{"id":43373,"date":"2026-09-12T15:53:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T13:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/arranque-automatico-generador-victron-cerbo-gx\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T15:53:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T13:53:01","slug":"automatic-start-up-for-victron-cerbo-gx-generator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/arranque-automatico-generador-victron-cerbo-gx\/","title":{"rendered":"Automatic generator start-up with Victron and Cerbo GX: complete configuration"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In off-grid installations, the generator provides backup power on days when there is no sunshine. The Cerbo GX (or any GX model) can <strong>to start and stop it by itself<\/strong> depending on the battery status or power consumption, and the MultiPlus\/Quattro uses it to charge and power loads whilst it is running. This is the full configuration and the errors that cause \u201cthe generator not to engage\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Generator with <strong>automatic start<\/strong> (dry contact input or 12 V signal) or with an ATS\/AMF module.<\/li><li>GX device (<a href=\"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/product-category\/solar-inverters\/monitoring\/\">Cerbo GX, Ekrano GX<\/a>) connected to the MultiPlus\/Quattro.<\/li><li>GX relay (Cerbo relay 1 or 2) wired to the generator\u2019s start input. If the generator requires 12 V, use an auxiliary relay.<\/li><li>Generator connected to <strong>AC-in 2<\/strong> on Quattro (AC-in 1 for mains) or to AC-in on MultiPlus.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Configure the inverter for generator operation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In VEConfigure (or VictronConnect on the MultiPlus-II with recent firmware):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Network tab: active <strong>\u201cWeak AC input\u201d<\/strong> (low AC input) and deactivates the \u201cUPS function\u201d. This increases the inverter\u2019s tolerance to unstable voltage and frequency from the generators.<\/li><li>Accepted frequency range: 45\u201365 Hz. Voltage: 180\u2013270 V.<\/li><li><strong>AC input current limit:<\/strong> Set it to the generator\u2019s actual power output minus 20 % (a 5 kVA unit at 230 V \u2192 approx. 16\u201317 A). If you leave it set too high, the inverter will overload the unit and it will shut down.<\/li><li>Active <strong>PowerAssist<\/strong>: when the loads exceed the input limit, the inverter draws power from the battery rather than shutting down the generator.<\/li><li>In Quattro: assign the generator input to AC-in 2 and the mains supply (if present) to AC-in 1.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Enable automatic start-up on the GX<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Settings \u2192 <strong>Starting and stopping the generator<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>1. Relay function: Generator start\/stop (relay 1).<\/li><li>2. Enable \u201cAutomatic start\u201d.<\/li><li>3. Configure the <strong>terms and conditions<\/strong>. Several conditions can be combined; the generator starts when any one of them is met and stops when none of them are met:<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Condition<\/th><th>Example values (48 V lithium)<\/th><th>Comment<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>State of charge (SOC)<\/td><td>Start at 30 %, stop at 85 %<\/td><td>The most reliable status when the battery is connected<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Battery voltage<\/td><td>Starts at 47.5 V, stops at 53 V<\/td><td>For banks without a reliable SOC; adds a delay of 30\u201360 seconds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Battery current<\/td><td>Starts at -80 A for 60 seconds<\/td><td>Heavy downpours<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>AC load on the inverter<\/td><td>Starts at 4,000 W for 30 seconds, then runs at 1,500 W<\/td><td>Avoid overloading the inverter<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Inverter temperature<\/td><td>Starts at 60 \u00b0C<\/td><td>Summer support<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Regular exercise<\/td><td>Every 7 days, 20 mins<\/td><td>Keep the engine running<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. <strong>Minimum operating time:<\/strong> 30\u201360 mins. Avoid short starts, as these can damage the engine.\n5. <strong>Warm-up and cool-down time:<\/strong> 30\u201360 s. The GX waits before connecting loads and disconnects them before stopping.\n6. <strong>Quiet hours:<\/strong> for example, 23:00 to 07:00, with stricter conditions (starts only when SOC reaches 15 %).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Boot detection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enable \u201cDetect generator on AC-in\u201d: the GX checks that voltage is actually reaching the inverter following the start command. If it is not, it triggers the \u201cGenerator not running\u201d alarm, which you can receive on the VRM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the same menu, select \u201cManual Start\u201d: the generator should start, the inverter should engage (the \u2018Mains On\u2019 LED should remain lit) and the battery should begin charging. Once the operating time has elapsed, it stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why won\u2019t the generator engage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Frequency out of range:<\/strong> Petrol-fuelled carburettor units produce 51\u201353 Hz at idle. Set the engine governor to 50 Hz or use an inverter unit.<\/li><li><strong>Unstable voltage:<\/strong> The inverter rejects the input and the Mains LED flashes. Weak AC is activated.<\/li><li><strong>Neutral not earthed:<\/strong> Many generators have a floating neutral. The inverter detects \u201cneutral-to-earth voltage\u201d and fails to engage. Please refer to the generator set and inverter manuals for information on the earth relay.<\/li><li><strong>Input limit too high:<\/strong> The group falls when the loads are connected, and the inverter disconnects it.<\/li><li><strong>Loads with a hard start<\/strong> (pumps): use PowerAssist and a conservative input limit.<\/li><li><strong>Incorrect AC input<\/strong> in Quattro.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Charging the battery using the generator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With DVCC and lithium batteries, the BMS limits the charging current (see <a href=\"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/victron-dvcc-what-it-is-and-how-to-set-it-up\/\">DVCC<\/a>). If the generator is small, also limit the charging current in VEConfigure to leave some headroom for the household loads: the generator\u2019s power is split between charging and supplying the household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For information on the reference connection of an off-grid system with a generator, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/victron-multiplus-schematic\/\">Victron MultiPlus diagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>We are authorised Victron Energy installers and provide free technical support for equipment purchased from FV Componentes. If the problem persists, please open a ticket at <a href=\"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/technical-support\/\">Technical support<\/a> including the model, serial number and the link to your VRM installation. You can find diagrams and parameters on our <a href=\"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/victron-support\/\">Victron Resource Centre<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to configure the automatic start-up and shutdown of a generator set using the Cerbo GX and a MultiPlus\/Quattro: conditions based on state of charge (SOC), voltage and load, relay, quiet hours, inverter settings (Weak AC, input limits) and why the generator fails to engage.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1004],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-manuales-tutoriales-solares"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43373\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}