victron energy Automatic Generator Start/ Stop User Guide
- October 26, 2023
- victron energy
Table of Contents
victron energy Automatic Generator Start/ Stop
Instrcutions
Which relay and control to use?
Various Victron products have functions to automatically signal when to start and stop a generator. Here is advice on when to use which product and method.
Option 1: GX device like CCGX or Venus GX
When there is a GX device (CCGX, Venus GX, or other) in the system, the best
option is to use its Generator Start/Stop mechanism. Its the most feature-rich
generator start/stop system that we have to offer. It provides for basic
functions as starting and stopping on Battery State of Charge, Battery voltage
as well as High load situations. And also has many advanced features,
including automatic test runs and silent times.
Option 2: BMV Battery Monitor
The next most used option is a BMV-700 Battery Monitor or similar model. It
can start the generator on low battery voltage and/or low battery state of
charge. The BMV uses a dry contact, voltage free relay. See the BMV-700 manual
for configuration, and the product data sheets for voltage and current
throughput limitations.
Option 3: Using the relay in the Multis or Quattros
The Multis, MultiPlus-IIs, Quattros, EasySolars and the rest of the VE.Bus
family also have Generator start/stop feature with a relay. There are two
different ways to configure them:
- Generator Start/stop function of the Virtual Switch (recommended)
- Generator start/stop Assistant (more advanced / complex)
Combining the options
Lastly, its of course also possible to combine above mentioned methods, by
wiring the open contacts in parallel to each other, or in series, to the
Generator.
How to wire generators with a three-wire interface
All above Victron products and devices have a single relay; which will close
when the generator needs to starts; and then expect the generator to then keep
running until the relay is opened again. Or the other way around.
When having a generator that requires a start pulse and a stop pulse, such as
for example Cummins/Onan generators; additional wiring is required.
To start such a genset, the open/close contact needs to be converted into a
start and stop pulse. Below solution, using standard available timing relays,
does exactly that: when the open/close contact closes it generates the start
pulse, and when the open/close contact opens again it generates the stop
pulse.
Note that this solution should only be used on gensets that have their OWN
control panel monitoring and automatically stopping on loss of oil pressure
and other sensors. In other words: do not wire this directly to the starter
motor and fuel solenoid.
Alternative using Assistants
One solution using MultiPlus relay for start stop a three-wire generator. Use k1 and k2 relays and programmable relay assistant.
- First to close k1 if voltage under 24v (for example)
- Second to open k1 if AC1 is available
- Third to close k2 if voltage over 27v (for example)
- Last to open k2 if AC1 not available
How to wire generators with a three-wire interface
References
- Battery monitors - Victron Energy
- BMV-700 - Victron Energy
- Overview of available Assistants [Victron Energy]
- Virtual switch - Generator start/stop [Victron Energy]
- Victron GX product range [Victron Energy]
- 15. GX - Generator auto start/stop