bat cable

[christopher]

i have a 10kw wrico.
speaking of which how are the electric fans for cooling the radiator. i think i need a 2400 cfm. where to buy?
chtris

[Sam 4106]

Hi JR,
Actually, with the size of the generators that are typically used in RVs, the DISTANCE the generator is from the battery is MORE important than the size of the generator. Christopher did say that the cable length was 20' and that is why I recomended 00 cable. If you don't believe that, then look at the size of the battery cables in your car. Now move your car battery 20' away and use the same size cables to start your engine when the temperature is at zero. I think you will see that distance IS the important factor. NOT engine size.
Sam 4106

[JackConrad]

i have a 10kw wrico.
speaking of which how are the electric fans for cooling the radiator. i think i need a 2400 cfm. where to buy?
chtris

We have a Power-Tech 10 KW head on a 3 cylinder Kubota. We remoted the OEM PowerTech radiator and added a 12 volt electric fan to the radiator contolled by a relay (fan runs anytime generator is running). We have never had any overheating problems, even with outside temperatures at 100-102 degrees.  We purchased the largest diameter that fit on the radiator (I think it was a 12" or 14" diameter.  We purchased it on Ebay.  Hope this helps,Jack

[DrivingMissLazy]

Hi JR,
Actually, with the size of the generators that are typically used in RVs, the DISTANCE the generator is from the battery is MORE important than the size of the generator. Christopher did say that the cable length was 20' and that is why I recomended 00 cable. If you don't believe that, then look at the size of the battery cables in your car. Now move your car battery 20' away and use the same size cables to start your engine when the temperature is at zero. I think you will see that distance IS the important factor. NOT engine size.
Sam 4106

I have to respectfully disagree with Sam. The amps required to turn the starter motor on a genset of 15-20 hp is much less than the amps required to turn the starter motor on a high hp automotive engine. It is not even close.

A riding lawn mower battery is more than adequate to start a 10 kw genset (20 hp). It is no way adequate for starting an automobile engine(200+ hp). My belief is that a size 2 cable would be more than adequate for a 20 foot run.

Richard

[gus]

TomC and Sam,

If a generator instructiions say you must have a separate gen starting battery that means to me that it has a small alternator built into the flywheel much like a lawnmower. This alt output is wired directly to the battery via the gen starter post

Although my ole Onan didn't say why this was necessary it is obvious to me that if you have the alternator running open it will destroy itself just like any alternator, thus the battery charging load. And if you hook it up to the bus battery system the one amp max output from the gen alternator confuses the bus alternator regulator - this I know from experience.

If the book does not say a separate battery is required then there is no problem, you can hook it up any way you like.