Just a quick question, I’m researching auto gen start and saw a post from someone saying it can be done if my Multiplus II 2x120 has both a K1 & K2 relay.
I can’t seem to figure out if I have both of those relays or not (groan). Do I ?
Technically theres no K2, but theres the Aux relay
Why do you need two relays to do generator autostart?
This is what I’m referencing…
“Despite Onan insisting that I must spend a fortune on some special unit to achieve auto stop/start, I have my genset working flawlessly using the 2 relays on my multi.
Switch power wire bridged to the common of K1 & K2. Start wire to K1 n/o, stop wire to K2 n/o
Then my assistants are set as follows;
1 close K1 n/o when voltage = 24.2v
2 open K1 n/o 5 seconds after 220v detected
3 close K2 n/o 3600 seconds (1 hour) after absorption phase starts.
4 open K2 n/o 5 seconds after 220v ends.
This will work for any genset that uses a straightforward momentary hold-to-start, hold-to-stop switch.
If you only have 1 relay, wire the Victron n/c to a 5 pin automotive relay. The center pin is n/c, so it will be open when power (from the Victron n/c) is applied. Wire this center pin to your stop switch. Then change the above assistants to:
3 open k1 n/c 3600 seconds after absorption
4 close k1 n/c 5 seconds after 220v ends
The down side of this is that the automotive relay will be permanently energised drawing a small amount of power. If the the relay fails, not a major problem because it will only result in your genset not starting (because the stop button is activated)”
Should be possible with Aux instead of K2.
Or you can use K1 alone, but you need an external relay and a 230V time delay with on and off delay as one function.
K1 controls the secondary relay coil.
230V genset voltage controls the time delay coil.
Time delay common is fed 24V (or whatever the genset needs).
Time delay NO goes to secondary relay NC.
Time delay NC goes to secondary relay NO.
Secondary relay common is your start/stop pulse output.