Patent ID: 7667341

Claim:
A power-generating apparatus comprising: a frame; an engine supported by the frame, the engine including a starter motor operable to start the engine; an alternator coupled to the engine and operable to convert mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy; a battery charger supported by the frame and electrically coupled to the alternator, the battery charger operable to charge a battery pack with the electrical energy from the alternator; an engine start circuit electrically coupled to the starter motor and the battery charger, the engine start circuit operable to direct power from the battery pack connected to the battery charger to the starter motor to start the engine; and a relay electrically coupled to the battery charger and the engine start circuit, the relay movable between a first position when the engine is running, whereby the relay provides the electrical energy from the alternator to the battery charger, and a second position when the engine is not running, whereby the relay provides the power from the battery pack to the starter motor, wherein the relay monitors revolutions per minute of the engine, and wherein the relay is moved to the first position when the revolutions per minute are greater than zero and is moved to the second position when the revolutions per minute are equal to zero.