Generator start GSCM 3w-2w module [RE-wrenches]

[Mick Abraham]

Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind wrote:
"Has anyone used the Atkinson Electronics GSCM-mini? Any drawbacks of 
the "mini" over the regular GSCM? 

Mick says: I installed the GCSM-mini to translate the Outback 12 volt 
signal into the three wire logic required for an Onan generator. 

The main difference between the GCSM-mini and the full blown GCSM is 
that the latter has the ability to decide when to run the generator 
based on household battery voltage parameters. Since I was planning to 
use the Outback logic to do the deciding, the added functions for the 
full GCSM seemed superfluous. 

The -mini has been working OK but it's not as bulletproof as I would 
like. Sometimes this generator runs badly--possibly because of a 
sticking valve--and the GCSM-mini throws an error code and does a total 
shutdown requiring human intervention. This adds another layer of fault 
crashing even when the Outback gear is satisfied and able to do some 
recharge with the generator power. If the Outback gear is satisfied, we 
don't need another gizmo to decide on a total generator shutdown because 
"the power isn't good enough".

I don't remember the error code that was coming from the GCSM-mini but 
it was describing something about the generator power that I could not 
verify with my hand held metering. There was something wrong but it 
wasn't what the error code was pointing to. I called the factory and 
they basically said if the unit is sending this error code, it means 
you've got that problem. End of product support experience. 

After the machine warmed up and got some exercise it started behaving 
more normally and the fault code went away. I've got my fingers crossed 
as the days get shorter, but I fully expect some callbacks which are 
exacerbated by the hyper-sensitivity of this control.

Charge!

Mick Abraham, Proprietor
www.abrahamsolar.com


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at re-wrenches.org

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------