GridBoss/Generac setup- Looking for a clearer answer.

[Freezecat]

I posted last week about my setup, I will keep it short and to the point here.

I have perused all of the threads I can find about using a Generac Guardian 22Kw standby generator with the EG4 Gridboss. I have gathered that I need to setup the Generac for Two-Wire start and connect to the Dry 1 connections in the Gridboss. What I can't find a clear answer about is keeping the battery in the generator charged so it can auto-start when needed. I have seen people say a seprate 120v line is required but where exactly that would connect in the Gridboss and the generator itself is confusing me. Any help with this would be appreciated.

 

[BentleyJ]

Seems to be the week for Generac 22 questions. On page 26 of the Installation Manual, you will find the wiring diagram. See attached.

The auto start function for the Generac is integrated into the Generator Control Module and is activated when either of L1 or L2 voltage drops below the limit. Since the GridBoss has 4 smart ports, you should be able to set one of them up so voltage is present until Battery SoC drops to the value you specify. The smart port will open (basically a load shedding function) and the gen should start.

Battery charging requires a separate 120V Hot leg for trickle charging. This could be connected to either one of the terminals on the smart port along with the sense wire. External battery charging is not necessary when the gen is running since it has an alternator.

 

[Freezecat]

Seems to be the week for Generac 22 questions. On page 26 of the Installation Manual, you will find the wiring diagram. See attached.

The auto start function for the Generac is integrated into the Generator Control Module and is activated when either of L1 or L2 voltage drops below the limit. Since the GridBoss has 4 smart ports, you should be able to set one of them up so voltage is present until Battery SoC drops to the value you specify. The smart port will open (basically a load shedding function) and the gen should start.

Battery charging requires a separate 120V Hot leg for trickle charging. This could be connected to either one of the terminals on the smart port along with the sense wire. External battery charging is not necessary when the gen is running since it has an alternator.

Dude, I don't know where you found that manual but I read through the entire manual that was on the website from where I bought the generator and that page was nowhere to be found. So you are saying set up the generator for two-wire start and use the Smartport instead of the two-wire generator start on the Dry 1 connections called out in the Gridboss Manual? I don't currently have a battery or solar setup so the SoC setting would just be monitoring the grid power rather than Soc of a battery setup? Do I have that correct?

 

[Freezecat]

Seems to be the week for Generac 22 questions. On page 26 of the Installation Manual, you will find the wiring diagram. See attached.

The auto start function for the Generac is integrated into the Generator Control Module and is activated when either of L1 or L2 voltage drops below the limit. Since the GridBoss has 4 smart ports, you should be able to set one of them up so voltage is present until Battery SoC drops to the value you specify. The smart port will open (basically a load shedding function) and the gen should start.

Battery charging requires a separate 120V Hot leg for trickle charging. This could be connected to either one of the terminals on the smart port along with the sense wire. External battery charging is not necessary when the gen is running since it has an alternator.

 

[BentleyJ]

So you are saying set up the generator for two-wire start.

As far as I can tell from the Installation Manual, there is NO set up options available on the Generac. It has auto-start built in to the control panel and is activated by loss of voltage on either Utility Power L1 or L2 Sense Wire or both.

Use the Smartport instead of the two-wire generator start on the Dry 1 connections called out in the Gridboss Manual?

Yes, that is what I was suggesting.

I don't currently have a battery or solar setup so the SoC setting would just be monitoring the grid power rather than Soc of a battery setup? Do I have that correct?

Without the battery there is no SoC, however, the GridBoss can probably be set up so the Smart Port Opens immediately upon loss of Grid Power.

Otherwise the L1 & L2 Sense Wires would have to be connected to the line side of the GridBoss transfer switch (utility input connection). Then if utility power is lost the GridBoss will open the transfer switch and the gen will start and continue to run until utility power is restored.

 

[Freezecat]

As far as I can tell from the Installation Manual, there is NO set up options available on the Generac. It has auto-start built in to the control panel and is activated by loss of voltage on either Utility Power L1 or L2 Sense Wire or both.

Yes, that is what I was suggesting.

Without the battery there is no SoC, however, the GridBoss can probably be set up so the Smart Port Opens immediately upon loss of Grid Power.

From the other threads on here I have perused it seems you can buy a two wire start kit and add a couple pins inside the Generac, then you have to reconfigure the Generac to Two-Wire start and run those to the Gridboss. Your solution may work as well, just to make sure I fully understand you are saying to run one hot leg from the Smart Port to the T1 connection in the generator to charge the battery? Also the relay for the generator connection would have to close so the process would be Gridboss senses power loss->smart port opens -> N1 and N2 wires from Generac are connected to smart port hot legs and Generac senses power loss-> Generac starts and goes through warmup sequence and begins running -> Gridboss delays for generator warmup and then opens grid relay and closes generator relay to connect backup to generator power. My only concern here is whether you can setup the Gridboss to do this sequence correctly and account for the generator warmup before connecting generator power. I know it can be setup to do this when running on two wire start through the Dry 1 connections but don't know if it can be setup to do this if I was using the Smart Port setup you suggest.

 

[BentleyJ]

From the other threads on here I have perused it seems you can buy a two wire start kit and add a couple pins inside the Generac, then you have to reconfigure the Generac to Two-Wire start and run those to the Gridboss.

Can't comment on that option, have not read about that or done it myself.

you are saying to run one hot leg from the Smart Port to the T1 connection in the generator to charge the battery? Also the relay for the generator connection would have to close so the process would be Gridboss senses power loss->smart port opens -> N1 and N2 wires from Generac are connected to smart port hot legs and Generac senses power loss-> Generac starts and goes through warmup sequence and begins running -> Gridboss delays for generator warmup and then opens grid relay and closes generator relay to connect backup to generator power. My only concern here is whether you can setup the Gridboss to do this sequence correctly and account for the generator warmup before connecting generator power. I know it can be setup to do this when running on two wire start through the Dry 1 connections but don't know if it can be setup to do this if I was using the Smart Port setup you suggest.

Typically in cold climates a block heater would be used in addition to the battery charger to keep the generator warm so it improves staring reliability and essentially eliminates the need for warm up time.

If you need warm up functionality then the smart port may not be able to do that. Personally I would think the block heater is a better solution simply because it will improve starting reliability.

 

[EddieReynolds70]

Generac Help Center

support.generac.com

information on the two-wire start/stop kit

 

[jungblud]

Possibly dumb but simple question: Would attaching a simple solar panel battery charger keep the battery trickled and happy?

The best wiring is no wiring.