-Zy4iHdF9hQRIt0SKaNYeggk.NHlBNlzEwr6sZ1BZVgGFiemBjNg95tWLsgL4wFMEB6w&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery+terminal+adapter&qid=1778424165&sr=8-2
 
M

madhatter

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Messages
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PoorUB

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D45 said:
I have a 501cc Briggs powered 7, 550 W / 13,500 W portable generator.

It has an electric start feature and I'm trying to find the largest battery that will fit in the battery tray.

Yes, there's a trickle charger.......

Unfortunately, the POS/NEG cables use the top flag post style connections.

I was initially thinking a lawn and garden battery, but after looking online at the specs, none will fit.

I was thinking an automotive battery, but I can't find any this size.

The battery tray dimensions are:
7" Long
6" Wide

Specs online suggest 200-300 cranking amps.

The height doesn't matter, as there's plenty of clearance

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
YTX20H-BS
 
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joebass3

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May 26, 2024
Messages
31
My portable generator was only used as a backup in case I lost power, which was rare. It seemed like every time I needed the generator the battery was dead. Stopped wasting money on batteries and just used jumper cables and one of my vehicles.
 
OP
D

D45

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Well, I trimmed 1/4" off the length of the tray and tried my new mower battery

It fit great and powered the generator

However, the battery tray is at such an angle that the battery started leaking

So now I am thinking sealed AGM? Or?
 

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D

D45

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joebass3 said:
My portable generator was only used as a backup in case I lost power, which was rare. It seemed like every time I needed the generator the battery was dead. Stopped wasting money on batteries and just used jumper cables and one of my vehicles.
Click to expand...

I've never had an issue

Trickle charger once a month for a weekend works wonders
 
O

OccupantRJ

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Eastern North Carolina
joebass3 said:
My portable generator was only used as a backup in case I lost power, which was rare. It seemed like every time I needed the generator the battery was dead. Stopped wasting money on batteries and just used jumper cables and one of my vehicles.
Click to expand...
I built a fold up hitch on my generator to pull it where it is needed with a mower, then cut the clips off one end of some HF jumper cables and added lugs to permanently attach to the starter solenoid. No hunting for cables that way. Once in position the cables are attached to the mower battery for starting. This keeps from dealing with a dead battery during a power outage. If all else fails a car can be used to start the gen. There are also two extra spark plugs zip tied to the generator frame, along with two quarts of oil stored with the unit. With the yearly hurricane activity season here you learn not to play around.
 
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theoldwizard1

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SE MI
OccupantRJ said:
There are also two extra spark plugs zip tied to the generator frame, along with two quarts of oil stored with the unit. With the yearly hurricane activity season here you learn not to play around.
Click to expand...
I ASSUME you have a couple of cans of fuel stored safely. Hopefully you are rotating that stock !

If your generator does not have a fuel shut off valve, install one. Always turn off the generator by turning off the fuel valve and letting the carburetor run dry.
 
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OccupantRJ

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theoldwizard1 said:
I ASSUME you have a couple of cans of fuel stored safely. Hopefully you are rotating that stock !

If your generator does not have a fuel shut off valve, install one. Always turn off the generator by turning off the fuel valve and letting the carburetor run dry.
Click to expand...
Always have, always do. Gas gets rotated through the mowers and forklift. I used $150 in generator gas in hurricane Floyd of ‘99 when gas was a bit cheaper.
 
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JABgj

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I have installed inexpensive solar charger panels on various pieces of equipment that sit outside for maintaining charge and they do help. On the fleet of Honda 7000 gens at work, they all have been converted to a lithium start battery which hold a charge well. On those same gens we have fitted an Anderson plug to allow either a dedicated jumper pack or a clamp on style cable for easy jump starts. Just plug it in and start. See if you can test for a parasitic draw as well to be sure.
 
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jade97

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Messages
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My HF generator specifies a sealed lead acid battery. I believe HF sells these batteries in the store. They didn't back in 2013 when I bought the generator. Most likely what your gens mfgr recommends as well.
 
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dcg9381

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jade97 said:
My HF generator specifies a sealed lead acid battery.
Click to expand...
That's what they specify because likely that's what they're setup to charge. You can use lithium if you want to, just like many of us are doing in motorcycles and other small engines. The gotcha is that they'd only be charged (by the generator) to about 80% of capacity with a lead-acid profile.
 
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D45

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I am leary of a lithium around gasoline

Just heard alot of unknowns with that type of battery

AGM seems reliable and stable, but the U1 size is pricey at Tractor Supply, like $150

Amazon sells the AGM U1 for $65-$80
 
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PoorUB

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Looking on Amazon the YTX20H-BS is available for $50 to $150 depending on the manufacturer. Same on Walmart. You might find them locally for a bit more. I think it should fit, but you would know better.
 
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D45

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I went with a 320ccc AGM lawn and garden battery, with the U1R flag posts (nut and bolt).

This way, when sitting in the tray the POS terminal will be on the upper left side and closer to the short POS battery cable

$65 shipped
 
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