Generator Remote Start Switch Help Needed

[Skykingrob]

When I bough my bus, there was a 12.5 kohler generator in the bay. I want to install a remote start switch at the drivers position, the kitchen and bedroom. It is a diesel generator. I called Kohler, there is no longer the remote start switch with cable available from them for this model generator. Not even an alternative. I called Dick Wright, but Justin, his right hand man, was no help as he had nothing that would work for a single position let alone for 3 different spots. I need ideas. The generator has a box mounted over the generator portion with a glowplug switch and start stop switch, so I can start it but I don't want to have to go to the bay to do so. Ideas would be helpful, but please, I am no electronics expert, so make them simple. Thanks guys

Rob
91 LeMirage XL
Missouri

[H3Jim]

The 12k genset I I bought from Dick Wright does exactly that.  I have a switch on the generator quiet box, a switch inside the bus on my  power panel halfway back, and a third one by the driver.  I have not had the best of luck with Dick's (W)right hand men, Justin included.  I'd ask again, and definitey try to talk to Dick.

[Tom Y]

Rob, Not sure what you have.  So I would look at your switch, probally a SPDT center off and on each way with spring return to center. Probally 12v on the center terminal and you put 12v on one wire and the starter runs 12v on the other and it kills it and runs the glow plugs. If this is correct you can but toggle or rocker switches. I just ordered some for 2.50 each ( a toggle w/out a light ). Probally not much to it. You need to take a volt meter to it. If you want to drive it to Pa I will look at it. Snowing hard tonigh though. Tom Y

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Rob,

Check this guy out, I'll bet he has the start switch your looking for

http://www.flightsystems.com/Kohler_generator_controls/rebuilding_services.htm

Good Luck
Nick-

[Sean]

You don't say what year and model you have, but most Kohler generators made in the last several years utilize what is called a "two wire start" system.  What this means is that the glow plug activation, crank time, and retry-backoff timers and counts are all pre-programmed into the unit (and usually settable through the front panel), and the unit then starts (and runs) with a simple SPST switch.  When the switch is closed, the unit starts automatically, and remains running until the switch is opened again.

Please note that this method is distinctly different from (and incompatible with) so-called "three wire start" generators, such as the ones Dick Wright sells.  This later type may actually be more common in the coach market.  This is a non-automated type of start-stop system, where, as noted by other posters above, a voltage is applied to one wire to heat the glow plugs, and to a different wire to crank the engine.  Stopping the generator on this system involves applying a voltage momentarily to a wire, which is often the same wire as the "glow" wire, but may be yet another wire altogether.

With the two-wire setup common on Kohlers, you can simply run the two wires from the remote start terminals out to a remote SPST switch someplace.  If you want to be able to start and stop the unit from multiple locations, however, you may have some work to do.

You can, of course, simply run several SPST switches in parallel.  The drawback to this is that you then must stop the unit from whichever switch was used to start the unit.

One solution to this is to use "three-way" switches (and "N-way," if more than two switches are needed), wired the same way as for a conventional multi-switch lighting application.  A more elegant solution is to use momentary switches to close and open a latching or self-holding relay  to do the work.

Latching relays are commonly available from sources such as Allied and Newark, and maybe even Grainger.  Also, the Intellitec Battery Disconnect solenoid is a type of latching relay that is overkill for what you need, but commonly discounted at RV surplus stores.

HTH,

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.US