Remote start Generators drain batteries

[Snowynorth]

BEFORE PURCHASING A REMOTE START GENERATOR YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS.

Does anyone know of a portable, dual fuel/tri fuel, remote start, that won't drain the battery when using the remote, to shut it off?

I have a Hyundai remote start 3500 w, and had same in a 3200w that was stolen.
With a "proper break in" both were great right out of the box, with 100s of hours without a glitch.
When shutting off with remote the on/off switch would go into standby mode, and "NOT" drain the battery.
They had a 3 way switch, off/ center (remote start)/ and console start, which bounced back to center standby position.
I forgot to shut it off and left my 3500 once for 2 months, and it fired right up using the remote, with no apparent battery drain.

Now I'm looking for a bigger portable 7000w +- dual fuel for power and battery back up, while we build a small shop and install solar.
I will use it later for battery back up.
Everything I'm finding has a simple 2 way on off switch.
The remote becomes useless, for shutting it down at night, and starting, the next day, because I will need to walk out to the generator and shut the switch off, to prevent the battery from draining.

I tested one without knowing that is going back for a refund.
I shut it off at night from bed, and tried to start it the next day by remote.
In just over 14 hours, the battery was too low to even turn over the Gen.
That is excessive battery drain, while not running.
I have talked to a few manufacturers, and all say the same, the battery will drain, but they try to mitigate it.
They obviously know about the problem, but don't seem to want to rectify it.

What good is a remote start/stop, if I have to walk out to the Gen to start and stop it anyway?

 

[Bkord]

Can you put a trickle charger on the battery. When I installed large generators they always had a charger built in. We would run a dedicated 120v circuit just for the battery charger.

 

[CMDRZOD]

Maybe a bluetooth or wireless relay would help. You could use that to disconnect the battery when it is not in use.

 

[Snowynorth]

Can you put a trickle charger on the battery. When I installed large generators they always had a charger built in. We would run a dedicated 120v circuit just for the battery charger.

Until we have solar installed a trickle charger will be of no use. The unit has one.
Once solar is in we will use the Gen for back up, and trickle charging won't be an issue.
This is a design flaw, that most manufacturers have but seem to be ok with.
If people have to walk out to their unit to shut it down, then to restart it to prevent battery drain, what good is a remote?
Most need to have eco mode shut off as well, until up and running. Another trip to the generator.

My Hyundai 3500 starts well in cold Alberta weather, which also seems to be an issue with most.
I switched eco mode on after break in, and have never shut it off.

$10-$15 more at the manufacturing level, and the design/function flaws could easily be rectified.

 

[Snowynorth]

I'm sorry, I should have explained better.
Right now while building we are on generator power only until solar is installed. No grid.
The generators I have found will all drain their own battery, when using the remote only.
The only way to prevent it, is by forgoing the remote, and walking out to the generator to start and stop, which makes the remote useless, unless only shutting down for very short periods of time.

 

[DPC]

Does anyone know of a portable, dual fuel/tri fuel, remote start, that won't drain the battery when using the remote, to shut it off?

No not really.

Sets like old Kohlers and Onans with all relay based hard wired controllers draw nothing.
They operate on a set of contacts closing that starts the unit.

Modern remote means something different...
Usually a Key fob or something, these machines are always energized and listening for a RF start signal.

I often suggest people like you look for an older RV unit and hard wire it for a remote start.

I know I am wasting a link here but no matter I like to hear myself talk
This is a pre 1962 Kohler 3.5RM21.
That means 3500 watt ( real 3500 watt ) Remote start or Manual and 21 signifies its a 120 volt unit only.

Kohler electric plant 3.5RM21 voltage too high

I'll make my first post here as good as I can I inherited a 3kw genset from my grandfather. It's a pretty cool story how it came to be, but I'll spare the details for now. I don't know how fast it's running right now, partly because it has no exhaust and it's missing a fuel reservoir so...

www.smokstak.com

If you see a runner than looks like this it wold be a very good barn find out your area...

A considerable number of 3.0RM21 were Built for and sold in Canada with a factory Natural gas kit.
these were powered by a K181 EP engine to provide some extra wiggle room on natural gas ans still deliver
This is a set I built out of parts from one of those...
This unit was from Sugar shack in the Muskokas...
Built in the 70s and the plumbing for the exhaust was left open.
The engine was a right off....
I swapped in a modified Honda GX240 ( crank required machining )
Now its the best of the old and the new, a very basic remote start generator with power to spare and efficient engine with high compression for Natural gas and idle control...
Left image ONAN LK205 ( also a good barn find and electric start with remote but hard on fuel unless you swap in a high compression head off a tractor )
Right Petter PH series diesel, also a pretty common engine on the farm....