Hi Kari,
I replicated the SOM features but only for remote start/stop and automated monitoring.
My setup is a bit odd in that running an air compressor is my primary function, generator secondary. Because I had air and a large receiver tank I use an air starter (Gast 4AM) with rubber drive wheel, air cylinder for engagement pressure, and air cylinders for rack closer and exhaust valve lifter. Air has it's advantages and the economy of cheap cylinder actuators operated by small inexpensive 12V solenoid valves and 1/4 drip tubes. It does also have a downside- the air motor consumes a lot of air, and pilot valves, check valves and compressor unloader valves all so leak some.
I also added oil level sensing and a vibration sensor, plus generator load sensing and compressor idle sensing. So it can shut itself off after 10 minutes of no load, unless I have the remote no load override switch turned on.
Its controlled at both Listeroid and remote control ends by a Picaxe 40X chips programmed in Pixaxe Basic. It uses a CAT5 cable for the remote control. I can share code and schematics with forum members up to the task. There are no PCBs, its all hand wired on perf boards. If I was starting over today I'd seriously consider a redesign for the Arduino, which I have used since for a couple projects. Mostly you need a lot of logic level gate, low side mosfets to control your actuators.
The simplistic DC bias on the AC line of the SOM is less ideal for today's lighting and other electronic loads, but I expect with some modern IC circuit redesign, the same concept could be used. I had no need for auto start, remote start with auto shut down control was fine for me.
Hey Thomas,
Regarding generator power quality and electronics; most electronics are now switch mode power supply driven, with the first stage of it being a bridge rectifier to bulk capacitor. They are mostly immune to problems like waveform issues and harmonics that are typical for gensets. In fact, i operate my computer gear entirely on 120VDC, with standard 120VAC switching power supplies. In a case of severe EMI on the generator power you might need to add a simple common mode choke filter. In my case I found that 0.1 uF snubber capactors on each diode of the excitation bridge was highly effective in supressing most of the conducted AC power EMI, so I did not need to add a passive filter.
A commercial inverter will often have worse conducted high frequency interference (EMI ) than your generator.
Best Wishes,
Bruce
