© 2012 Magnum Energy, Inc.
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7.0 Using an AGS Module
• Set Stop Gen Volts
– This setting will stop the generator when the
battery voltage (on Terminals #3 & #4) increases to or above this set-
ting continuously for the duration of the
Set Stop Volts Delay
setting. To
allow the battery bank to go through a full bulk and absorption charge,
this setting should be set to
Float
.
Default setting:
Set Stop Gen Volts = 14.4 VDC (12v), 28.8 VDC
(24v), 57.6 VDC (48v)
Range:
OFF, 9.1-16.0 VDC (12v), 18.2-32.0 VDC (24v), 36.4-64.0 VDC
(48v), Float
Where should I set Stop Gen Volts?
Typically, when using a generator
to charge batteries, most individuals only charge the batteries to 80-85%
to compromise between minimizing fuel usage and maximizing battery life.
This is done by having the generator start on low battery voltage, and then
stop at a higher voltage (i.e., the
Stop Gen Volts
setting). When deciding
where to set the
Stop Gen Volts
setting, it must be lower than the invert-
er’s
Absorb Voltage
setting (determined by the
SETUP: 03B Battery Type
menu). Otherwise, the charger will enter Absorption Charge mode—which is
required to maintain the batteries at a constant voltage level—and the bat-
tery voltage will not reach the
Stop Gen Volts
setting, which will cause the
generator to run until it is out of fuel or until it reaches the
SETUP: 04F Max
Gen Run Time
setting.
Therefore, after reading this some will think that they should just set the
Stop Gen Volts
setting slightly lower than the absorption level to ensure
the charger always reaches the
Stop Gen Volts
setting before it goes into
the Absorption Charge mode. However, temperature changes can affect the
absorb voltage setting
¹
and may require you to readjust the
Stop Gen Volts
setting seasonally. If you are in a normally cold climate (<32°F), the actual
absorb charge voltage will increase. So, the
Stop Gen Volts
setting should be
set well above the absorb voltage setting (~.5V above for 12-volt systems).
If you are normally in a hot climate (>95°F), the actual absorb charge volt-
age will decrease. In that case, the
Stop Gen Volts
setting should be set well
below the absorb voltage setting (~.5V below for 12-volt systems).
A simpler way to charge the batteries to 80-85% and to automatically allow
a temperature-compensated charge to the batteries (no seasonal adjust-
ment required) is accomplished using the settings below:
• Set
the
Stop Gen Volts
setting to
Float
• Set
the
Absorb Voltage
setting (
SETUP: 03B Battery Type
) to the volt-
age level at which you want the generator to turn off (normally
~ 14.5
volts
for
fl
ooded batteries in a 12-volt system)
• Set
the
Absorb Done Time
setting (
SETUP: 03E Absorb Done Time
) to
0.1 hours
(lowest setting)
Using these settings, when the batteries reach a low voltage level the gen-
erator turns on (per the
Set Start Gen Volts
setting) and charges the battery
to the temperature-compensated
Absorb Voltage
setting. After reaching the
absorption voltage level, the inverter/charger goes into Absorption Charge
mode and is there for only six minutes (0.1 hours) before it goes to Float
Charge mode. Once the inverter/charger enters Float Charge mode, the AGS
will autostop the generator.
Note¹:
When the inverter’s Battery Temperature Sensor (BTS) is connected,
the actual absorb charge voltage will increase or decrease to ensure correct
charging as the battery temperature changes.
