GENERATOR HAVING IMPROVED COLD WEATHER STARTING
A generator includes an internal combustion engine operable on a gaseous fuel and an alternator driven by the engine to produce electrical power for distribution from the generator. The generator may also include a 24-volt starter motor to crank the engine, one or more batteries to provide electrical power to operate the starter motor, and a magneto driven by the engine to provide spark ignition of the gaseous fuel when starting the engine with the starter motor.
1 . A generator comprising:
an internal combustion engine operable on a gaseous fuel;
an alternator driven by the engine to produce electrical power for distribution from the generator;
a 24-volt starter motor to crank the engine;
one or more batteries to provide electrical power to operate the starter motor; and
a magneto driven by the engine to provide spark ignition of the gaseous fuel when starting the engine with the starter motor.
2 . The generator of claim 1 wherein the starter motor is geared to crank the engine at least 500 rpm to start the engine with an ambient temperature of −30 degrees Celsius.
3 . The generator of claim 1 wherein the one or more batteries are arranged to provide 24-volts to the starter motor.
4 . The generator of claim 1 wherein the one or more batteries comprises two 12-volt batteries coupled in series to power the 24-volt starter motor.
5 . The generator of claim 1 further comprising one or more battery chargers powered by the alternator to recharge the one or more batteries.
6 . The generator of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control system operable on 24-volts to operate the generator.
7 . The generator of claim 1 wherein the gaseous fuel is at least one of propane and natural gas.
8 . The generator of claim 1 wherein the generator is configured to supply standby power to a home or building.
9 . A standby generator comprising:
an alternator to provide electricity to an electrical system of a building;
an internal combustion engine operable on propane or natural gas to drive the alternator;
an automatic transfer switch to engage the providing of electricity to the electrical system upon interruption of utility power to the building;
a 24-volt starter motor to crank the engine;
a 24-volt battery system to run the starter motor upon the interruption of the utility power to the building; and
a battery charger to recharge the 24-volt battery system.
10 . The standby generator of claim 9 wherein the 24-volt starter motor is configured to crank the engine at least 500 rpm to start the engine in an ambient temperature of −30 degrees Celsius.
11 . The standby generator of claim 9 wherein the 24-volt battery system comprises two 12-volt batteries coupled in series.
12 . The standby generator of claim 9 further comprising a magneto driven by the engine to power one or more spark plugs in the engine.
13 . The standby generator of claim 9 further comprising a battery and coil-operated ignition to run the engine.
14 . The standby generator of claim 10 , further comprising an electronic control system configured to operate on 24-volts to operate the generator.
15 . A standby generator comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
an alternator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to provide electricity for distribution from the generator;
an ignition magneto driven by the engine;
a starter motor to crank the engine driving the ignition magneto to start the engine; and
at least two 12-volt batteries connected in series to power the starter motor.
16 . The standby generator of claim 15 wherein the starter motor is a 24-volt starter motor.
17 . The standby generator of claim 15 further comprising a 115V to 24V voltage converter powered by the alternator to recharge the at least two 12-volt batteries.
18 . The standby generator of claim 15 wherein the at least two 12-volt batteries power the starter motor to crank the engine to at least 500 rpm at −30 degrees Celsius.
19 . The standby generator of claim 15 wherein the engine is configured to operate on both propane and natural gas.
20 . The generator of claim 1 further comprising an automatic engine controller to operate the engine.
21 . The standby generator of claim 9 further comprising an automatic engine controller to operate the engine.
22 . The standby generator of claim 9 further comprising an automatic transfer switch controller to control engagement of electricity provided to the electrical system of the building.
23 . The standby generator of claim 15 further comprising an automatic controller operable on 24-volts to operate the engine.