When a generator is left unused for too long, its battery might die or the magnetism preset in its rotor may diminish. When this happens, the generator fails to start and generate electricity. At that time, you will need to jumpstart a generator!
So, how can you jump start a generator? To jumpstart a generator you just need to connect the external source of power to the generator properly and generate power.
While the task seems safe and easy, you can never be sure about these things which makes it is a must to wear the safety kit at all times.
It is very rare that this problem seems too serious.
The good news is that in most cases, just a small amount of electric current can help you resolve the problem. This process of starting a generator with the help of an external power source is called ‘Jump Starting’.
In this article, we will briefly explain how you can jump start a generator without having to seek any professional support.
All You Need To Know About Generators
Before we delve into the details of how you can jump start your generator, it is imperative to learn a few things about generators. The first thing that you must always remember is that there are different types, models and sizes of generators.
Each has a different configuration and hence works differently. The information provided in this article will help you jump start nearly all kinds of generators.
Those generators that come with the built-in electronic ignitions usually face battery degradation when left unused for too long. Other than not being in use, there are many other possible factors that affect a generator’s battery and cause it to lose its power and capability to produce current.
By following the guidelines provided in this article, all the generator users can “jump start” their generator manually on their own without seeking expert support.
If you drive a car, then probably you have faced a similar situation with your car as well.
If you know how to jump start a car, then you should know that it is the exact same process with the generator as well.
How To Do It?
There are a few items that you must possess in order to be able to jump start a generator. These include
- eye protection goggles,
- jumper cables and
- an additional source of power.
You must wear your protection goggles, connect the external source of power to the generator properly and generate power.
Having discussed the background and some basic things you need to know about generators, we will now move to the simple steps that you can take to jump-start your generator. Make sure that these steps are followed in order at all times.
Finding an External Source of Power
As mentioned above, you need to find a good external source of power to provide electric supply to your generator and give it the jump start that it needs.
The best thing you can do is to keep your generator near a car or any other vehicle whose battery can easily be accessed.
Another generator or any good source of electricity that is run using a battery can also be of great help.
Locating Your Generator’s Main Battery
You should be aware that good generators do not have their batteries exposed. They are rather carefully protected inside a compartment in the generator. This is the best way to provide protection against moisture and corrosion. You may need to go through the manual to find exactly where the battery compartment is.
The Two Main Types of Generators
Before moving further, you need to know that there are two basic types of generators. In other words, most of the generators come with two types of latches on their battery compartment doors.
Some of them have a lever you can flip. There are some in which the levers can be pushed toward the left to expose the battery.
In the former case, make sure that you twist it back counterclockwise so that the latching mechanism is released.
Staying Calm and Patient
Before carrying out this step, you should wait for a minimum time of 30 minutes with the battery exposed to air at that time. This will facilitate ventilation and help get rid of the explosive gasses that often affect the life of the battery.
This is the most crucial step to follow. A slight mistake at this point can be very costly. You must carefully connect the black negative end of your external source to the generator’s negative end. Then you will have to connect the positive ends in the same way.
The Final Step
Once you have successfully connected the ends in the right manner, you must leave the external source turned on for some time to with the jumper cables properly connected. Then you may turn on your generator with the jumper cables still connected. This will help your generator be charged enough to run on its own even after the external source has been dealt with.
Finally, you must disconnect all the jumper cables from the generator as well as your external source. This needs to be done while the generator is still working and leave it to work at least an hour before you switch it off.
Field Flashing and Portable Generators
If you have a portable generator, then you can do what experts call field flashing – an easy way of jump-starting a dead, portable generator.
All you have to do is connect the generator directly with a battery in the same manner described above. Then remove the spark plug while pulling the starter cord simultaneously.
Safety Tips
This entire process of jump starting your generator is very simple and easy and does not require any professional support. However, even the slightest carelessness can lead to very serious consequences.
For instance, you must make sure that the red and black ends of the jumper cable do not touch each other while they are connected. This can lead to a spark, permanent battery failure and even fire in some cases.
Many people may think that safety goggles are not necessary for such a simple task. However, electrical experts understand how dangerous and life-threatening these things be and hence taking all the necessary precautions is necessary.
Conclusion
In this article, we have briefly summarized how you can jump start a generator without seeking any expert or professional support.
We have explained all the things you would need, all the steps that you must follow and all the safety precautions that must be followed.
These will help you prevent any kind of harm to the generator as well as any injury.
In most cases, following these tips will enable you to restart your dead generator, but if it still does not work, seek professional support near you.