FX control of Onan [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Tritt]

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Randy,

Actually a relay is required when using the gen start feature of the OB. 
You are also pretty lucky that you didn't also fry the generator control 
board along with the Mate. I learned about this the hard (but not too 
hard) way back when FX's first came out, having installed lots of Trace 
SW's that have a self-contained start relay. On those units, not 
installing a fuse in the generator control circuit could lead to really 
big trouble. :-(

Matt T

Randy Brooks wrote:

>
> Fellow Wrenches,
>
> To hopefully help others avoid this mistake, I'll share one of mine.
>
> We just completed an off grid system using a FLEXware 500 with two  
> VFX3648 inverters, MX60, HUB, and MATE, coupled with an Onan GRCA,  
> 12kW, propane generator (installed by others) with two wire remote  
> start.
>
> After reviewing the auto start section of the Onan manual (not very  
> detailed), it appeared we could connect the FX AUX relay directly to  
> the two wire remote start circuit of the generator - wrong!
>
> When we switched the Onan to "Auto", it immediately started, even  
> though there had been no command from the FX to start.  As soon as  
> the Onan came up to speed, the MATE began to beep and flash through  
> menu screens repeatedly.  We shut off the Onan immediately, but the  
> MATE kept beeping and flashing until we disconnected it.  With the  
> Onan control switch in the "Off" position, we plugged the MATE back  
> in.  After going through the welcome, software version, and polling  
> screens the MATE again began beeping and flashing menus repeatedly  
> until it was unplugged.  Resetting the whole FX system made no  
> difference.
>
> A call to OutBack tech support indicated we had probably fried the  
> MATE.  OutBack sent us a new MATE overnight.  The new MATE worked.   
> We installed a relay between the FX AUX output and the Onan remote  
> start circuit, and everything worked fine.
>
> After carefully reading the Onan manual again, I found that the  
> neutral of the Onan two wire auto start circuit is connected to the  
> neutral of the generator AC output.  So we likely sent AC through the  
> FX AUX relay.  It's surprising we didn't fry anything else.
>
> So we'll be using a relay for all two wire start circuits in the future.
>
> take care,
>
> Randy Brooks
> Brooks Solar, Inc.
> Solar Power for People
> 140 Columbia View
> Chelan, WA  98816
> 509-682-9646
> info at BrooksSolar.com
> www.BrooksSolar.com
>
>
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