[RE-wrenches] Envy Gen starting

Tue Sep 9 12:14:27 PDT 2025

Jay:

You are exactly right.  The Radian has a fault timer settable between 5 and
30  minutes.  If the Radian fails to receive acceptable generator power
after that time it generators a fault, and presumably opens the contact
closure.

The SW inverters had more settings such as pre-crank delay, post crank
delay, etc.

The reason I ask is I am setting up a circuit to automatically start the
backup generator if the main generator fails to start.  We have one of the
Kohler RDT transfer switches that will follow the AC source.

Thanks again.

William

Miller Solar

17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

805-438-5600

www.millersolar.com

CA Lic. 773985

*From:* Jay [mailto:jay.peltz at gmail.com]
*Sent:* Monday, September 8, 2025 4:42 PM
*To:* william at millersolar.com; RE-wrenches
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Envy Gen starting

Hi william

This is exactly the same type of ags the radian has

It’s supposed to work with a generator that has the auto start function in
it. So the inverter just sends a start signal to it. The radian had a
default of around 15 minutes if memory serves. IE if the genny doesn’t
start in that amount of time the inverter ags would fault

Most generators have some number of start attempts afterwards it will
usually fault. Requiring a human to clear the generator fault. The inverter
start signal isn’t connected to the starter so the generator won’t continue
to crank.

I don’t think the envy inverter goes into a fault mode.

I think the printed responses from fortress are clueless

There is another part that is problematic. If you have the ags start say
20% -80%. And you want to turn the generator on to charge batteries at 40%
it won’t charge. It will pass through to the loads. I have talked to them
that remote manual start generator should just charge up to the upper limit
thats set. Yeah didn’t get anywhere. So you have to set the ags start % to
where it is and then start the generator.

That all said.

I have a 3 stack that has been without any issues at all. Fully off grid,
ags. Works

Jay

On Sep 8, 2025, at 5:16 PM, William Miller via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

Friends:

I am trying to understand the Envy 12. Here is the question of the day:  If
the Envy calls for a Gen start and the Gen fails to start, what happens?
Does the contact closure open after a preset time to protect the starter?
Will the Envy try more than once to start the generator?

Tech support says the contact closure stays closed until either the SOC
goes above the Gen stop setting or the inverter shuts off due to low SOC.
This sounds lame to me and disregards years of off-grid best-practice.

Also, tech support says I should size PV for full autonomy for the
shortest, darkest, rainiest days of the year. I think this is too much
solar and that is why to have a generator. Do any of you size that way?

Thanks in advance.

William Miller
Miller Solar.com
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com

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