Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

typical AGS modules, whether Onan EC-30 or the Magnum AGS do NOT automatically start the generator simply because Shore Power is lost - there is only TWO reasons that it would, REGARDLESS of whether these is even Shore Power or not:

- Battery VOLTAGE level reading: if the voltage reading of the House Batteries falls below a set number, such as 11.9volts, then the AGS calls for the generator to Prime, and then Crank, to run and provide power to RECHARGE the batteries. It will run for the set time, called 'RUN TIME' that the owner sets - NOT an amount of time to get the batteries to a certain level. It is totally TIME driven.

- Temperature: If the AGS temperature sensor, or an integrated sensor reading from the air conditioner's Thermostat, rises ABOVE the set level, the AGS then primes and starts the generator, so that the Air Conditioner can then 'run'. This can be a little confusing, though, as there is a procedure for 'how' to set the AGS Temp Level and how to set the Air Conditioner's Thermostat setting, so that the A/C unit is 'ready' when the generator starts providing power - otherwise the generator could come on, and yet the a/c unit NOT provide cooling the whole time the generator runs. The AGS 'RUN TIME' setting ALSO applies to this. If you want the a/c units to run 'longer', set it for 1 or 2 hours, but if you want it to run only for 30 minutes, the minimum, set it to that. Whether the a/c unit continues to cool the whole time will be determined by the Thermostat, but won't effect the running of the generator, even if the a/c unit turns off in the mean time.

Some higher-end AGS modules can develop profiles and settings that allow the owner to more 'customize' the outcomes, but the basics usually work just fine.


Now, one way to 'get around' the lack of the 'loss of shore power to instantly start the generator' is to simply set the AGS Volts Level to a very high number, such as 12.5 volts or higher, so that the loss of power causes the AGS to kick in much quicker than it would otherwise.