Alternative Power sources - Generator Auto Start

Author

Generator Auto Start

Richard Salter

2006-12-10, 9:25 am

Hi , I am after a simple device to auto start a diesel motor to charge
my solar batteries when the sun is down .
Basically a system

* to sense when the voltage is down eg 11.9volts
* Turn on the engine . it has a 3 wire start up , on/off , and
starter motor on off
* the generator has a oil pressure switch so this can be used to
measure if it is running
* Then I need to let the motor warm up for say 5 minutes , and then
turn on the alternator circuits to start charging my 12 volt
batteries
* The unit would need to run for maybe 2 hours , and then have a rest.

If anyone has a similar device that has been succesful I would love to
hear , I am also reasonably able to build something up from a circuit
if it is not possible to get something simple off the shelf.

Thanks for reading my message Richard

homeboy465

2006-12-10, 9:25 am

"Richard Salter" <rwsalter@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:12nnoqk14aop026@corp.supernews.com...
> Hi , I am after a simple device to auto start a diesel motor to charge my
> solar batteries when the sun is down .
> Basically a system
>
> * to sense when the voltage is down eg 11.9volts
> * Turn on the engine . it has a 3 wire start up , on/off , and
> starter motor on off
> * the generator has a oil pressure switch so this can be used to
> measure if it is running
> * Then I need to let the motor warm up for say 5 minutes , and then
> turn on the alternator circuits to start charging my 12 volt
> batteries
> * The unit would need to run for maybe 2 hours , and then have a rest.
>
> If anyone has a similar device that has been succesful I would love to
> hear , I am also reasonably able to build something up from a circuit if
> it is not possible to get something simple off the shelf.
>
> Thanks for reading my message Richard

I don't know about buying one but if you know the basics of circurtry i
would suggest making your own a timer circuit is as easy as a capasator and
a transister though 555's are eaiser again. custom made devices are usually
better cause they do exactally what you need. i've just drawn up a circuit
for being ale to add and remove battries/cells from a charging/supply system
without inturpting the flow atall it may efect the total output but as long
as this is always slightly more than what i intend to use then adding and
remooving cells shouldn't be a problem incase they become faulty it will
also mean that if one does falut the circuit won;t be broken ad i won;t just
loose power. i just have to get it checked over my by old lecturer (i like
running things past him as a proff check) and i'll be ready to build a
working model and testing ti before making the final product.

2006-12-10, 9:25 am

Richard Salter wrote:
> Hi , I am after a simple device to auto start a diesel motor to charge
> my solar batteries when the sun is down .

Might want to take a look at the DynaGen.Ca line of motor autostarts.
Some of them are pretty impressive, I've used them on a few installs
myself.

DJ

Vaughn Simon

2006-12-10, 1:25 pm

"homeboy465" <homeboy465@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:W5Seh.89800$qd7.40531@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> I don't know about buying one but if you know the basics of circurtry i would
> suggest making your own a timer circuit is as easy as a capasator and a
> transister though 555's are eaiser again.

Just my experience: I would never use a 555 or any analog device for a time
delay that runs into the hours. I have found them to be unreliable over a range
of temperatures and other conditions, and you can spend days simply getting the
adjustments correct.

Even though I would consider myself (more or less) competent to design the
controller the OP requires, I see no reason to build something that must be
commercially available. It just makes no sense to continually "reinvent the
wheel". It is not a good use of your time and the end result is unlikely to be
cheaper than, or superior to, the commercial product.

Vaughn

homeboy465

2006-12-11, 9:25 am

"Vaughn Simon" <vaughnsimonHATESSPAM@att.FAKE.net> wrote in message
news:5ZVeh.181328$Fi1.176137@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "homeboy465" <homeboy465@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:W5Seh.89800$qd7.40531@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> Just my experience: I would never use a 555 or any analog device for a
> time delay that runs into the hours. I have found them to be unreliable
> over a range of temperatures and other conditions, and you can spend days
> simply getting the adjustments correct.
>
> Even though I would consider myself (more or less) competent to design
> the controller the OP requires, I see no reason to build something that
> must be commercially available. It just makes no sense to continually
> "reinvent the wheel". It is not a good use of your time and the end
> result is unlikely to be cheaper than, or superior to, the commercial
> product.
>
> Vaughn
>
the 555 was just to sat that that is a n easy timer i wouldn;t suggets taht
as i long term system you can get cheep and efective chips that do all that
in ione now i have never seen a starter, as was asked for, on general sales
they are usually specialist items and are usually hand built them from what
i have seen opof people that had the old push button starts that became a
fastion (thanks greatly to films like back to the futuure with biffs car). i
was making a suggestion mearly that if you do know where they are available
that do the exact task that is needed included the 5 min delay between the
starting and the acutal using then by all means put a link so that richard
can get one.

GMM50

2006-12-20, 5:25 pm

On Dec 10, 5:37 am, Richard Salter <rwsal...@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
> Hi , I am after a simple device to auto start a diesel motor to charge
> my solar batteries when the sun is down .
> Basically a system
>
> * to sense when the voltage is down eg 11.9volts
> * Turn on the engine . it has a 3 wire start up , on/off , and
> starter motor on off
> * the generator has a oil pressure switch so this can be used to
> measure if it is running
> * Then I need to let the motor warm up for say 5 minutes , and then
> turn on the alternator circuits to start charging my 12 volt
> batteries
> * The unit would need to run for maybe 2 hours , and then have a rest.
>
> If anyone has a similar device that has been succesful I would love to
> hear , I am also reasonably able to build something up from a circuit
> if it is not possible to get something simple off the shelf.
>
> Thanks for reading my message Richard

Look up a PentaMetric Meter from Bogart Engineering.

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