Atkinson GSCM-mini [RE-wrenches]

[Michael Welch]

Hi Friends. I am posting this on behalf of John Raynes, while I try to figure out why his and Topica's servers are refusing to connect.

>Mick,
>
>I don't have direct experience with the GSCM Mini, although I'm presently configuring a regular GSCM for a job I'm working on.  From looking at the manual on the mini, it looks as if it's basically a subset of the GCSM as far as functionality goes.  The GSCM does the basic 2-3 wire conversion start logic that William described so well, and it also has a bunch of functions that overlap with the smarts in a full featured inverter/charger such as the VFX or SWs.  For instance, the GSCM can be used to monitor battery voltage and make the decisions as to when to start the generator, it can provide the supervising logic for automatic transfer, it can provide the logic for periodic generator exercising, etc... all things that are normally better managed by the inverter, since the associated control settings are much easier to monitor and change using the SW display or the Mate.  But if you're not using an inverter with all the smarts, they could come in very handy.  The mini doesn't have all those extras, just the basics.
>
>The other big difference I see is that the Mini's starting parameters are fixed (crank times, acceptance thresholds, etc. where on the GSCM they're all adjustable.  Obviously the fixed settings on the mini make it much simpler to deploy, if those settings will in fact work for your particular generator, if not, well... there's the rub.  I went with the GSCM because I wasn't able to obtain sufficient info in advance to satisfy myself that the mini would do the job in this particular case, but maybe it would have.
>
>Word of advice: the direct start on the GSCM from the OB aux 12V output is nice, but I decided to go with an interposing relay anyway.  The generator was located 300-400 feet away from the power panel, and I didn't want to risk a secondary ground connection through the control circuity.   Doesn't take much electrical activity to get enough ground current to damage a sensitive control circuit at that distance.   I'm not sure, but I doubt that either the aux output neutral on the Outback, or the start signal input neutral on the GSCM, is isolated from their associated battery neutrals, and therefore from earth ground.  Maybe I'm wrong on my assumptions about the isolation and Chris or others can set me straight.
>
>John Raynes
>RE Solar
>Torrey UT
>
>At 03:04 AM 12/1/2006 +0000, you wrote:
>
>>I think if the generator is set up for 2-wire remote start/stop, you
>>would then only need a relay with a 12v coil which would close/open a
>>set of points in response to the 12v signal from the Outback products.
>>In my current project, however, the generator is not set up for 2-wire
>>remote start/stop but is instead the Onan 3-wire system. So: a "2 to 3
>>wire converter" type circuit is needed, hence my GCSM idea. Onan builds
>>a converter of their own...for very big dollars, and there are home-brew
>>options I'm sure. The GCSM has one or two added wrinkles, such as direct
>>acceptance of the Outback 12V signal which makes it a bit more than a
>>straight 2 to 3 wire converter. Also the GCSM will monitor the generator
>>starting battery voltage and crank the machine strictly to maintain that
>>battery...nice idea. This is what I've gleaned from a cursory look at
>>the literature, but I'm still curious about the GCSM-mini, which seems
>>to also do all of the above. When specifying new systems from the ground
>>up, I always prefer a generator with the 2-wire architecture, but I'm
>>dealing with a pre-owned generator on this one. Charge! Mick Abraham

  
------------------------
        
Michael Welch
Submissions Coordinator
Sr. Research Editor
     Home Power magazine
     www.homepower.com


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