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How to program a Remote Start & Simulate Mains Available input on a DSE module and how they function

NB! Programming an input will require that you are connected to the DSE module with your PC and the configuration file needs to be downloaded on your PC.

Please follow the below steps to configure a remote start request:

Read the controller configuration settings by pushing the F5 key or selecting File – Read from module…

Navigate to Inputs – Digital Inputs, and select which input you wish to configure.

There are 2 methods of configuring a digital input for an automatic start request:

1. Simulate Mains Available
2. Remote Start – On load – Off Load

NOTE: If a DSE module is in Manual mode and the engine is not running, Remote Start Input Functions will not produce an engine start. To allow Remote Start Input Functions to issue start requests, the DSE module must be in Auto mode.

NOTE: If a DSE module is in manual mode and the engine is running, the Remote Start on Load input will open the mains and transfer load to the generator. Once the input is removed the generator will remain loaded until instructed to change state by an alarm or manual command.

1. Simulate Mains Available – This is used to start the generator based on mains status. When this input is active the controller will simulate a mains/Eskom healthy state/condition, and the Mains available LED will illuminate regardless of the Mains state/condition. This means that if there is a mains failure and this input is active, the generator will NOT start when the controller is in Auto. If you deactivate the input, the controller will look at the actual status and behave as a normal AMF (Automatic Mains Failure) module. Therefore, when this input is inactive and there is a mains failure and the DSE module is in Auto mode, the generator will start-up, as per the normal function and design.
2. Remote start on load – Is used to instruct the generator to start and close its generator breaker onto the load, regardless of mains state/condition. When this input is active, and the DSE module is in the Auto mode, the generator will start-up, open the mains and close the generator breaker onto the load. If this input is de-activated the DSE module opens the generator breaker, returns the mains to load and the generator cools down.
3. Remote start off load – If this input is active, operation is similar to the ‘Remote Start on load’ function except that the generator is not instructed to take the load. It is used to instruct the generator to start and run, leaving the generator breaker open. When this input is active, and the DSE module is in the Auto mode, the generator will start-up, the mains will remain closed and the generator breaker will remain open and off load. If the mains/Eskom fails, the mains breaker will open and the generator breaker will close onto the load – Mains failure has the highest priority over all of the inputs. If the mains remains in a healthy state/condition and this input is de-activated, the DSE module instructs the generator to stop, which occurs immediately, with no cooldown.

Examples

1. Simulate Mains Available.

If you have an inverter with backup batteries, you may not wish to run the generator during a mains failure state/condition. That is because you would be relying on the PV yield/production (if panels are installed) and the batteries to sustain your load. As we all know, these sources of power cannot sustain your load forever, so therefore if your batteries reach a certain SOC (State of Charge) AND the mains is still in a failed state/condition, you would need to send a signal to the generator to call on the diesel emergency power source.

In this case ‘Simulate Mains Available’ is typically used. We usually configure a ‘Simulate Mains Available’ – ‘Open to Activate’ input, this is because of the inverter has a dry, voltage free, normally open contact. Therefore during normal conditions, the DSE module will always have the ‘Simulate Mains Available’ input active, as there is no signal from the inverter (open). Once the SOC has reached a minimum level, the inverter will close its contact, thereby closing the ‘Simulate Mains Available’ digital input on the DSE module, thereby removing the ‘Simulate Mains Available’ function.  IF the mains is still in a failed state/condition, the DSE module will instruct the generator to run and take load – This diesel power would then be used to supply the load/s and to charge the batteries.

2. Remote start

We have already explained earlier in this document on how the Remote Start input is used and how it functions. We are going to be using the inverter example again; When using a DSE AMF module, which monitors mains and you have an inverter in your application setup and wish to run the generator upon inverter signal only (no mains failure), then ‘Mains Failure Detection’ will need to be disabled. This can be achieved by going to the Mains section in the Configuration Suite and deselecting the ‘Mains Failure Detection’.

Configure the Remote start input as ‘Remote start on load’ either as open or close to activate, depending on your wiring and relay logic.

Write the settings back to the DSE module.

Now the DSE AMF module will no longer respond to a mains failure when in Auto, instead it will await the ‘Remote Start on Load’ input to become active, before starting the generator.

Inverter Remote Start Wiring to DSE module.

NB! Remember , if the ‘Remote Start on Load’ or ‘Simulate Mains Available’ input is set to ‘Close to Activate’ in the DSE module, then you need a close signal from battery negative (0V – Ground) to activate the input, and vice-versa if set to ‘Open to Activate’.

 Reference is made to the DSE7320 AMF module for this drawing and example.