How many CCA's battery needed to start generator?

[BigNormitasca]

in my 76 Itasca i have a kohler 4kw gen set. 14hp i beleive.  Im not going to use this battery to power anything inside the rv just to start the generator.  Anyone know apx how many CCA's i need to turn it over?  thanks for the help

 

[99dart-WO]

I have no idea...but, Do you have an "auxiliary" start switch? Have someone hold that down while you try starting the Genny. Or, is the entire MH dead at this time? Swap a battery in from another one of your vehicles to get things running.

 

[John From Detroit]

One time when I accidently ran EVERYTHING down I used a garden tractor battery to start the Generator. Worked fine. and 10 minutes at 80 amps later everything else started.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Dunno, but not a lot. Maybe something like 100?  The genset has only a small gas engine, so not hard to crank.

 

[Lou Schneider]

in my 76 Itasca i have a kohler 4kw gen set. 14hp i beleive.  Im not going to use this battery to power anything inside the rv just to start the generator.  Anyone know apx how many CCA's i need to turn it over?  thanks for the help

Be aware if the battery is only connected to the generator it will NOT recharge it - the generator does not produce 12 volts.  Most generators are connected to the house batteries so the batteries can be recharged by the converter when it's energized by the generator's 120 volts.

The engine uses the same starter assembly found on garden tractors, so a garden tractor battery should crank it over.  Maybe a couple of times before you have to recharge it.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Buy an inexpensive trickle charger or battery maintainer for the genset battery - one of the $10-$20 models from Walmart or Harbor Freight will do the job fine if the genset runs an hour or so after you start it..

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Portable-12V-Trickle-Charger-Battery-Maintainer-for-Tender-Motorcycle-Car-Boat-ATV/120819702

 

[grashley]

Be aware if the battery is only connected to the generator it will NOT recharge it - the generator does not produce 12 volts.  Most generators are connected to the house batteries so the batteries can be recharged by the converter when it's energized by the generator's 120 volts.

The engine uses the same starter assembly found on garden tractors, so a garden tractor battery should crank it over.  Maybe a couple of times before you have to recharge it.

My thought exactly.