Generator Auto Start with Easy Solar and IO extender

Node-RED
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1

HI Guys

I have a client that brought a Easy solar we wanted to do a more Advanced and Configurable Generator Auto start such as the one within the Relays of a CERBO,

We expected the Release of the Gx I/O extender adding this would give us Generator control but it doesnt, the realys are all manual unless using Node Red,

  1. Am i missing something that you can configure, I/O exteder to Gen Auto Start,
  2. Anyone keen to share a node red flow to do this, i know very little Re node Red but can understand pre made flows,

Thanks,

2

Yeah, that was something we were hoping for too.

If your client is lucky enough to have a generator with a controller that supported by the modern modbus/canbus integration (eg: ComAp, Deep Sea etc) then that’s pretty straightforward.

Otherwise the Node-RED plan is easy enough - if the client uses managed batteries or has a shunt (eg: reliable SOC) you can do battery percentage easy enough or battery voltage otherwise.

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where you grab the battery reading (SOC or volts) - might need to use VE.Bus value. Use a switch node to compare - here with SOC I used the first (top) output as “>60” for when we want it off, and 2nd (bottom) output as “<20” for when we want it on. Use Change nodes to turn those values into 0 or 1 for the relay node, and then send it to the relay. It can get much fancier from there. Note that you can play with that by using a potentiometer on a Cerbo tank input or something as your “battery” reading to test.

3

Thanks, we have a Can Bus connected battery so is reliable, i FINALLY got the same point on the Node Red,

Can you please show me how we can use “Switch Output State” to stop the auto start funtion form working, IE if he Switches this off the Auto Start will not work, i cant figure out how to “Check” this switch state before sending an ON command

4

not really following what you’re asking there Morgan. Can you elaborate?

5

Sorry

So was wanting 2 switches in the switch control interface.

1 to set generator to start or stop. “This is also auto control by soc.

Other to set if the auto start is active or not. Ie if off. And hits low SOC it won’t auto start genset.

Was going to just use another switch on the display but not actually have anything wired to it.

So ideally. Flow would god.

SOC 20%
Check auto start active.
If yes close realy to stat genset
If no do nothing.

SOC 60%
Check auto start active
If yes stop generator
If no keep running.

I maybe over complicating it but like the idea of being able to run genset manually.