Recharging Generator Battery

[Elderberry]

I have a naive question. We have an electric start generator which came with a plugin charging unit for the battery. Once the generator is running, is it OK to plug the charger into the generator power to recharge the battery? Or does the generator have to be off to charge the battery using an external power source?

[ygmir]

I would bet the generator has it's own charging circuit, for when it's running. It should charge itself when running. I'd think the plug in is for storage.

[delle]

Personally, my manuals often end up in the fireplace because I'd never find them again even if I kept them.

Google searches are easier than those teensy-print things anyway when searching for specific answers.

[Captain Goddammit]

Ygmir is probably exactly right. Most generators sit around unused for long periods and the starting battery might go dead by the time someone needed it, hence the charger you have for maintaining it periodically.
You can (and should) check by putting a meter on the battery. Check the voltage while off. Start the generator; the battery voltage may have dropped slightly because of the energy drawn from it to start the genny... watch the meter; if it recovers on its own, and/or reads any higher while running than when off, its got it's own charging circuit.
If it doesn't have it's own charging circuit (unlikely) then yes, you can plug the charger into the generator and charge the starting battery while running.

[Meat Hunter]

My G_ _ _ _ _ C GP7500E electric start generator charges the battery while it runs.

In the long months while it sits idle, I keep the battery plugged into an ATV trickle charger.

Before I store the generator, I run both the tank & the carburetor dry and I then connect the trickle charger.

Before I run it again, I disconnect the trickle charger and I add fresh gas to the tank.

This may not work for all. But, it has worked just fine for me for the last five years, with this particular generator and the generator has never failed to crank on the second turn of the key.

[Elderberry]

You guys are right! I just found the manual. Actually, if it's not being used, the battery is supposed to be charged using the charger once a month. Looks like a trip to the storage unit is in order.

Thanks.