Generac 2 wire start stop?

[Jonathan3900]

I am looking to purchase a Generac that has a 2 wire start stop system. Meaning, I want to hook it directly into the inverter, and have the inverter notify it when the batteries are too low, and start the generator, and notify it when the battereis are charged, and stop the generator. I would think this would be easy, but it doesnt seem to be.

I would like to use a propane whole house Generac.

I have a Growatt 6KW Inverter.

Any suggestions on which one to use?

Thanks for your help.

Jonathan

 

[efficientPV]

Is that a push button on to start and I a push button to stop system? or is it a switch that stays closed as long as the generator runs. A simple voltage relay would work for the latter.

 

[50ShadesOfDirt]

I had a generac 24kw model, and my magnum inverter did everything as you describe. Once hooked up, the inverter had a few settings to fiddle with, and with the generac in automatic mode, the inverter easily started & stopped it. All whole-house generac's should support 2-wire start via their control panel, under the top lid.

If your growatt inverter's manual says that it supports auto-starting a generator via 2-wire, then you are good on the inverter side, and the process will be "easy"; there will be some settings to fiddle with in the growatt's menu's.

You'll have help from generac or their authorized dealer to size the generac for your loads, and the auth'd dealer will install it for you.

I'm rural, and no longer use generac's, as I found the whole-house gen business to be too expensive to run, but if you are in a city and/or near a dealer, it might work for you.

Hope this helps ...

 

[Jonathan3900]

I had a generac 24kw model, and my magnum inverter did everything as you describe. Once hooked up, the inverter had a few settings to fiddle with, and with the generac in automatic mode, the inverter easily started & stopped it. All whole-house generac's should support 2-wire start via their control panel, under the top lid.

If your growatt inverter's manual says that it supports auto-starting a generator via 2-wire, then you are good on the inverter side, and the process will be "easy"; there will be some settings to fiddle with in the growatt's menu's.

You'll have help from generac or their authorized dealer to size the generac for your loads, and the auth'd dealer will install it for you.

I'm rural, and no longer use generac's, as I found the whole-house gen business to be too expensive to run, but if you are in a city and/or near a dealer, it might work for you.

Hope this helps ...

Thank you very much. I am thinking the 7.5KW version. Its just an 800 sq ft off grid cabin. I have tried so many times to get someone/anyone to give me the ok on if it has this capability, and no one will answer since I am not a dealer.

I guess I will move forward and purchase it, and have my electrician figure out how to wire it up.

Jonathan

 

[Jonathan3900]

Is that a push button on to start and I a push button to stop system? or is it a switch that stays closed as long as the generator runs. A simple voltage relay would work for the latter.

I was hoping the inverter would be the switch. Make sense?

 

[DIYrich]

I was hoping the inverter would be the switch. Make sense?

Growatt is a basic inverter. The off grid version has a dry contact you use for starting an inverter. The grid version needs a transfer switch to disconnect from the grid so you can use a generator. It doesn't seem to have a dry contact. Probably to avoid accidentally starting the generator while grid connected. If you put in an ATS, it would start the generator so the inverter can synch to it. I'm guessing you need to keep it running. Which inverter do you have?

 

[Jonathan3900]

Growatt is a basic inverter. The off grid version has a dry contact you use for starting an inverter. The grid version needs a transfer switch to disconnect from the grid so you can use a generator. It doesn't seem to have a dry contact. Probably to avoid accidentally starting the generator while grid connected. If you put in an ATS, it would start the generator so the inverter can synch to it. I'm guessing you need to keep it running. Which inverter do you have?

I have the Growatt 6kw.

 

[timselectric]

Your Growatt 6k can start a generator, capable of two wire start.
I'm 99% sure that the Generac uses a two wire start.
If not, your electrician should be able to make it work.

 

[timselectric]

After a quick search. I have found information suggesting that the liquid cooled versions are set up for two wire start from the factory. The air cooled versions might require a #7109 two wire start kit.

 

[timselectric]

Fits Generac Generators and Engines Part Number 7109 / G0071090 Two Wire Start Kit https://a.co/d/bXFcE0v

 

[Jonathan3900]

Your Growatt 6k can start a generator, capable of two wire start.
I'm 99% sure that the Generac uses a two wire start.
If not, your electrician should be able to make it work.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

 

[DIYrich]

I have the Growatt 6kw.

Which 6k? Grid or off-grid?

 

[Jonathan3900]

Which 6k? Grid or off-grid?

It is the off-grid version.

 

[DIYrich]

It is the off-grid version.

Off-grid: Use the Growatt's "dry contact" switch for the generac's "two wire start".

Note: The maximum AC input is 60 amps for the 6k, which is about 14.4 kWh. That implies a generator of about 20kWh if you want to charge the batteries that fast (net of what load would be using). Best to charge a battery around 0.2c, so keep that in mind when selecting a generator size. 10kW might be more than adequate.

 

[Jonathan3900]

Hello, One last question on this.

