BCM Community

Hi All,

I'm having an issue with a 10kw powertech generator.   Starts, runs fine, but when shutting down, the voltage just withers away instead of abruptly stopping.  This slow decline tricks my inverters(2 xantrex 2500's) and they don't pick up and come on line soon enough to prevent all the electronics from resetting.  Very annoying.

Anyone have a solution.  I would like the voltage to break when the stop button is pushed.  Maybe a relay to drop the transfer switch, some other creative idea.

Thanks  Dick Egler

If your generator is passing it's output through a relay that must be powered up to do that, then shutting off that relay's coil power at the same time as you shut the generator off will cause an abrupt power loss. The relay or circuit could just cut the exciter power and accomplich the same time.

I have seen a generator rigged this way in the past. This does not mean that it's the best solution.

Good luck with your generator.

Tom Caffrey

I have the same generator.  My proceedure for shutting down is to first turn off all appliances, compartment and radiator blower, and then turn off the circuit breaker to the generator.  This relieves all stress on both the mechanical and electrical parts in the generator to make for a clean shut off-and one that the inverter can detect to quickly switch from generator to inverter service hence keeping all electronic devices properly powered up to retain their settings.  Maybe this simple shut down procedure should be adopted for all your reasons.  Cutting off from land line should be treated the same.  Good Luck, TomC

If your transfer switch is "generator priority" (meaning that's the side that gets connected when both sides have input power), then the simplest thing to do would be to put a switch in the coil circuit.

If your generator shuts down with a momentary switch, replace it with a two-pole model and use the second set of contacts.

If you really want to get fancy, you can put a delay timer in so that when you press the shutdown button, the transfer switch disconnects immediately, and then 30-60 seconds later, the genny shuts down.  This would give it the recommended "cool down" period with no load on it.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)