Only getting 8 volts DC on generator

[Bad Wolf]

Getting ready for hurricane season and I'm doing my monthly generator check. The generator (Troy-bilt 11,000/7550 watt) is producing AC just fine. It ran things during the last two hurricanes without a problem 120/240 volts and 60Hz. I went to check the 12VDC output for battery charging and its only 8.5 volts. Its not a real big deal, I keep a trickle charger on it to keep the starting battery up, and I can't really see needing to charge batteries from the generator, I just like things to work the way they are supposed to.

Any ideas on why I'm getting low dc output?

 

[MasterMech]

Getting ready for hurricane season and I'm doing my monthly generator check. The generator (Troy-bilt 11,000/7550 watt) is producing AC just fine. It ran things during the last two hurricanes without a problem 120/240 volts and 60Hz. I went to check the 12VDC output for battery charging and its only 8.5 volts. Its not a real big deal, I keep a trickle charger on it to keep the starting battery up, and I can't really see needing to charge batteries from the generator, I just like things to work the way they are supposed to.

Any ideas on why I'm getting low dc output?

How does the DC system work? Is there a rectifier/regulator hooked into the main AC alternator output or is it a totally separate setup coming from the engine flywheel/stator?

 

[Bad Wolf]

How does the DC system work? Is there a rectifier/regulator hooked into the main AC alternator output or is it a totally separate setup coming from the engine flywheel/stator?

It looks like there are two "battery Charge rectifiers" coming off the stator. One goes to the starter battery, the other to the 12vdc output for other battery charging. I haven't checked the starter battery charging side.

 

[MasterMech]

It looks like there are two "battery Charge rectifiers" coming off the stator. One goes to the starter battery, the other to the 12vdc output for other battery charging. I haven't checked the starter battery charging side.

The next question is then, does each rectifier get fed from a separate winding?

 

[seige101]

Does your generator idle down or have an eco setting?

If it does it will only put out full dc voltage at full throttle.