[DIYer4Life]

I have a customer that gets frequent power outages and needs the generator for all the basic stuff as well as a well pump. They are older and need to be able to use the bathroom often at night.

What they specifically asked for is a remote switch located in the bedroom so they could turn the generator off when they go to sleep to save fuel. But they want to be able to turn it back on when they need to get up to go to the bathroom or when they get up in the morning.

Do any generators (Generac, Kohler, Onan) offer that capability in their remote display units?

If not, what method would you use to accomplish this ON/OFF switch?

 

[3xdad]

Check the bottom of page 8. i too am curious if this test function can control start/stop.

http://www.norwall.com/product_pdfs/9309_5951_om.pdf

 

[rewire]

Generac advance remote cannot start or stop the generator when utility power is not available

 

[RFguy]

The remote unit can start then stop the generator when utility power is present. It can't stop the generator when the generator started to run due to a utility loss.

What you're looking for is not easily done. You should shed the load first, then allow a cool down period and then shut the generator down. Reverse the procedure for start up (start gen, allow a warm up period, then apply load).

 

[DIYer4Life]

I'm surprised that ATS's don't have a way to do this built in.

For example, what if the power is out and the homeowner goes to work? There's no reason to run the generator for 8-10 hours when no one is home.

 

[socalelect]

With the Kohler stuff that is 2 wire start

You just need to close the circuit to start and open it to shutdown
I have added a switch it the ATS to open the start circuit to shutdown. When there is a utility loss

 

[wildleg]

I'm surprised that ATS's don't have a way to do this built in.

For example, what if the power is out and the homeowner goes to work? There's no reason to run the generator for 8-10 hours when no one is home.

(unless you want your food to stay cold and your house warm/cool and your security/fire/smokes/monitoring on)


this should be easy to accomplish - just switch them over to a manual transfer switch if that's what they want, and they can turn it on and off at will. sounds like they don't want automatic. otherwise maybe what they really want is a 4 hr override on/off button or something like that. not sure how easy that is with the go-kart type generators.

 

[nrp3]

The latest Evolution controllers have a provision for 2 wire start.

 

[Spunk#7]

It might be easier to get them a chamber pot?

 

[DIYer4Life]

(unless you want your food to stay cold and your house warm/cool and your security/fire/smokes/monitoring on)

We don't use heat for a large portion of the year. As far as food, we often kill the power to the whole house during a service change and the fridge stays fine for 8 hours.

 

[macmikeman]

Which town in central Africa are we discussing here?

 

[DIYer4Life]

Which town in central Africa are we discussing here?

Panama.

 

[BBQ]

I would be looking for two wire start / run terminals somewhere on the unit but even those may not shut it down during power failure.

You might need to find both start / run connections and a e-stop connection.

These are normally availble on the gensets I work with.

Got model numbers?

 

[DIYer4Life]

I haven't decided which brand to go with. I've only installed Generac up to now. I was thinking about trying Kohler but after the recent threads I may go with Onan instead.

I've worked for this customer before and they don't complain about price so I'd rather sell them a better quality unit.

 

[ElectricJoeNJ]

I haven't decided which brand to go with. I've only installed Generac up to now. I was thinking about trying Kohler but after the recent threads I may go with Onan instead.

I've worked for this customer before and they don't complain about price so I'd rather sell them a better quality unit.

I recommend GE the load shedding is wireless modules that you install where needed. line voltage for the 220 stuff and low voltage for the ACs. They are sweet systems.

 

[Auger01]

Grid tied inverter with batteries. They have generator auto start capabilities when the battery voltage gets too low. That beats the heck out of starting a generator for five minutes just to take a whizz.

I would skip the resi grade junk and go with a serious generator if thier power outages are frequent and they have the cash.

 

[someonespecial]

I haven't decided which brand to go with. I've only installed Generac up to now. I was thinking about trying Kohler but after the recent threads I may go with Onan instead.

I've worked for this customer before and they don't complain about price so I'd rather sell them a better quality unit.

Looks slick at least :thumbsup:

 

[SteveBayshore]

I switched from Onan to Kohler about 7 years ago. Both of which use two wire start control ciruits. Only need to make or break the circuit to run the generator. Easy to add remote stop stations. Engine cool down cycle is programmed in the engine control panel. I would never recommend shutting down a generator while running under load though. The voltage dropping during the engine shut down cycle can really cause damage to the connected equipment and also damage the components in the generator. Might also cause brekers in the house to trip?? I'd install a couple of emergency packs and rig up some motion sensors.

 

[DIYer4Life]

I guess it won't work then.

It seems like it could be useful, I'm surprised that no manufacturer has made that as an option. Something that would allow the ATS to switch the load off and shutdown the generator properly.

 

[SteveBayshore]

You need some source of power to operate the automatic transfer switch. No utility power, generator stopped, no power for the automatic transfer switch to operate.
Most commercial/industrial ATSs have a neutral position in them, but it is controlled through the software and I'm not sure that you can override the timing sequence.