Xantrex Technology AGS User Manual

Xantrex
Automatic Generator
Start Control System

AGS

Owner's Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................3

Main Features ............................................................................3

Safety Summary ........................................................................ 3

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ................................................4

THEORY OF OPERATION ........................................................5

System .......................................................................................5

OPERATION ..............................................................................6

GEN ON Light ............................................................................6

GEN FAULT Light ......................................................................6

ON/OFF MODE Switch ..............................................................6

SET TIME Switch ......................................................................7

TIME ZONE Switch ....................................................................7

SELECT Switch ..........................................................................7

Programming LOCAL TIME and QUIET TIME (Setup) ............. 7

INSTALLATION..........................................................................8

AGS Remote Panel .................................................................... 8

AGS Controller ...........................................................................8

INSTALLATION DIAGRAM........................................................10

COMMON QUESTIONS ............................................................12

PARAMETER VALUES ..............................................................12

TROUBLESHOOTING...............................................................13

GLOSSARY ...............................................................................14

WARRANTY...............................................................................15

SPECIFICATIONS ..................................................................... 19

Notice of Copyright

Automatic Generator Start Control System © October 2002 Xantrex International. All rights
reserved.

Xantrex is a registered trademark of Xantrex International.

Disclaimer

UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, XANTREX TECHNOLOGY INC.
(“XANTREX”)

(a) MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY OR SUITABILITY
OF ANY TECHNICAL OR OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ITS MANUALS OR OTHER
DOCUMENTATION.

(b) ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE,
WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL, WHICH MIGHT
ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF SUCH INFORMATION. THE USE OF ANY SUCH
INFORMATION WILL BE ENTIRELY AT THE USER’S RISK.

Date and Revision October 2002, Revision 1 Part Number 445-0190-01-01

Contact Information Web: www.xantrex.com Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone] (toll free), 1-604-422-2777 (direct)
Fax: [phone]

2

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing a Xantrex Automatic Generator
Start Control System. Xantrex Technology Inc. takes pride in
manufacturing quality products specifically designed to meet
your needs.

Main Features

The Automatic Generator Start Control System (AGS) auto­matically controls and monitors an auxiliary generator. It will
automatically start a generator as required to charge a
battery bank or as heating or cooling systems require. You
can also set allowable generator run times, so that the
AGS does not turn on the generator at inconvenient times.

SAFETY SUMMARY
General safety information for installation and operation
is contained throughout this manual where it applies
and is not completely included in this summary.

Definitions

Warning statements identify conditions or practices which
could result in personal injury, loss of life, damage to equip­ment or other property.

Fuse Replacement

For continued protection against the possibility of fire, replace
the fuse only with a fuse of the specified voltage, current and
type ratings.

Power Source

To avoid damage, operate the equipment only within the
specified AC (line) and DC (battery) voltages.

Servicing

There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer all service
to qualified personnel.

3

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

The Automatic Generator Start Control System (AGS) has the
following features:

Starts the generator automatically in response to a low
battery. The AGS continuously monitors the house battery and

will start the generator automatically if the battery is low.

Starts the generator automatically in response to air condi­tioning/heating requests. The AGS continually monitors the air

conditioning system and starts the generator, as required by the
air conditioning system.
Setting of QUIET TIME. QUIET TIME periods of one hour or
more can be entered to prevent automatic operation of the gen­erator during inappropriate times.
Easy changing of time setting. A TIME ZONE indicator is pro­vided for easy changing of local time when travelling.
Displays generator status. The Remote Panel indicates if the
generator is on (GEN ON) and if the generator has a problem
(GEN FAULT).

This system...

• allows the user to have confidence that the battery will
not be completely discharged and the DC systems will be
operational. The AGS is not dependent on shorepower and
will maintain the system even if small appliances and gen­eral lighting are on.

• provides generator power to operate the heating or
cooling systems. This will allow you (and your pets) to be
comfortable.

The system is not intended...

• to be left unattended.

• to keep batteries fully charged. The charge period is
normally two to four hours.

• to maintain area temperature at a specific temperature.

• for use with all air conditioners, heaters, heat pumps and
generators.

4

THEORY OF OPERATION

System

The AGS system, when in AUTO or AUTO QUIET TIME
mode, continuously monitors the house battery and two air
conditioning/heater thermostats.

If the LOCAL TIME of day is not within the AUTO QUIET
TIME window, it will start the generator to charge the battery
or to cool or heat as required.

The AGS system is invisible to the normal operation of the
auxiliary generator manual start and stop controls with the
following exceptions:

1. If the generator is started by the AGS, which is in
AUTO or AUTO QUIET TIME mode, the selection of OFF at
the AGS Remote Panel will stop the auxiliary generator.

2. If the AGS system commands the generator to start
and it does, the AGS system will stop the generator at the
appropriate time. If the generator stops for some other
reason, even if it is turned Off by a manual switch other than
the AGS, the AGS system will assume that there is a FAULT.
It will turn itself OFF and turn on the GEN FAULT light. At
this point, the AGS system must be turned on to the AUTO
mode or AUTO QUIET TIME mode for it to resume control of
the generator.

Once started by the AGS system, the generator will run for a
minimum of two hours. This will ensure that there is a good
charge in the battery, although it may not be fully charged at
the end of the cycle. If the battery voltage does not reach

13.5 volts during the two-hour period, the generator will
continue to run for an additional two hours. If at the end of
the second two-hour period the battery voltage is still not up
to 13.5 volts, then the AGS systems assumes that there is a
problem and turns the generator OFF. It must be restarted
manually.

5

OPERATION

GEN ON Light

The GEN ON light is on whenever the generator is running. This
includes when the auxiliary generator is run manually.
DEFAULT: Light OFF

GEN FAULT Light

The generator has failed to start or has stopped during AGS
control. This will happen if the generator is manually stopped by a
generator start/stop switch that is independent of the AGS. Cy­cling the ON/OFF switch will clear the fault. Check generator for
normal operation.
DEFAULT: OFF

ON/OFF MODE Switch

On/Off

When it is off, the OFF light is illuminated.
DEFAULT: OFF mode.

AUTO Mode

In AUTO mode, the Control Module will respond to requests for
generator start from a low battery condition or from an air condi­tioning demand.

AUTO QUIET Mode

In AUTO QUIET mode (both lights on at the same time) the Control
Module will respond to requests from low battery or air condition­ing because the time is outside of the user-set Quiet Time. In
AUTO QUIET mode (AUTO light on and QUIET light blinking) the
AGS will not respond to requests for low battery or thermostats
starting because the Local Time is within the

6

Pressing the ON/OFF switch changes the status of
the AGS from OFF to AUTO to AUTO QUIET mode.

Quiet Time window.