Two Quattro 2x120 setup in parallel with a generator (Onan) wired into AC In 2. When manually starting the generator, the Quattro picks up the power, but does not change the status to generator running. Detect AC is selected, and the inputs are tagged with the correct inputs. I do not have a sense wire on digital input, as I was trying to avoid that using new features.
Also note, due to this issue, if the generator was running for some reason, and I needed to shut it down, it can “confuse” the system because I would need to start it first (make sure to wait past the prime and start timer) and then stop the system.
Its great that we now have the 2x120 setup, and in NA Onan (which needs the type of setup we have) is the primary generator brand in RVs.
Hi Phil,
This isn’t just a Beta thing, it made it through to Production VRM some months ago. I suffer it too.
The Run Status appears to come from the GX Generator Start function, as do the Runtime figures (at least in my case).
I’ve complained about it to the VRM crew, but if they ever intend fixing it, it doesn’t appear to be a high priority.
That tile for me is a combo of genset and what my Orion is doing (my GX starts that rather than the gen). If I want genset runtimes I go to the VRM Hybrid Generator report, that still works well.
Thanks for reporting it though, hopefully something happens soon.
Curious finding that is for sure some sort of bug, not sure when it showed up. But, if you leverage the digital input, the run time will accumulate, but it still stay stopped in VRM. Do you know if this has also been around?
Also interestingly enough, in the new OS on the Cerbo’s display, if the generator is running, it no longer says stopped, it does go to just the power view (even though the status at the gen start/stop is stopped). So clearly progress is getting made, but the logic hasn’t carried between these 3 inputs.
There is, and after reading many topics and also posting on the same, others have the same issue with this as I do. In an RV, I want my shore power to by my primary source and the generator to be secondary. I believe this recommendation was more for when we were relying on the Quattro / Multiplus to use assistants or virtual switches to manage the generator. There is clear progress on the generator start and stop functionality, the AC ins can be defined on what is on the input, there is a generator sense signal, and the cerbo is displaying it correctly. Looking at the development posts on github as well as the other posts from members, I think they are continuing to develop a more robust and configurable generator input and autostart functionality, it just isn’t there yet.
For now to fake it (and give me control at the Cerbo if manually started), I created a simple Node Red flow to manage if it detects the generator running to go ahead and close or open the relay as it doesn’t hurt anything. Not sophisticated, but works so far…
A Generator should be connected to AC IN 1, that’s recommended in all Victron documents and that is how Victron tests generator features.
Only AC IN 1 can wake up the Quattro if the battery is dead.
AC IN 1 and 2 are not the same internally.
Matthias, appreciate that.
Here’s the issue with an onboard generator on AC1 in the coach type we have. The generator is started from the house batteries. If the house batteries are dead, I can’t wake the quattro because I cannot start the generator, so being able to plug into something, even a basic generator is better than a totally dead coach. Also, if shore power becomes available, and is stable, this is what I want to run the coach, not the generator. So while I appreciate what the documents say, as others have posted in other groups, it is not always a practical solution. And, the real problem is with the programming of the start/stop relay, not the AC1 or AC2.
Also, there are multiple posts on the exact issue, which is around how the system is detecting running / stopped via the relay and digital input.
Ludo, yes, considered that, and that I would use the toad, however, it still doesn’t solve the ideal scenario to run off the shore power as primary. Again, we all have different approaches. The system actually works perfectly even with in in AC2 from a power perspective. The issue is how it manages run / stopped when you have an external control ability to the generator. This is regardless of AC1 or 2.
Not entirely. You can now select what type of input is on which input, it displays, and manages correctly, and they have added to monitor for AC disconnect. IMO, they are clearly moving this way. Current view:
Ludo, we all have our own opinions of ideal. For me, its ideal that if for some reason I lost park/shore power, the genny can auto start when needed as controlled by either the coach (Spyder system) or the cerbo (state of charge, load on inverters, etc). Then, if shore power becomes available again, it will prefer AC1 and shut down the genny. If the generator is on AC1, then based on current design, it would always prefer genny first. To me, this is less than ideal. I designed the system to be less reliant on on the generator. As far as the merge, I have tried / done that before. 1, our alternator only puts out about 50amps. 2. we had an issue with the house batteries being dead due to a warranty issue before. When we did the merge with dead batteries, we ended up blowing a bunch of fuses, so I want to avoid that too. So, this is why its ideal to me (and others have had similar opinions as well). The system is seeing the generator ok, again, this is an issue with the start/stop running status when controlled with possible external as well.
You just have to add a signal to stop/disconnect the generator if shore power is available.
Actually there is an option in the GX device to stop the generator if AC IN 2 is available.
settings → Generator start/stopp → settings → conditions → stop generator when AC-input is available → AC Input 2
The reason that the generator should have priority on AC IN 1 is to be able to fire up your system while you are in the middle of nowhere without shore power.
Hi Matthias. I have added the signal. The challenge is, the system has 3 ways of looking at power being supplied by a generator. #1, start / stop relay - this one takes highest priority on the “running” view in VRM / system. #2 digital input signal - this one will drive the accumulated hours, but does not yet seem to drive anything else. #3. detected power in on AC line - this one does drive the generator produced power reporting. I’m sure the programming is complex in the background to make all 3 of these play nicely, especially given the variations in 2 wire vs. 3 wire. vs communicating generators for the relay control, and why I use the node red logic now. The issue is, if we start the generator from somewhere else, with Onan generators 2 wire control, you must open the relay when its running ot be able synchronize the state and stop the generator from the cerbo. So I am guessing this is the challenge they are running into, which is a shame since in the US the largest population of RV generators is Onan with that type of interface for start/stop. (another wonderful challenge with Onan is that their 8000w and below, mostly, are actually 2 lines, but in single phase which creates another whole set of issues).
If I were in a stationary situation, like my home or a cottage in the woods, I would for sure run AC1 as the generator for exactly the reason you said. On my RV, as long as my house batteries are not dead, I can start my generator up, and AC2 works like a charm, and when I plug in (preferred), it becomes my primary. So different ways of getting to the middle of nowhere and starting up
