Home Power Station. The use of automation to control the operation of the generator

Electric power generators. What is it? This is comfort. This is security. This is confidence. Confidence in yourself, in your home. The presence of a generator in your own home today will not surprise anyone. Today, a petrol or diesel generator is not a luxury - it has already become an urgent need. After all, with the loss of electricity, life in the house freezes - there is no water, there is no heat, there is no light ...

Some problems can be solved using UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supplies. Functionally, the UPS acts as a familiar UPS for computers. The only difference is that the UPS is designed for more power and for a longer time.

The duration of operation depends only on the capacity of the batteries. But these devices have significant drawbacks - limited time, high price. Using the UPS is optimal in the most critical areas, in particular - for powering the heating boiler, emergency lighting, alarm.

But as they say, there are no hopeless situations. An alternative source of electricity can solve uninterruptible power problems - mini-power station - benzo or diesel generator. The most common types of generators use gasoline or diesel as fuel. Recently, generators appeared on the generator market, where gas is used - natural or liquefied gas.

The power of generators used in everyday life ranges from 500 W to 100 kW. Generators of average power are most in demand - from 6 to 15 kW, about as much is necessary for the normal existence of medium-sized houses. For normal operation of the generator, it is necessary to take into account the rated power, and if possible, turn off the most energy-intensive consumers - electric fireplace, boiler, electric stoves, air conditioners.

Almost all medium and high power generators are equipped with an electric starter, which greatly facilitates the operation of generators. To start work it is enough to press a button or turn the ignition key and the station is ready for work.

Some models from more advanced generators are equipped built-in autorun system-AVRom. The automation operation algorithm is approximately the following: ATS (automatic input of reserve) controls the presence of voltage in the city network.

In the event of a power failure in the city network, the generator automatically starts and supplies voltage to the consumer. When a voltage appears in the network, the ABP automatically switches the consumer to electrical networks and stops the generator. But this device (ABP) is only in a few generators. The ABP operation algorithm is quite simple and almost the same for all.

The presence of automation greatly simplifies and makes working with the generator much easier and more comfortable, and practically does not require your participation in the process of starting-stopping the generator, connecting-disconnecting the load.

At first, our “Kulibins” assembled automation at home, which, of course, made it quite primitive, although the functions assigned to it were carried out correctly.

Modern ABPs are quite “smart” devices. Automation controls not only the presence of voltage in the network, but also its quality. Monitoring is carried out by voltage, frequency, shows the hours worked. Upon reaching a certain number of accumulated hours, ATS signals this, or makes a ban on starting the generator.

In case of use in three-phase networks, the ATS controls the sequence of phases.So, if the voltage in the network drops below a predetermined voltage, or the frequency has changed, the ATS takes this as an accident and puts the generator into operation. When stabilizing the voltage in the network, a reverse switching occurs on the mains.

The automation of the budget option is assembled on cheaper parts. The operation of the device can be judged by only a few LEDs. The cost of this device starts from $ 100 and above. To this amount it is worth adding value contactors. For example, one ABB contactor at 63A costs about $ 80. And they need 2 pieces. These devices are made in the form of a separate board or a small block for mounting on a DIN rail.

In more expensive models, there is already a digital display on which all information about the operation of the generator and the mains is displayed. By means of the keyboard and the panel, it is possible to independently program almost all the parameters of the automation and generator.

Also, some models provide remote control and monitoring of the generator through a PC. The cost of ABP data can range from 450 to 700 $, depending on the model of the device.

The method of execution of this device is a metal or plastic box. On the front panel there is a digital display and keyboard.

And finally, good advice. Installation of AVR should be carried out only by a professional who knows the principle of operation of the generator and automation.

Sergey Seromashenko

See also on this topic: Tips for connecting a generator to your home network