09-24-2014, 08:24 AM
Michael is quite right but i can expand a bit. When generators are purchased from a vendor they include a starting battery recharging alternator. doesn't matter if it is an Onan, Kohler, Martin, Power Tech, or most any other company, they will have an alternator unless specified otherwise at time of purchase.
Our electrical systems are fairly complex for most non-electrical individuals. We have house batteries and main engine starting batteries plus inverter chargers and on older Newells, convertors (simply power supplies). Some Newells use the house batteries and others the main engine batteries (I have seen both connections) to start the generator. If the engine batteries are used, the alternator helps keep the engine batteries charged as does the main engine's alternator. If the house batteries are used the alternator will keep those batteries charged however, sometimes the alternator competes with the inverter/charger circuitry and creates problems. The generator's alternator is easily disabled by unpluging the signal wire if that is an issue.
Our electrical systems are fairly complex for most non-electrical individuals. We have house batteries and main engine starting batteries plus inverter chargers and on older Newells, convertors (simply power supplies). Some Newells use the house batteries and others the main engine batteries (I have seen both connections) to start the generator. If the engine batteries are used, the alternator helps keep the engine batteries charged as does the main engine's alternator. If the house batteries are used the alternator will keep those batteries charged however, sometimes the alternator competes with the inverter/charger circuitry and creates problems. The generator's alternator is easily disabled by unpluging the signal wire if that is an issue.
Gordon Jones
2000-45'-2slide-#567