Buying a backup generator is supposed to bring peace of mind before the power goes out. For one buyer, however, it did the opposite after they said in a Reddit thread that a new Generac GP9500E arrived with a battery that refused to charge, leaving them with little clarity on whether it would be covered.
Here's what to know
On Reddit, the buyer said the generator was purchased through Home Depot and was subject to a "No Returns/Exchanges" policy. They said: "I've had the battery on a 12A manual charger for 24 hours and it will not take a charge, charger shows the battery is pulling no load at all."
After questions about the 12A charger, the buyer said they had started with a lower setting: "Well, I didn't go straight to 12A, I tried 2A first and saw on the meter that it was pulling nothing."
After being left on the charger overnight, they said the battery would only partly respond: "The battery has enough to engage the LPG/NG solenoid but not enough to turn over the engine."
Not everyone in the thread assumed the battery itself was the problem.
One user asked, "Did you check the manual sometimes wires are disconnected for shipping," while another wondered whether it might be "one that is shipped dry and requires that you pour the acid into it."
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More background
Some replies suggested a manufacturer replacement might not be easy.
One user said, "Typically batteries have a very limited warranty, if any, from Generac. They sit too long before install. It happens."
That same user also warned the buyer to stop connecting the battery to the generator out of concern it could damage other parts.
Another user said, "Unfortunately, batteries are not covered under warranty. If it's dead, you need to get a new battery and go from there."
One user disagreed with that conclusion: "Normally he'd be right, but a DOA battery is most certainly covered."
Where can I learn more?
Questions about backup power and battery reliability show up in plenty of other home energy situations too. These stories cover families weighing backup batteries, new financing for home storage, a battery fire, an EV charger dispute, and a Tesla defect fight.
• After a costly outage, one family reconsidered a $600 backup battery as overkill.
• In court, Tesla argued it had no post-sale duty to warn Model Y owners.
• A homeowner shared a video after a lithium battery from a fast-fashion purchase led to a devastating house fire.
• One homeowner hit resistance when an HOA demanded $1 million in insurance for an EV charger.
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