Generator Autostart

calewjohnson · 06-12-2016, 09:35 PM

Hot today and the campground lost power while we were out....power was out for about an hour, but it got up to 80 inside...with summer in full swing, I would like to know if anyone has installed an Autostart thigamajig on the genset in the event of the loss of shore power?

Onan has one, but it looks to be obsolete...the ec-30 and even a wireless model, ec-30w. Both are pricey, $275 for the wired model $600 for the wireless model.

I am sure you guys have researched this before.

Cale

**wahoonc** · 06-12-2016, 10:45 PM

The Onan were the ones I had looked at...

Xantrex makes one, but I think it is supposed to be used in conjunction with their other components. I have a buddy that has one as part of a solar system.

The only other one I have is the one on my standby generator at home and it is triggered by a power outage, happens to be a Genrac brand.

Aaron

donzinger · 06-12-2016, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calewjohnson

Hot today and the campground lost power while we were out....power was out for about an hour, but it got up to 80 inside...with summer in full swing, I would like to know if anyone has installed an Autostart thigamajig on the genset in the event of the loss of shore power?

Onan has one, but it looks to be obsolete...the ec-30 and even a wireless model, ec-30w. Both are pricey, $275 for the wired model $600 for the wireless model.

I am sure you guys have researched this before.

Cale

I do have one but it is part of my Magnum Inverter system. The $275 isn't bad if you want to compare to my setup

hopkins44 · 06-14-2016, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calewjohnson

Hot today and the campground lost power while we were out....power was out for about an hour, but it got up to 80 inside...with summer in full swing, I would like to know if anyone has installed an Autostart thigamajig on the genset in the event of the loss of shore power?

Onan has one, but it looks to be obsolete...the ec-30 and even a wireless model, ec-30w. Both are pricey, $275 for the wired model $600 for the wireless model.

I am sure you guys have researched this before.

Cale

i have had this for years.. ( EC 30 W ) transferred from camper to camper, (3 total). install is VERY easy . less than 10 minutes. great if you are going to be their but i wouldn't trust it completely. sometimes we dry camp with the dog and i would not rely on it. it works better if you run it on voltage to start/stop the gen.

calewjohnson · 06-15-2016, 08:52 AM

Thanks all for the inputs...have some thinking to do.

Cale

calewjohnson · 06-15-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donzinger

I do have one but it is part of my Magnum Inverter system. The $275 isn't bad if you want to compare to my setup

Does your system only start if battery voltage drops below preset point, or can it come on at the loss of shore power?

Cale

donzinger · 06-15-2016, 09:12 AM

Mine is solely based on different battery conditions I select and coach temperature. Nothing to do with shore power. However, with a loss of shore power, my inverter kicks in if generator isn't running and then once my batteries reach one of my set conditions, the generator starts up.

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hopkins44 · 06-15-2016, 12:01 PM

very cool. didn't know there was an inverter that would auto start the gen..

donzinger · 06-15-2016, 12:02 PM

My Magnum and the Xantrex do. There may be others as well but I know these do

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boostme · 06-23-2016, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donzinger

My Magnum and the Xantrex do. There may be others as well but I know these do

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You can also get a standalone magnum autostart unit for about the same price as the other. I learned way to much about the options on the market when i was deciding what inverter to buy/install. One of these days i need to share photos/install stories with all here in the mods forum.

**wahoonc** · 06-23-2016, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donzinger

My Magnum and the Xantrex do. There may be others as well but I know these do

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Which specific units do you have? I am going to be installing an inverter in my moho fairly soon and I might as well wire up an auto start switch while I am at it. Only money... can't take it with you.

Aaron

donzinger · 06-23-2016, 12:31 AM

Mine's documented in the mods page, but I have the 3100W with BMK and AGS

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boostme · 06-23-2016, 12:40 AM

I installed a Magnum Energy MSH 3012 hybrid inverter, AGS, BMK, Remote control, and about 900AH of DC AGM battery on board. I left the exist WFCO junk wired in parallel with the new setup so that in the event I ever need to, I can swap back.

I would highly recommend the hybrid inverter type setup if you can. I wont get into details here, but in short it allows you to do a lot even while plugged into a household outlet.

donzinger · 06-23-2016, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donzinger

Mine's documented in the mods page, but I have the 3100W with BMK and AGS

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Forgot I have the remote as well

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boostme · 06-23-2016, 02:21 AM

Donzinger,

Can you post a link to your install? I couldn't find it and would love to see someone else's approach.

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donzinger · 06-23-2016, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boostme

Donzinger,

Can you post a link to your install? I couldn't find it and would love to see someone else's approach.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I thought I had posted pics on here somewhere of my inverter install but I guess not.

Post #801 here is the AGS-N mounted just above the generator:
http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums...ds-666-81.html

Post #40 here is the ARC remote:
http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums...ds-666-48.html

Here a couple pics of the inverter install.

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