Standalone Power : Essential System™ : User Manual
Copyright © 2014 Off-Grid Energy Australia Pty Ltd
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Auto-Starting Generator
The Inverter/Charger unit can intelligently control a generator via an additional relay fitted to the
inverter/charger board when an auto-starting function is fitted to the generator; this allows full charge
cycles to be completed automatically as required. Battery equalisation cycles however must be manually
selected and operated as per a manually controlled generator.
If an optional Mate 2 display/controller is installed, some additional generator control functions will become
available. These features are a Load start, time period operation modes, night quiet time mode, and timed
generator exercise.
WARNING
Please pay careful attention to safety warnings above, and in the generator manual. If
the gen-set has an auto-start function, always disable this function before any
maintenance work begins so that it doesn’t accidentally start.
(“Auto-Start Enable/Disable Switch” installed adjacent to the generator)
Manual-Starting Generator
The inverter/charger has no operational control over manual-start generators and therefore these
generators require manual start and operation.
When to start your manual-start generator?
o
If the batteries are getting low and will get lower due to the absence of renewable energy (e.g. late
afternoon to overnight), then start and run the generator to recharge the batteries before evening.
o
If your inverter/charger has had an additional “Use Gen” light added this could be used as a guide for
when to use the generator. The light will come on when the SOC gets down to approx. 50%, and go off
again when approx. 100% SOC is reached. This light is a guide only.
o
If you require
more instantaneous power than is available from your inverter/charger capacity, then
start and run the generator set to assist (allow warm up time first). Make sure your gen set has sufficient
capacity for the required task; the inverter/charger will not support the gen set with heavy loads.
The battery bank should ideally receive a full recharge every ten days from the generator if they haven’t
received one already from the renewable energy inputs. Follow the full charge maintenance procedure if
required. Ideally twice a year the batteries will benefit from a full equalisation charge (See Battery Charging).
Fuel generators on many systems form a vital part of the power supply, and are essential for system
reliability. Failure to correctly maintain, refuel and operate the generator can cause the battery bank to be
deeply discharged, reduce battery life (either temporarily, or permanent in prolonged cases), and cause
possible power disconnection.
Determining Recharge Time
The time it takes to recharge a near-to fully discharged battery bank using a generator is specific to your
system design; but as a guide it may take up to 8 hours to fully recharge the battery bank.
o
Recharging will be quicker when the battery bank is prevented from discharging too deeply.
o
Generally we recommend not using the generator set when bright sunlight is available. For best battery
bank life expectancy and minimising fuel use, reserve generator set use for times of little sunshine.
o
This time period may be significantly lengthened if your generator supplies power via a flexible power
cord type, and if you are also simultaneously using significant consumption electrical appliances.
Fuel saving note: Using the generator set late afternoon can be a good strategy to save fuel, due to more
available solar power to recharge the battery bank, however care should be taken not to overburden smaller
generator sets with excessive loads.