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Test Auto Gen
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One thing to consider is that both inverter control panels may not be wired to start the generator. Unless the generator has multiple wiring harness/control board connections, allowing multiple generator start signals, only one of the inverter control panels will be physically connected.
This certainly is how Magnum AGS works. I have no information if the older Trace controllers are similar.
If you do not know which inverter control panel is used to trigger a AGS, the safe thing is to set both to Auto. That way, whichever one is connected will be able to send the AGS signal.
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The auto start function is not the auto on the front screen. The auto start function in in the setup menus. The front screen that is shown in the above pictures is for total inverter function. Off, inverter is off, on inverter is on and working, auto inverts when other electricty is not available, srch search for the preset load before inverting.
The auto start function is in the setup menus,.
Mikee
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Has anyone put a call into the invertor manufacturers’ to get their take?
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Here’s how my 24v Marathon with Trace 4000’s is setup. Disclaimer, this is what works for me, so don’t yell at me because your’s is setup different or someone has told you to use different settings.
There are various settings for each menu, you can use the defaults for most other settings. Once you learn the Trace setups, it’s all easy and makes sense. Well, most of the time anyways.
Setup 9 – Inverter Setup
LBCO 24
LBCI 26
Setup 10 – Charging
Bulk 28.6
Absorbtion – 3 hours
Float 26.8
Max Charge 15
Setup 12 – Autogen
Set Load 53
Load start 5
Load stop 5
24 hour start 24.6
2 hour start 23.6
15 min start 22.6
Read LBCO 24
Max Run Time 30 hrs.
Other Notes
I use my number one inverter for autostart and charging. My number 2 inverter is basiclly a monitor, I set the Absorption Charge to 000 which in turn leaves in on Float and no bulk charge. The autostart for the number 2 inverter is also off. You can have conflicts beween the 2 inverters when both are set to control charging and autostart.
If I’m running pole to pole with no dry camping or just unplugging the bus to move it outside to wash, I disable the number 1 inverter Bulk/Absorbtion charge by setting it to 000 and it then stays in float when I plug back in. No point in running a complete Bulk/Absorption cycle when the batteries are full. Same while driving from pole to pole, the batteries are full charged by the alternator when arriving at destination, so again, why cycle through a complete Bulk/Absorbtion when not needed. AGM battery life is all about cycles.
OK, that’s my M O, so let it fly…
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Mikee,
I don’t understand what you just said. The “auto” is under the Gen Start. There is a different menu for the Inverters where I can set the different values, i.e., cut in or cut out, etc.
I also tested my auto gen and when I turn the screen to off (same pic as above) the light in the cockpit for “auto gen start” goes off. This has to be the way to activate/deactivate the auto start.
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Tim,
The picture Al put up is where you activate the Auto-Start that turns on the dash light letting you know the Auto-Start is active. For the most part, the only functions you use on that screen is off or auto.
This is the Generator screen as Al displayed. You would select Auto for the Auto-Start function.
This is the Inverter screen, always on. You can manually select Charge only, or Off. You don’t want to use the Search function.
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Thanks, Tom! I am going to try to use your settings. Your advice on how to clear the “gibberish” on the display for Inverter #1 (reset switch in the bay) was spot on, also, although I wish I knew what was causing that condition.
Thanks again!
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Thanks Tom,
But I also need to reset when my auto start turns on. I went to set-up menu under Inverter where I located the “gen cut-in VDC” and “gen cut-out VDC. I’m assuming this is where I set the gen to kick on when the batts reach 24v, right? If so, I’m assuming it’s the “cut-in” that I set at 24v. What do you have your “cut-out” set at?
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See the above Tim, LBCO and LBCI.
LBCO – Low Battery Cut Out – When the inverter see’s this volage for 15 minutes, it shuts down. This won’t happen if the Auto-Start is active because the gen will start and the inverter won’t shut down.
LBCI – Low Battery Cut In – When the inverter see’s this voltage, it turns back on. If you’re using Auto-Start, you’ll never see this because the inverter has not shut down.
Look at it this way… If your bus is stored, no shore, no generator and no auto-start, when the inverter see’s the LBCO for 15 minutes, if shuts off. It won’t turn back on until is see’s the LBCI that would have to come from the inverter chargers (shore or gen) or the engine alternator.
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Great Tom!
Sorry I missed your post with the settings last time around …
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Marathon Owners,
Leon confirmed only one invertor should be set to auto generator start. Not 2 as others have suggested.
He is the smartest Marathon Man on the planet, I would go with that.
Later
bv
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I don’t know how we can resolve the problem of having two or more experts offer different answers or advice.
It happens across the board, and can happen with suppliers of components, Prevost, the converter, and for certain on forums such as this. The bottom line is we alone are responsible for sorting things out so we do the right thing. One thing I have learned is when in a serious situation and I am getting conflicting information I ask those offering advice to provide their source for the information, or at least an explanation as to the basis for the information. It is a fair question.
One clue someone is full of shit is when the answer is “that is how we have always done it”, and the most recent example of that was when we were trying to get to the correct answer on CAC hoses. As it turns out we were the ones that were correct.
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Tom or some other knowledgeable Marathon owner,
What does this mean? When your batteries get below 24.6, your generator starts for 24 hours, same question for the other two numbers?
24 hour start 24.6
2 hour start 23.6
15 min start 22.6
I set my #1 Inverter per the instructions and my auto gen came on when the batteries were at 24.3v. Does this make sense?
It seems like they came on rather quickly, like 20 minutes, which either means I screwed something up or my batteries may need to be replaced, which I wouldn’t think that’s the case since the were installed in November 2013. Or am I reading this wrong?
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Tim,
If your generator starts at around 24.3 which I am guessing is less than resting voltage because there will be some load on them you are at a safe point. Tom can verify this, but in general you are lightly discharged and will have an extended life as a result.
But just because batteries are two years old it does not mean you can’t have a problem. I am not saying you do, but a defect such as a bad cell can cause a premature failure, as can abuse such as deep discharges. To be sure of your true battery condition you have to disconnect the cables so they are isolated from one another and all loads and test them individually after they have been fully charged and the inverters go to float.
Our batteries have proven extremely reliable and if properly maintained I think it is safe to say you will see at least 5 years of good performance from them, and if you are willing to push their life a little you can probably go as long as 8 to 10 years but you will see a substantial loss of the ability to hold a charge as they age. If you see evidence of bulging do not hesitate to replace them and if you get the smell of rotten eggs they are ruined because the pressure relief valve has opened.
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Those settings won’t come into play while the auto-start is set to read your LBCO of 24v. If your’s started at 24.3, that seems reasonable, I can’t explain the technical stuff.
If your gen started within 20 minutes, that would lead me to believe you have bad batteries, assuming you had 2 A/C’s or heat pumps running. If your living in the bus dry camping with just normal loads, fridge, lights, tv and no big amp hogs running, you should easily go 12+ hours before reaching 24v.
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