Color Control GX Manual

An internal relay on a GX device (eg CCGX) can be used to automatically start and stop a generator. This relay - or switch - can be 'tripped' by a number of user-defined conditions. This chapter will explain what conditions are available to you; and it will guide you through the steps required to set up this useful functionality.

More general information about using a generator in combination with Victron is available in the MultiPlus Generator FAQ.

Firstly, wire the relay to a genset. The relay is located on the back of the CCGX - marked Relay. If using a Color Control GX, two relays will be seen at the bottom of the unit - only Relay 1 can be used for the generator automatic start/stop functionality.

Wiring between the CCGX and the generator needs to be 'permanent' in order for the generator to keep running and to allow automatic 'Stop' when the parameters for auto-stop have been met.

Besides driving the internal relay, the auto start/stop functionality can also be enabled to control supported Fischer Panda generators directly. For more information on how to connect Fischer Panda generators, see the Fischer Panda Generator support  chapter in this manual.

There are many variations in wiring on the generator side, and you should also consult your generator manual or supplier regarding their remote wire start configuration.

Go to: Settings → Relay and set the function options to Generator start/stop

Relay

After activating this function, all the settings pertaining to the Automatic Generator start/stop function will be found in the main menu under: Settings → Generator start/stop.

Fischer Panda Generators

Once the Mode is set, all settings will become available under the Auto start/stop menu entry at the bottom of the page.

To get to Conditions from the main menu go to: Settings → Generator start/stop → Settings → Conditions

On loss of communication: If ever there is a communication breakdown between the CCGX and the VE. Bus inverter/charger; and parameters have been set which depend on this information - choose between the following actions:

Stop generator when AC-input is available: This option is ideal for backup systems where a Quattro has mains/grid electricity connected to its AC-in 1 or AC-in 2 terminal and a Genset connected to the other AC-in terminal. If this option is activated, the Genset will not stop until mains voltage is restored after a mains failure. This functionality is not available for VE.Can connected Quattros.

The following parameters may be user-defined to trigger an automatic generator start/stop:

(* The value measured here will be the total AC consumption of the system.)

Condition-parameters are prioritised in the order shown above. When a number of conditions are reached at the same time, only the highest-priority condition will be shown as active. All enabled conditions will be evaluated - even if the generator is already running. When the active condition has been satisfied, an un-met parameter in a lower-priority condition will keep the generator running.

16.6.2. Relays triggered by Battery SoC

Use Battery SoC value to start/stop: Toggle this feature on or off. Start when Battery SoC is lower than: Set the depletion level for autostart. Start value during quiet hours: During Quite hours it may be desirable to delay an autostart until it really can't be avoided. If Quiet hours has been defined, set a lower, more critical autostart level. Stop when Battery SoC is higher than: Set the recharge level for autostop. Stop value during quiet hours: If Quiet hours has been defined, set a lower autostop level to achieve a shorter generator run-time.

16.6.3. Relays triggered by Battery Current

Use battery voltage value to start/stop: Toggle the feature on or off. Start when battery voltage is lower than: When a high AC demand is experienced which will soon exhaust the battery, the generator can be auto-started to assist in meeting that demand. Set the current-level at which this will occur. Start value during quiet hours: If Quiet hours has been defined, set a higher, more critical current value. Start after condition is reached for: Set a delay before autostart. Some AC device will draw a short-term, high-peak current on startup. Instigating a delay before autostart will avoid starting the generator unnecessarily. Stop when battery current is lower than: Set the current for autostop. Stop value during quiet hours: If Quiet hours has been defined, set a higher current level to achieve shorter generator run-times. Stop after the condition is reached for: Set a delay to ensure that the current-reduction condition is stable.

16.6.4. Relays triggered by Battery Voltage

• Use battery voltage value to start/stop: Toggle the feature on or off.

• Start when battery voltage is lower than: When battery voltage falls below the value entered, the relay will start the generator.

• Start value during quiet hours: If Quiet hours has been defined, enter a lower (more critical) value to ensure the generator will only autostart when absolutely necessary.

• Stop after the condition is reached for: This feature builds in a delay before stopping the generator after the 'stop' value has been reached. This is to make sure that the voltage rise is stable.

