Honda Generator battery operation question

[hayden]

I realize this is an old thread, but I have found that the battery in my 3000i goes dead in about a month. I expect something in the circuitry of the unit is leaving a small load causing it to drain so fast. It's really very annoying for a unit that is meant for periodic backup power.

 

[fried1765]

I realize this is an old thread, but I have found that the battery in my 3000i goes dead in about a month. I expect something in the circuitry of the unit is leaving a small load causing it to drain so fast. It's really very annoying for a unit that is meant for periodic backup power.

How old is the battery?
How often has it gone fully dead?
If you buy a trickle charger for that battery, your generator will ALWAYS have a fully charged battery, until/unless the battery has become totally sulfated..

 

[hayden]

How old is the battery?
How often has it gone fully dead?
If you buy a trickle charger for that battery, your generator will ALWAYS have a fully charged battery, until/unless the battery has become totally sulfated..

It's a new battery. The old one wouldn't hold a charge, so I replaced it. It still goes dead over about a month, so dead pretty much every time I go to use it. I have it rigged for a battery tender, and put that on periodically. I rotate it around a bunch of different equipment giving each a top up every month or two, but the Honda is the only device that's pretty much dead every time I get to it.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have a EU3000is and use it infrequently. Found long ago that I cannot rely on the electric key start unless I leave a battery tender on full time. I do that now and have had zero issues. Still on my second battery after 15 years ownership.

 

[hayden]

That's my experience too. Pretty lame if you ask me.

 

[fried1765]

That's my experience too. Pretty lame if you ask me.

I keep a trickle charger on any battery that I do not plan to use every week or two.
I have a combined total of 15 battery tenders/ battery minders.
My batteries usually last a long time.

 

[Billrog]

Just yesterday and I installed 2 studs out of the front of my EU3000is so I no longer have to take the front cover off to get at the battery to keep it charged .

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just buy a batt disconnect, then disconnect the batt when the gen set isn't needed.

SR

 

[hayden]

Just buy a batt disconnect, then disconnect the batt when the gen set isn't needed.

SR

Easier said than done, I'm afraid. The battery is buried in the machine with no easy external access. So an off-the-shelf battery disconnect for a post-style battery wouldn't work. I think a custom switch mounted externally, and some rewiring would be required. But it's probably the only solution, and I might have to bite the bullet and figure a way.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just extend the batt cable to where ever you want the switch to go...

SR

 

[dragoneggs]

Easier said than done, I'm afraid. The battery is buried in the machine with no easy external access. So an off-the-shelf battery disconnect for a post-style battery wouldn't work. I think a custom switch mounted externally, and some rewiring would be required. But it's probably the only solution, and I might have to bite the bullet and figure a way.

Yes the battery is a bit buried but... The battery tender junior that I buy come with several different end leads such as spring clamps, eyebolts, etc. with a quick disconnect plug about a foot long. Been too long to remember exactly but I was able to permanently connect the leads to my battery and extend the wired plug out through the housing cover so I can easily unplug the tender in seconds. I will try to get a picture later today when home.

 

[BobRip]

I keep a trickle charger on any battery that I do not plan to use every week or two.
I have a combined total of 15 battery tenders/ battery minders.
My batteries usually last a long time.

That is exactly what I do. If you only run a generator for say 30 minutes once a month that is probably not enough to charge it back up from the starting load and self discharge. There might also be something wrong, but I would go with the battery tender. They are meant to be left connected most or all of the time. If you have an ammeter your could measure the current going from the battery into the unit. If you don't know how to do that you need to proceed carefully as you can damage the meter easily. Given the cost of batteries today the battery tender is a very good investment. It will add years to the battery life.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yes the battery is a bit buried but... The battery tender junior that I buy come with several different end leads such as spring clamps, eyebolts, etc. with a quick disconnect plug about a foot long. Been too long to remember exactly but I was able to permanently connect the leads to my battery and extend the wired plug out through the housing cover so I can easily unplug the tender in seconds. I will try to get a picture later today when home.

Here is a picture... not too revealing but I just ran the connector from the terminals under the housing on the right side so it is easy to plug/unplug the battery tender if I need to go portable.

View attachment 531645

 

[Billrog]

In case anyone is interested this was my mod. to simplify keeping the battery charged. It is recommended that you don't allow the battery to get below 12.4 V . To maintain this as my gen sits often for long periods of time every 1 to 3 mons. I like to hook my battery Minder to it so this is what I did.

The bolts are 1.5" long Approx. 1/4" I happened to have metric bolts with 10 mill nuts so I used them to match the one on the front of the machine so 1 wrench would do the trick if I wished to remove them. I crimped eyes on 2- 16" pieces of 14 gauge wire 1 for each post. The reason for the length I can take off the front to get at the battery with no difficulty.

Here is a poor pic. of a marret screw on the hot stud to avoid an unnecessary short but I doubt it would be a problem since the front housing extends past the end of the bolt.