Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

You guys are making up for grs's Generac customers :thumbsup:.

Much better than Ignore for 5+ years Then wonder why No Start......

Rgds, D.

 

[nikdfish]

Interesting option Nik - remote data reporting at a minimum..... options allow remote control Start/Stop and Transfer ?

Rgds, D.

Not sure of all the potential features, but the tech did mention remote clearing of faults to allow a restart as well as more detailed status info. Currently you have to go to the control panel to clear a fault which may be set, for example, if the engine didn't start up quickly enough.

 

[3930dave]

Not sure of all the potential features, but the tech did mention remote clearing of faults to allow a restart as well as more detailed status info. Currently you have to go to the control panel to clear a fault which may be set, for example, if the engine didn't start up quickly enough.

That makes sense. Obviously some faults will require service, but I can see being able to Reset remotely as potentially quite useful.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

The wifi does not allow for remote start and stop....wish it could. The main issue is there is no way to remotely disconnect transfer switch before remotely stopping or starting generator. You DO NOT want to shut down or start generator under load.....not a good thing.

If generac would have designed transfer mechagnism to operate under 12 volts instead of 240 volts, it would have been an easy work around to wirelessly start and stop.

The new wifi generators, with a $49 per year subscription, allows (at the current time) generator status ie running, ready to run, error, etc,
Can set exercise time, can contact service tech, can monitor propane level with optional propane tank monitor, full run error history and can automatically upload any firmware updates.

Will allow for future upgrades to wifi system.

Generac will introduce an update to existing mobil link cellular monitoring systems that will allow them to operate on 4g and 5 g system as verizon phases out existing systems.

I believe they are also working on a work arround to add wifi to older evolution generators, but nothing is confirmed at this time. The wifi units use a different controller and have a wifi antenna.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If you have power outages, chances are it played helll with your Internet access and LAN. Any control devices or schemes I intend to use during outages are far removed from IT. Hard wire, stand alone radio, or even copper phone line.

There must be something about IP devices that don't let them come back on line quickly and automatically after a power failure. That's the last stuff in the world, I want to be messing with in an emergency. It either works or it doesn't, you don't know what it's doing, you can't troubleshoot it, it's totally out of your control.

Unrelated. There is a rather interesting and informative (3 part) youtube video about a guy buying a $25.00 Portable
Generac Generator at Lowes. I watched it on my phone so have no link. But do a Youtube search, $25.00 Lowes Generac Generator.

 

[Fallon]

If you have power outages, chances are it played helll with your Internet access and LAN. Any control devices or schemes I intend to use during outages are far removed from IT. Hard wire, stand alone radio, or even copper phone line.

There must be something about IP devices that don't let them come back on line quickly and automatically after a power failure. That's the last stuff in the world, I want to be messing with in an emergency. It either works or it doesn't, you don't know what it's doing, you can't troubleshoot it, it's totally out of your control.

Unrelated. There is a rather interesting and informative (3 part) youtube video about a guy buying a $25.00 Portable
Generac Generator at Lowes.

As a sysadmin for the past 2 decades I'm fully capable of getting that IT gear back online. But no way I'd want to be messing with that during or after an outage. You are relying on your ISP to have proper UPS & generator backups as well. Not to mention potential issues with the wires. Cell is a little better, but not by orders of magnitude.

 

[ultrarunner]

One thing I have seen is typical home owners are woefully ignorant when it comes to basic household systems... let alone custom or specialized.

Friends In-laws bought a home with a generator it was an expensive home in the hills with a panoramic view... the generator was in an enclosed storage space under the Driveway...

The new owners were away for the weekend at Tahoe... power went out, generator started... problem is the generator was under moving boxes and Christmas Decorations... which caught fire... burned the beams supporting the concrete driveway and fire traveled to the home... before a neighbor investigated and called the fire department.


The home owners tried to sue everyone... saying they were not instructed on generator operation and there should have been an enclosure or protection so items could not be stacked on top...


As a property manager I have run into some scary situations...

Tenant hooked up gas clothes dryer with garden hose!!!

Tenant's kid piled laundry up against water heater and started house fire...

Tenant used electrical drop from house to detached garage as clothes line...

But the generator buried under packing boxes and Christmas Decorations did about 100k in damage... all through simple negligence...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I once worked with an electrician. Fixed some circuits in a hoarder ladies house. Fixed one heater, but didn't know he livened up a baseboard heater in another room packed with junk and started a fire.

I have the facility to auto start my back up systems but I don't want the generator running while I am not here. Murphy just loves stuff like that! Nothing critical anyway. Just fridge and freezer.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm in escrow for a property that is wired for back up generator and has 3 array solar with Sunny Boy Hardware???

Property owner passed away... so I will need to figure a lot out... as well as 18 station irrigation, alarm, Fire Sprinklered, CCTV, etc... no one to ask... so I figure I will still be learning things a year after Escrow Closes!!!

Should be interesting... my Honda EM 5000 is the largest quality Genset I have followed by a WINCO single cylinder Natural Gas with 30 amp transfer I picked up years ago... it is LOUD!

I may dedicate one for the back up... but would have to make the LOUD genset quiet to use it... plus the gas service may be too small.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Hope you have CCTV and security passwords. You would be surprised how many people don't even know them for their own stuff.