Smart battery charging system for electrical generator
AssigneeGenerac Power Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert Iles, Alan Dietrich, Steven Wilcox, Greg Wischstadt, David Thimmesch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical generator has an engine that provides a mechanical output that is converted to electrical current by an alternator. The engine is started by a battery-powered motor starter. The battery is charged during running of the electrical generator by a portion of the electrical current output by the alternator. The battery is charged according to a charging profile based on the temperature of the battery at start up of the electrical generator.
Claims20
An electrical generator for supplying electrical power to a load connected to the electrical generator, comprising:
- an engine that provides a mechanical output;
- a power unit that converts the mechanical output to an electric current;
- a battery that supplies power for starting of the engine, and configured to be charged by some of the electric current provided by the power unit;
- and
- a controller that acquires data regarding a temperature of the battery and from the data controls the power unit to supply a charging current to the battery at a voltage that is dependent upon the temperature of the battery.
An electrical generator for supplying electrical power to a load connected to the electrical generator, comprising:
- an engine that provides a mechanical output;
- an alternator that converts the mechanical output to electrical current;
- a motor starter for starting the engine;
- a battery that energies the motor starter for initiating operation of the engine;
- and
- a battery charging system that supplies charging current to the battery at a voltage level selected from a charging profile based at least on a temperature of the battery at start up of the electrical generator.
An electrical generator that supplies electrical power to an electrical system, comprising:
- an engine that provides a mechanical output;
- an alternator that converts the mechanical output to electrical current;
- a motor starter for starting the engine;
- a battery that energies the motor starter for initiating operation of the engine;
- and
- a battery charger interconnected between the battery and the alternator, the battery charger configured to supply charging current to the battery at a selected one of a number of voltage levels set by a charging profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.