I hooked the control wires from the inverter to the generator like this
At Inverter - Red to NC
- White to COM

At Gen - Red to 194 DC(+) 12vdc for transfer controls (see pic)
- White to 23 - Transfer control signal wire

Is this the correct wiring for the inverter to trigger the generator when the solar system needs more power?

Thanks for your help.

Its a Generac 7500 watt PowerPac generator.

Jonathan

 

[timselectric]

Hello, One last question on this.

I hooked the control wires from the inverter to the generator like this
At Inverter - Red to NC
- White to COM

At Gen - Red to 194 DC(+) 12vdc for transfer controls (see pic)
- White to 23 - Transfer control signal wire

Is this the correct wiring for the inverter to trigger the generator when the solar system needs more power?

Thanks for your help.

Its a Generac 7500 watt PowerPac generator.

Jonathan

Looks right, from what I can see.
Not sure about N.C. or N.O.

 

[Jonathan3900]

Looks right, from what I can see.
Not sure about N.C. or N.O.

Thank you. I appreciate the response. Have a good one.

 

[beastman]

Thank you. I appreciate the response. Have a good one.

Not sure if you are grid tied or not, but I have done this with my grid-tied setup on a generac to the transfer switch. From your growatt you want the 2 wire start to actually trigger the activation of the startup on the generator; either intercepting the manual start button or automatic one. The 194/23 wires are for the transfer switch to work with the generator control board to initiate the transfer after n1/n2 has no power. Some of the newer control boards make sure the voltage/frequency is within spec before triggering the transfer on wire 23 (ground). I don't think you want to run the 2 wire contacts to trigger the transfer function; that should be a communication protocol between the genny and the tx switch.

 

[Goin'Solar]

Hello, One last question on this.

I hooked the control wires from the inverter to the generator like this
At Inverter - Red to NC
- White to COM

At Gen - Red to 194 DC(+) 12vdc for transfer controls (see pic)
- White to 23 - Transfer control signal wire

Is this the correct wiring for the inverter to trigger the generator when the solar system needs more power?

Thanks for your help.

Its a Generac 7500 watt PowerPac generator.

Jonathan

Did this work for you? I am looking to do the same thing in order to keep the transfer switch functioning as it should when the inverter turns on the generator. Everything else that I have read so far seems to indicate that a wire needs to be added to the J1 and J2 generator harness to control the start-up of the generator, but might then disable the automatic transfer function.

 

[Jonathan3900]

Looks right, from what I can see.
Not sure about N.C. or N.O.

Hello:

I hooked it up and finally for propane to the generator. I changed the setting to UTI (per growatt), and changed the other settings to start and stop it. So far, no dice. Do you know the exact pin locations on the inverter? Maybe it's installed wrong? Starting to get cold here in Ohio, and I have to get it going.

 

[Jonathan3900]

Did this work for you? I am looking to do the same thing in order to keep the transfer switch functioning as it should when the inverter turns on the generator. Everything else that I have read so far seems to indicate that a wire needs to be added to the J1 and J2 generator harness to control the start-up of the generator, but might then disable the automatic transfer function.

So far, no. I am having issues with the inverter starting and stopping the generator.

 

[timselectric]

I changed the setting to UTI

I don't understand why.

Do you know the exact pin locations on the inverter?

They should be labeled (mine are)

 

[Oldphile]

Out of the box Generac air cooled generators aren't wired for 2 wire start. See attachment for wire modification and programming.

 

[Jonathan3900]

Out of the box Generac air cooled generators aren't wired for 2 wire start. See attachment for wire modification and programming.

Thank you very much. I will send this to my electrician.

Out of the box Generac air cooled generators aren't wired for 2 wire start. See attachment for wire modification and programming.

Thank you very much.

Any idea if the way he wired it is correct? Here is what he sent me.

I hooked the control wires from the inverter to the generator like this
At Inverter - Red to NC
- White to COM

At Gen - Red to 194 DC(+) 12vdc for transfer controls
- White to 23 - Transfer control signal wire

Is this the correct wiring for the inverter to trigger the generator when the solar system needs more power?

Thanks for your help.

Its a Generac 7500 watt PowerPac generator.

 

[Oldphile]

Thank you very much. I will send this to my electrician.

Thank you very much.

Any idea if the way he wired it is correct? Here is what he sent me.

I hooked the control wires from the inverter to the generator like this
At Inverter - Red to NC
- White to COM

At Gen - Red to 194 DC(+) 12vdc for transfer controls
- White to 23 - Transfer control signal wire

Is this the correct wiring for the inverter to trigger the generator when the solar system needs more power?

Thanks for your help.

Its a Generac 7500 watt PowerPac generator.

Not correct on the Generac.
At Gen - Red to 194 DC(+) 12vdc for transfer controls
- White to 23 - Transfer control signal wire
This is an output to an ATS, not an input.
The new wires from the 2 wire kit connect elsewhere on the Generac controller. The inverter relay contact connects to these wires.