OPERATION
Page
76
Copyright Trace Engineering Company, Inc.
5916 - 195th Street N.E.
Arlington, WA 98223
Telephone: 360/435-8826
Fax: 360/435-2229
www.traceengineering.com
PS Series Inverter/Charger
Part No. 3597
Rev. D: November 23, 1999
GENERATOR AUTO START REQUIREMENTS AND TYPES
In order for the generator to be automatically started, it must include electric start and an automatic
choke. An automatic primer system may also be required on natural gas and propane powered
generators. The generator should also include remote start ability with accessible remote start terminals
or a connector. Protective systems for low oil pressure, over temperature, starter lockout and over crank
control are valuable features that will prevent generator damage and increase system reliability. “Two
wire” start generator are recommended highly because of the greater simplicity for automatic starting and
because they are intended for remote/automatic/unattended operation.
Generators used can be fueled by gasoline, propane or diesel fuel. Propane is often the best choice for
residential applications due to the ease of fuel storage and delivery, cost, safety, and ease of starting.
Since propane is required for the cooking stove, water heater and space heating as well, most residential
applications will already have a tank and propane service. Gasoline is also common, but can be difficult to
transport and store on site safely. Most small generators do not hold much fuel in their built-in tanks -
refitting the generator to use marine outboard motor type fuel tanks is often a good solution for limited fuel
capacity. This eliminates the need to pour fuel into the tank of a hot generator - which can be very
dangerous. Diesel is a much safer fuel to use and store. Diesel generators can operate with very little
maintenance and have very long lives. The only problems with diesel are the higher initial cost, difficulty
with starting in cold weather and possible need for the additional control of the glow plugs before starting.
Generators can be either air or water-cooled. Water-cooled units are usually more quiet but can require
more maintenance. Low speed (~1800 / 1500 rpm) generators are preferred by many system designers
as they often provide longer life due to less mechanical wear and tear.
TWO WIRE START GENERATORS
Generator starting requirements can be divided into two categories – two-wire start types and three-
wire start types. The two wire start type generator is simpler and the easiest to automate. To start, simply
connect the two “remote control” wires together and it starts. The generator provides its own cranking
control circuit for start-up. To stop, simply disconnect the two wires. The wires can be connected by a
switch or relay. To enable automatic start, connect the two wires from the generator to Relay RY7 COM
and RY7 N.O. of the inverter and connect the generator output to AC 2 input of the inverter. Two wire
start generators are specifically designed for unattended operation and usually include all of the safety
and protection devices from the factory. They are highly recommended due to the ease of hook-up and
troubleshooting that they allow.
Figure 23, Two-Wire Start Wiring Diagram
When a two-wire start type generator is used, multiple loads can signal the generator to run. A good
example is a float switch in a water storage tank. When the water level drops, the float switch closes a set
of contacts, which signals the generator to run. When the tank is full, the float switch opens its contacts
and the generator stops. The float switch can be used in parallel with the automatic start system of the
inverter. Either “switch” can start the generator. This allows easy automation of the entire system.
For this type of generator, select RUN from the SET RY7 FUNCTION menu item under the GEN
STARTING DETAILS (13) menu heading. This is the default setting of this menu item.
THREE WIRE START GENERATORS
Three wire start generators do not include automatic engine cranking control system. Separate
control of the starter motor is required. This requires more interaction between the inverter’s auto-start
system and the generator. This also adds complexity to the installation since more wires must be
connected and more programming of the inverter is required. Troubleshooting can also be more difficult.
GEN RELAY MODULE 2 WIRE TYPE GENERATOR
FUSE
RY7
REMOTE
START/STOP
TERMINALS
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