Forrest, That’s exactly what we are looking for. No sun all week and batteries are getting low we can give them a boost. Your also right with the 1k cost target.
From: Af [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Forrest Christian (List Account) Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2017 10:33 PM To: af Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Remote generator start options packetflux? The target is the very small sites. The ones where you're really only needing the $500 generator, if it would only start itself, and you're lucky to pull 20A. The other target are off-grid sites where you need to start a generator based not on grid loss but on things like battery getting low. With the generator controller, you could effectively hit the sub-$1k price. But you're right, part of the issue is that the guardian is getting cheaper and cheaper, and this I'm sure affects people. On Thu, Dec 21, 2017 at 9:19 PM, Adam Moffett <[email protected]> wrote: I might be thinking of this wrongly, so I welcome input. We got a 16kw Generac Guardian for under $5k. That included a transfer switch, "cold weather kit" (which is basically a block heater and battery heater), and a precast base to put it on. I think there are models as small as 8kw, but I don't have a price for that. I'm sure it's less than $5k. When we set up propane service the fuel company provided the tank and we only pay for the fuel. This starts automatically when the power is off, and turns off when power comes back on. This is what we want, right? A truck crashed into a pole one morning, and we lost power for more than 8 hours. That one incident paid for the Generac. We certainly would have lost $5k worth of labor and service credits if we were down for that whole time so this system is worth every penny. So what is it we're trying to achieve that the above product doesn't do? I'm happy with my packetflux stuff, but if the generator board didn't sell, there's probably a reason. If we're just trying to make it cheaper, isn't that the so-called "race to the bottom"? Maybe there are points I'm overlooking, so again, I do welcome input. ------ Original Message ------ From: "Dave" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: 12/21/2017 9:40:02 AM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Remote generator start options packetflux? Forrest, We had a discussion about this as we now have 4 generators and I have 3 of your standby controllers taking care of these sites without issue since we installed them. Would it be feasible to just remove the Transformers and just give a link for separate purchase ? My issue as with many would like to see a box with many inputs to monitor different things like AC,DC voltages, tempatures make and brake contacts. Also, the need for active outputs to turn on off things or just for a cycle with timer. A nice gui would be ok to be able to log in for manual control or configuration. There are some very expensive things out there to do all of this but I know with a little work it can be done with out much money involved. I have a very specific need to integrate a 26vDC generator with a site that is a 48v plant. I have everything installed and connected but I need some automation to start and stop when needed. The generator has a voltage sense on its output to detect if the battery bank is below 22vdc and if so it will kick on for an amount of time to restore charge. The problem with this is there is a 1000W converter between it and the 48v battery bank. Anyone with suggestions is welcome Dave On 12/21/2017 03:18 AM, Forrest Christian (List Account) wrote: The short version: I never sold that many, and this particular product came up in discussions about product liablity insurance. Not that it was unsafe, just that there was some discomfort with the fact that I was monitoring the AC power line. To remedy this I would have either had to redesign to remove the AC monitoring hardware, or send the whole thing through UL listing. Based on the volume, I didn't really see any reason to spend a lot of R&D time or money doing either. I do expect the functionality in the generator controller will be able to be replicated as a side effect of planned technology to be incorporated in an upcoming product. On Wed, Dec 20, 2017 at 8:23 PM, Lewis Bergman <[email protected]> wrote: Bummer. Guess there was not enough demand or to make variants? On Wed, Dec 20, 2017, 5:18 PM George Skorup <[email protected]> wrote: Yeahbut Forrest doesn't make the generator control board anymore. On 12/20/2017 5:01 PM, Lewis Bergman wrote: I think packetflux is likely the easiest with the most to offer our of the box. I know if one other out of the box solution that cost about 3 times as much. First can not only start it but he can use his shunt to make sure it is actually started and producing current. If you want to do it yourself you could work some coding and such but it doesn't sound like that is what you want to do. Arduino, raspberry pi, etc. Could do this but you have to build it all yourself. Not really fast but fun if you like that kind of thing. You would need some electronics knowledge if you don't want to spend a few days googling. I guess you still have to know enough to make Google work. Again, see Forest for his genset setup. I know a lot of people in this list use it. On Wed, Dec 20, 2017, 4:39 PM Eric Kuhnke <[email protected]> wrote: assuming you have a generator that does auto-choke and is wired for electrical remote start, like the small generac units sold for RV use and similar... where all you need to do is turn on a relay for 4-5 seconds to crank a starter, then turn off the relay again. one of these: http://tinycontrol.pl/en/lan-controller/ and one of these: http://tinycontrol.pl/en/relays-board-10a-v3/ or a thing like this: http://denkovi.com/ethernet-relay-card-5-channels-snmp-http-xml-real-time-clock-din-box there are quite a few different DIN mount relay-controllers with basic http interfaces to turn on and off things. Some support things like receiving an snmp trap to trigger a relay for automated scripting. On Wed, Dec 20, 2017 at 2:30 PM, Brandon Yuchasz <[email protected]> wrote: We are looking at adding a remote start to a generator at an off grid site we have and I am gathering information on options at this point. Right now we are all Solar at the site. It’s a new site and if / when we draw down batteries beyond where we are comfortable we turn go to the site turn off the PV and start a generator manually and run a 48v battery charger on the bank. It’s a fairly low tech solution right now. We log in turn off the PV array and a guy goes out and pulls the rope on the generator and batteries start to charge. He then leaves and in three hours generator runs out of fuel and charging stops. Log back in turn the PV back on and that’s the end of the process. We are considering a few different options at the site and I don’t want to complicate this to much by offering to much information to start. Ill go into more details later but for now I am looking for a way to start a (different) propane generator remotely during the dark months. Most likely once a week in December and January. So assuming electric start is an options on the generator. What options do I have for throwing that “switch” from the office. I am positive I am not the first one of us to want to do this. Thoughts everyone? I want to KISS so when I am not around others can do this with minimal training. Thanks, Brandon -- Forrest Christian CEO, PacketFlux Technologies, Inc. Tel: 406-449-3345 | Address: 3577 Countryside Road, Helena, MT 59602 <https://maps.google.com/?q=3577+Countryside+Road,+Helena,+MT+59602&entry=gmail&source=g> <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] | <http://www.packetflux.com/> http://www.packetflux.com <http://www.linkedin.com/in/fwchristian> <http://facebook.com/packetflux> <http://twitter.com/@packetflux> <http://ws-stats.appspot.com/t/pixel.png?e=setup_page_outlook_compose> <http://ws-stats.appspot.com/t/pixel.png?e=setup_page_outlook_active&uid=e965778f9a351fad7a8a860dffc144ce> <http://ws-stats.appspot.com/t/pixel.png?e=setup_page_outlook_active&uid=e965778f9a351fad7a8a860dffc144ce> -- -- Forrest Christian CEO, PacketFlux Technologies, Inc. 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