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tslewis99 avatar image
tslewis99 asked

Alert when generator is manually started

I’m looking to receive an alarm from VRM when a user cranks the generator manually. In my case, the mains for the generator are wired to the Quattro AC IN-2.



In the VRM all installations overview page a generator that is running manually looks like this:

1647878319307.png

We see that the generator is outputting 432 watts but the CerboGX says it is stopped.



Normally when stopped we should see Zero watts:

1647878376169.png


So, my question is how do I setup an alarm condition for generator voltage and or wattage at AC IN-2 when the CerboGX shows stopped? Not sure if there is something “canned” that with work or if I need to access the API of the portal and do something custom.


My Victron rep says it is not currently possible and that I should be able to do this with Node-RED. I have installed V2.82-large-30 and have enabled Node-RED. I followed this example and confirmed that Node-RED is working: https://energytalk.co.za/t/starting-with-node-red-on-victron-guide/456


Does anybody already have a flow to accomplish this or can tell me how to do this with Node-RED?


Thanks,

Tim

Node-RED
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1647878376169.png (20.9 KiB)
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1 Answer
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jwfrary answered ·

Possibly not the answer your after but, have you looked at @Kevin Windrem's generator connector, it would change the cerbo status to running, though would require some physical wiring to the digital input of the cerbo.

That could be set to alarm as well or using one of the other inputs as well.

You could use a relay in the output of the generator control relay to turn off the alarm function when the cerbo has started the generator automatically.

Think that Solves your issue!?

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Kevin Windrem avatar image Kevin Windrem commented ·

I do not believe Multis or Quatros have any voltage sensing on the AC-2 input when it is not the active input.

The stock Venus OS has a generator digital input which feeds into the "Detect generator on AC input" alert system. An alert is raised if there is no AC input on the generator input. That's probably opposite what you want.

My GeneratorConnector package monitors the generator digital input and adds stopped/running text to the generator icon in the Generator Overview page. It also syncs up the manual run/stop state of the GX device with the state of the generator digital input. That is, if that input goes from inactive to active, Manual Start is activated. Going from active to inactive will cause Manual Start to be deactivated. A warning message is also displayed in the Generator Overview STATUS area if the generator should be running via one of the automatic run conditions but the digital input says it is not.

Since Manual Run/Stop is synchronized to the generator digital input this may give you the status in VRM you are looking for but I'm not sure if an alert can be generated from that.

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