Auto genny on/off?

[gotmuddy]

I was wondering if it would be possible to get the generator to turn on when the batteries reach a certain voltage when using an inverter to keep the batteries from dying completely?

[paul iossi]

no problem, all it takes is money, in florida it's the law that any facility that is life critical (hospitals,nursinghomes,police/fire stations etc, automatically switch to standby power within 10 seconds of the first sign of a power outage.
you need an automatic transfer switch that will start the genny when bat V reaches a designated set point

[gotmuddy]

So thats what a transfer switch does? I will look into that, thanks

[Redbear]

Some of the inverters or inverter/chargers above the basic models have an AC transfer switch built in - when they see AC from a shoreline or genny they stop inverting and transfer the load to the external source. I think we paid about $400 for some small inverters with no charger but automatic change-over, to use in UPS fashion with external batteries already present. Important: whatever does the power transfer must transfer the neutral as well as the hot lead(s).

Top-of the line inverters will even do the genny run request, though you may have to buy the companion remote control to set the start/stop points. A friend had a Xantrex in his RV, and I had downloaded and studied a remote control manual so I could provide "tech support." A "GS" (Generator Start) series Xantrex inverter with a RC/GS remote will let you run the genny from your armchair, and even has a programmable "Quiet Hours" feature so it will delay the auto-start if you are in a park that restricts noise.

I'm sure there are other brands out there that will do the same thing, if you hunt around.