16.6.5. Relays triggered by AC load

AC load triggers work similarly to other triggers but the feature is refined by a Measurement setting. The Measurement setting is available on firmware v2.0 and later and has three possible values:

Total consumption (Default option) Inverter total AC out Inverter AC out highest phase

16.6.6. Relays triggered by Inverter High temperature

Start on high temperature warning: Toggle this feature on or off. Start when warning is active for: Set a delay to avoid temperature rises which are temporary, caused by brief high AC demands. When warning is cleared stop after: Set a delay to ensure that a reduction in inverter temperature - usually caused by lower power demand - is stable.

16.6.7. Relays triggered by Inverter overload

Start on overload warning: Toggle this feature on or off. Start when warning is active for: Set a delay to ensure that the inverter overload warning has not been triggered by a high-demand of AC power of only short duration. When warning is cleared stop after: Set a delay to ensure that the reduction in AC power demand is stable.

16.6.8. Automatic periodic 'Test run'

This feature allows automatic generator starts, periodically, as a 'test run'.

• Test run interval: Set the interval between test runs.

• Skip test run if has been running for: The test will be skipped if during the test run interval the generator ran for at least as long as it would on a 'test run'.

• Test interval start date: The 'test run' interval counter will start from the date entered here. No test runs will be carried out until the date set here has been reached.

• Start time: Time of day at which the generator 'test run' will commence.

• Test duration: Duration of the test.

• Run until battery is fully charged: Enabling this feature will cause the 'test run' to continue until the battery is fully charged - instead of for a fixed amount of time.

16.6.9. Manual Start Feature

Use the Manual start feature to remotely start the generator. You can also press Start when the generator is already running - doing so will ensure that the generator won't automatically stop when the condition which caused it to start has been satisfied. In other words, the Manual start feature will override the autostop parameters.

There are two ways to start the generator manually:

1. Using the Manual start menu: Go to Generator start/stop → Manual start; and then toggle the graphic to start the generator.

2. Using the GX 'Home page' Generator graphic: Press the top-left button on the CCGX, or Color Control GX Remote Console and engage the Generator page. Then press the center button. You must first choose how you wish to stop the generator - manually, or by entering a run-time. Once you've made your selection a five-second countdown will begin during which you can abort the manual start by pressing the center button.

WARNING: If the generator is started manually (remotely) without using the stop timer, it will run until the 'Off' button has also been manually toggled.

The stop timer is available to both methods of manually remote-starting the generator, and using it will ensure that the generator will autostop …and will not be inadvertently forgotten.

Note that stopping the generator manually can only be achieved when no un-met 'run' condition is active. If you wish to force a generator-stop you must first disable the function which is keeping it running - or disable the Generator start/stop function.

16.6.10. Quiet hours

Quiet hours allows you to define a period during which the noise from a running generator would be a nuisance; and to set different values to the conditions which would cause an autostart during this period - thus ensuring that the generator will only start during a quiet period when it is absolutely necessary.

From the main menu go to Settings → Generator start/stop → Settings; and then toggle-on the Quiet hours feature. Define the Quiet hours start- and end- times in the boxes which appear below.

Quiet hours will become the permanent condition (when enabled) if the defined 'start' and 'stop' times are the same.

Using Quiet hours as a tool to define two sets of user-preferences

Alternatively, the Quiet hours feature can be used to define how you wish your system to respond to different circumstances - for example:

• Early morning/low SoC: Battery SoC is often lowest in the morning. Couple this with cloudy weather first thing - or panels which have a westerly bias, and which tend to do better in the afternoon; and you have a circumstance where the generator may autostart in the morning triggered by a low battery SoC condition - yet later on when the day brightens, the solar energy is wasted because the work has already been done by the generator. Setting the Quiet hours feature to cover this period, together with lower autostart conditions, will help to avoid unnecessary generator autostarts.

• Holiday home: Holiday homes which are only inhabited part-time experience much deeper power-draws when they are in use. The Quiet hours feature can be used to set much lower autostart parameters when the house is in use than when it is empty. Quiet hours should be set to be the permanent condition (see above) during occupation; and the Quiet hours feature can be toggled 'off' whenever the house is empty.

Fischer Panda: Generator does not start and "Remote switch control disabled" error is shown

Enable the “AutoStart” function in the Fischer Panda control panel.

Fischer Panda: Auto start/stop function has stopped working after an error

Make sure that the issue is solved, then clear the error, and the auto start/stop function will work again.