Remote Genny start / monitor

[PaulF007]

Okay I have been playing with the idea to have my genny remotely started and would like some imput from julle slim manne:

1. I will use a Sim900 shield to control a Arduino board and some relays 
2. Use the BMV as a "Warning System"

Usage:

• Setup the BMV to close the contacts or open  ( you will either have a pull up or down on the Microcontroller) if a certain SOC is reached 
• This will trigger a SMS that will be sent to your phone notifying you of the status.
• Then you can SMS the Controller to start the Genny ( Having it check the oil , Diesel , and what not first) 
• If started recieve a SMS that notify you all is running  
• Then once the SOC is at a set level it will send command to genny that will turn it off and send SMS to inform.

First before I ga and reinvent the wheal completely has anyone here done this before?  

I assume that there could be some redundancy Issues with the Arduino but to date I haven't had any on other projects. 

Any other ideas that could be incorporated

( O ja keep in mind this would be for a Off grid situation so it would not be nessary to have a Change over but I am considering to have some way of allowing the genny to warm up before the load is applied)

 

[Guest]

Clever! Stil under human control, the starting of the gennie. I like.

I have similar tameltjie to sort. At last I am getting to a point to have it done.

Want to alter the BMV's min and max SOC settings based on certain parameters gleaned from data recorded, to end up at the baseline I want set.

Redundancy the biggest concern to sort if one does change the BMV settings and the software stops working.

[PaulF007]

Nice unit must have cost a pretty penny.

[SilverNodashi]

6 hours ago, PaulF007 said:

Okay I have been playing with the idea to have my genny remotely started and would like some imput from julle slim manne:

1. I will use a Sim900 shield to control a Arduino board and some relays 
2. Use the BMV as a "Warning System"

Usage:

• Setup the BMV to close the contacts or open  ( you will either have a pull up or down on the Microcontroller) if a certain SOC is reached 
• This will trigger a SMS that will be sent to your phone notifying you of the status.
• Then you can SMS the Controller to start the Genny ( Having it check the oil , Diesel , and what not first) 
• If started recieve a SMS that notify you all is running  
• Then once the SOC is at a set level it will send command to genny that will turn it off and send SMS to inform.

First before I ga and reinvent the wheal completely has anyone here done this before?  

I assume that there could be some redundancy Issues with the Arduino but to date I haven't had any on other projects. 

Any other ideas that could be incorporated

( O ja keep in mind this would be for a Off grid situation so it would not be nessary to have a Change over but I am considering to have some way of allowing the genny to warm up before the load is applied)

 

Yeah, make sure your code doesn't run too many checks or the Arduino will lock-up. 

[PaulF007]

12 hours ago, SilverNodashi said:

Yeah, make sure your code doesn't run too many checks or the Arduino will lock-up.

Also went through my mind. Decided that I will have the Oil Pressure and the Fuel switch running trough 2x replay and if any one low the genny wont start , and just have a Error sms , as you would have to go check anyway. 

Does anyone know of local suppliers that could have panel meters preferably a Volt , Hz and maybe a Amp meter (for my unit it would be Max 20A) , It would be nice if it could be Digital .

I need to rebuild the main board on the genny and might as well upgrade everything while I am at it. 

[SilverNodashi]

24 minutes ago, PaulF007 said:

Also went through my mind. Decided that I will have the Oil Pressure and the Fuel switch running trough 2x replay and if any one low the genny wont start , and just have a Error sms , as you would have to go check anyway. 

Does anyone know of local suppliers that could have panel meters preferably a Volt , Hz and maybe a Amp meter (for my unit it would be Max 20A) , It would be nice if it could be Digital .

I need to rebuild the main board on the genny and might as well upgrade everything while I am at it. 

VDO panel meters are available everywhere, but they're analog. Might work for general monitoring, thought not digitally. 

A supplier here in Boksburg sells a lot of panel meters, http://www.electrahertz.co.za/download-catalogue/metering/digital-panel-meters-measuring-monitoring-instruments-e-6.pdf

These guys also stock a lot: http://www.instrumentsgroup.co.za/index_files/digital_panel_meters.htm

Otherwise, the guys who do sound installations, sell car mods (i.e. audio systems, grills, spoilers, etc) also generally stock a lot of these gauges. Midas and other spares shops will have them as well. 

This is also nice:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/242273774/100V_10A_DC_Combo_Meter_Volt_Amp_Power_Watt_Capacity_Panel_Meter_Monitor_for_Ol.html

 

[PaulF007]

11 minutes ago, SilverNodashi said:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/242273774/100V_10A_DC_Combo_Meter_Volt_Amp_Power_Watt_Capacity_Panel_Meter_Monitor_for_Ol.html

I also had this one on my list but it is in DC - and I need AC , Fleebay has quite a couple of nice ones flouting but Ai the shipping take forever...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-IN-1-DIGITAL-TRIPLE-RED-LED-DISPLAY-AC-V-Hz-Current-Working-Time-PANEL-METER-/172306090635?hash=item281e3e4a8b:g:na4AAOSwMmBVonWZ

[Guest]

Just wondering, why not offer Tinker some money for his, seeing he is not going to use his?

[viper_za]

@SilverNodashi do you know a supplier in Centurion area that would be able to troubleshoot a Lovato RGK 60 controller.
It is refusing to take any input commands on the Start/Stop/Auto/Manual buttons. Can scroll through the menus and check/change settings

Edit
Gives no error messages

Edited September 13, 2016 by viper_za

[PaulF007]

@TinkerBoy could that be an option?

[DeepBass9]

I got a 220V Hz meter from here : http://lantis.co.za/ocols/index.php?route=product/product&path=67_164&product_id=1556

They have an AC digital voltmeter as well :http://lantis.co.za/ocols/index.php?route=product/product&path=67_164&product_id=2048

I also bought an hour meter from them, useful for service intervals : http://lantis.co.za/ocols/index.php?route=product/product&path=67_164&product_id=1596 . One of these weekends I'm going to install one of the old Eskom analogue meters that came out of my Eskom box as well, so I can see kWh produced from the generator directly. 

 

 

[SilverNodashi]

1 hour ago, viper_za said:

@SilverNodashi do you know a supplier in Centurion area that would be able to troubleshoot a Lovato RGK 60 controller.
It is refusing to take any input commands on the Start/Stop/Auto/Manual buttons. Can scroll through the menus and check/change settings

Edit
Gives no error messages

Sorry, I don't work with gensets, don't know the suppliers in that field.