FX control of Onan [RE-wrenches]

[Drake Chamberlin]

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Since the Outback gen start - fan control puts 
out 12 VDC instead of just being a dry contact, a 
relay would be needed.  The Trace - Xantrex SW 
inverters supply dry contacts of low amp rating.

 From the Outback manual.

AUXILIARY OUTPUT (AUX + / AUX -)
The Auxiliary output system uses the AUX + and 
AUX – terminals and is able to be programmed 
through the MATE to do a variety of
tasks. The default use for these terminals is to 
drive one 12-volt fan for external cooling. The 
power available at these terminals is 12
VDC at 1.0 amps (12 watts) maximum. These 
terminals should not be connected to any type of 
DC load which has a high inrush
current requirement. The FX includes internal 
electronic overcurrent protection for this 12 VDC 
output circuit which auto resets if it is
short circuited. No additional fuses are 
required. Use the OutBack FX Turbo Kit or 
DC12-FAN for cooling. For automatic or advanced
generator start functions, the Auxiliary Output 
can drive a 12V automotive relay for the 2-wire 
starting circuitry of a generator. OutBack
Power Systems does not support 3-wire start 
generators; however, a 3-wire to 2-wire 
conversion kit is available from other sources.

Drake


At 03:03 PM 11/24/2007, you wrote:

>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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