Hello AACians,

I previously posted a problem I had with my Generator Start/Stop button which does not start the engine but stops it. After so much checking, it happens there was a problem with some components responsible for starting the engine but the one for stopping is good. So, there's a new seperate button installed to turn on the Engine while the main Start/Stop is used to stop it. The improvised Start Button is a one button switch which is pushed and held down a few seconds for the kick to run and choke to activate before releasing it, the Main Start/Stop Button used to off the engine is Conductive Rubber kind of switch and it is pushed down for like 2 - 3 seconds to turn the engine off.

In my place, it's a 2-storey building of flats and for obvious reasons of vibration which may cause the building harm, all occupants of the storey flats can not use their gen in their flats. A large room was built in front of the main building which would house all the generators and wire connections already made to each flats. There's a watchman that makes sure the Generator-house is locked everytime so I have to go look for the watchman to ask him to open the room so I can start my Generator.

I would like to make a remote which can be used to start/stop the generator without having to find the watchman everytime. It's not necessary the remote works from my flat, I can just get downstairs, stand near the Generator-house and press the remote to start or stop the generator. I would like to know which kind of remote kit I need for this to work considering my type of START BUTTON and STOP BUTTON installed on the generator.

Thanks for reading and contributions.

 

... The most expedient solution would be to examine the Start and Stop buttons that are on the generator, and determine which wires are critical ... possibly just two required for each switch ... and route an appropriate cable to the exterior of the generator house. There should be some sort of keylock switch available ... it would be described as a momentary switch ... that could be mounted outside of the generator building. A brief turn of each switch would be all that is necessary to either start or stop the generator.

 

Can the switches be hard-wired to the outside of the building?
You could put the switches in a lock box.

If you want a wireless control, is there any power available to power the receiver in the building when you need to start the generator?
If not then you would need a battery with a charger for the receiver.

 

Can the switches be hard-wired to the outside of the building?
You could put the switches in a lock box.

If you want a wireless control, is there any power available to power the receiver in the building when you need to start the generator?
If not then you would need a battery with a charger for the receiver.

Thanks Cruts

I don't want to hard wire the switches on the gen to the outside of the building because 1. It might call for doing dents on the building wall which the house owner would frown at. 2. Unauthorized presses from other occupants of the house.

The gen uses a 12v 18ah battery and would be nice if that could work in powering the receiver. I don't even mind getting a dedicated battery for the receiver. It would even be better if it can make use of Rechargeable batteries like phone batteries or 18650s, I can do the magics on that side.

 

... The most expedient solution would be to examine the Start and Stop buttons that are on the generator, and determine which wires are critical ... possibly just two required for each switch ... and route an appropriate cable to the exterior of the generator house. There should be some sort of keylock switch available ... it would be described as a momentary switch ... that could be mounted outside of the generator building. A brief turn of each switch would be all that is necessary to either start or stop the generator.

Yes I can get the 2 wires responsible for the Start and Stop buttons. I don't want to do some sort of modifications to the building as it is a rented appartment.

 

hi Khaleef,
Have you considered the safety aspects of this project.?
Remotely starting a generator in a building that is shared by other users who may be near the generator and out of sight from your location.?
E

 

The gen uses a 12v 18ah battery and would be nice if that could work in powering the receiver.

That would work to power the receiver, but you would likely have to add a battery charger to maintain the battery (if you don't do that already).
For a remote, you should be able to use a dual-channel remote relay, like one of these.
I think they can be set to operate in a momentary fashion.
You just wire the relay contacts in parallel with the PB switches on the generator.

 

Being looking at some Remotes on AliExpress, I found something like this (image attached)

Anyone knows if this could work? Or what word do I have to look for in the description of the item to know if it'll work.

 

Anyone knows if this could work? Or what word do I have to look for in the description of the item to know if it'll work.

It should work but you need to determine if it can be set to operate the relays in a momentary mode (relays only energize as long as the button is pressed).

 

hi Khaleef,
Have you considered the safety aspects of this project.?
Remotely starting a generator in a building that is shared by other users who may be near the generator and out of sight from your location.?
E

Thank you Eric,

The Generator building is a big room built on the ground floor for ONLY Generators. Occupants of several flats have their Generators in that room. As an occupant, you only go into that room if you need to start your Generator which you immediately return to your flat when the gen is running.

I don't think there's any harm in someone just seeing a gen start on it's own without anyone physically doing it because that's the only mystery I can cause with this project.

 

That would work to power the receiver, but you would likely have to add a battery charger to maintain the battery (if you don't do that already).
For a remote, you should be able to use a dual-channel remote relay, like one of these.
I think they can be set to operate in a momentary fashion.
You just wire the relay contacts in parallel with the PB switches on the generator.

Yes the generator recharges the 12v18ah battery.

I guess I would simply jump wires from the battery to the receiver? And what component can be added to that connection to avoid the charging current directly going to the receiver as well?

 

It should work but you need to determine if it can be set to operate the relays in a momentary mode (relays only energize as long as the button is pressed).

The relays is actually what I doubt. Both the generator Start and Stop button both requires to be pushed down 3 - 4 seconds before the engine Turns on and Off

 

Hello Crutschow.

I just watched one review of one of those remote and yes, it has a Momentary Mode setting where the switch is active as long as the button on the remote is pressed.

Would order that now.

Would give feedback when I receive and fixes it.

Thanks.

 

Since the generator is basically like a car, why not adapt one of the many car remote start systems? They even include a way to shut down the starter once the engine is running. Don't think you could build and troubleshoot one as cheaply as one of the ready made systems.

Just one of the many ones available, shown as an example not as an endorsement. https://www.viper.com/car/remotestart/

 

Don't think you could build and troubleshoot one as cheaply as one of the ready made systems.

The remote relay system he's looking at is typically only about $10, and a remote starter goes from something like ten times that much.
All he needs to do is remotely close one of two push-button contacts.
He doesn't need the automatic features of the remote start systems, since he can stand near the generator building and hear it start.