ABP for generator
The abbreviation ABP, which you will have to deal with if you want to set up automatic starting of the generator, stands for automatic switching on (entering) a reserve. Of course, you will have to decide whether such a device is necessary for your home, but if the farm has a workshop equipped with electrical appliances, and it generates income, then most likely the decision will be positive.
Modern ABPs, which provide uninterrupted power supply using a diesel, gas or carburetor device, absolutely do not require human intervention in starting and operating throughout the entire service process. When choosing an ABP, you will have to pay attention to the speed of its response, that is, it can be instantaneous or with a slight delay. But, be that as it may, there will be some kind of pause in any case, since the engine must start, although it will take no more than a second for the generator to autostart.
About ABP in detail
Controller for automatic generator start-up and transfer of reserve Source rozetka.com.ua
Automatic transfer of reserve is an autostart device for generators that switches energy consumption from the main power source to the backup one and vice versa. On the electrical market you can find diesel, gas and carburetor models of two-phase and three-phase generators, in which ABP integration is provided by the manufacturer. All that is required from the user is to install a special switch, where the position of the terminals is controlled by the transformer substation from the main source of electricity.
The ATS unit can be installed in a common electrical panel cabinet Source avr.kiev.ua
Switching time between inputs
This value is used to judge the response speed of the ATS unit. The shorter the switching time, the faster the connected consumers will receive power. True, the risk of false alarms increases during short-term disturbances in the power grid.
The switching time between inputs for high-speed ATS units is 0.1 seconds . Standard devices operate within 5 seconds. For “slower” models this value reaches 6 and even 10 seconds.
Individual ATS blocks allow adjustment of the switching time between inputs in different ranges (0.1-30 seconds, 0.1-10 seconds, 0.1-5 seconds). This makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of false positives.
Video description
Generator with autostart for home and garden. Autonomous and practical solution.
Types of ABP
All automatic reserve input blocks can be classified according to the following criteria:
- voltage;
- reserve input sections (quantity);
- type of network (single- and two-phase);
- power.
The connection diagram for automatic generator start can be configured so that not all wiring fed by the main source is started, but only those units where shutdown may be critical. For example, in a hospital this is how an intensive care unit and operating room are connected, and in the private sector a workshop and/or sawmill. This is not difficult to do: when installing the wiring, vital or technically critical blocks are output separately from all the others, so the ABP is inserted directly into this circuit.
ABP device
The simplest ATS circuit for a three-phase network Source piter220.ru
All automatic generator start systems consist of three main blocks.
- Contactors or terminals for switching input and load circuits;
- Logical and indicating devices.
- Relay blocks responsible for controlling (start/stop) the generator.
ABP can become a lifesaver not only when the main power line is disconnected, but also during voltage dips, which can sometimes occur in suburban areas due to weak transformer substations. That is, the inclusion of a start function in the circuit when the voltage drops to 90% (instead of 220 V - 200 V) of demand. This will allow the electric motors to operate without interruptions and unnecessary load. With this option, generator autostart systems allow you to save on repairs and the purchase of new equipment. The contact group is responsible for starting the reserve circuit, and the input voltage is monitored by the RKF or phase control relay.
The simplest ATS circuit for a single-phase network Source asutpp.ru
Now, using the diagram above, let’s take a closer look at how a diesel or gas generator with automatic start allows you to eliminate dips (complete shutdown or drop) in the voltage from the main power source. Here, too, everything is very simple: when ≈220 V is supplied stably, the phase control relay keeps the terminals in the normal closed state. If there is any breakdown on the power line side, the saturation of the RKF solenoid becomes weak and cannot hold these terminals, hence they open. In those situations where an inverter is present, as indicated in the above diagram, it will begin to generate ≈220 V, which is necessary for the consumer. If the main power cannot be restored within the time set depending on the power of the batteries, then the controller sends an autostart command to the generator.
As soon as the contactor block receives voltage from the main transformer substation, the automatic generator start system operates in the reverse order - the terminals are switched and the entire circuit is powered according to the intended design. To put it simply, the signal when restoring the transformer from the power line gives a command to shut off the fuel hose, be it gasoline, diesel fuel or gas. The valve blocks the fuel supply and the engine stops.
Requirements for backup power equipment
The need to switch to a backup source is usually caused by either an emergency or an abnormal situation. In this regard, all switching is often carried out by unqualified personnel and often in difficult conditions - in the dark, in cramped conditions, in the open air. That is why the requirements for redundant equipment are quite stringent:
- Safety for the operator. All backup electrical equipment must not have exposed live or moving parts (except for drive handles), and its metal chassis and casings must be grounded. When sending even an untrained person to switch, you must be sure that he will not come under voltage or injure his hands with any clamps or rods, even when working in poor lighting.
- Safety for electrical equipment. The switching circuit must be such that even if the switching is not completed completely or in the wrong sequence, the operator cannot create an emergency situation - apply counter voltage, switch not all phases, cause a short circuit, etc. All this will ensure the safety of the main and backup circuits even when inept or erroneous human actions.
- Efficiency. The transition to a backup generator should require minimal manipulation and be done as quickly as possible. The switching devices themselves should be as accessible as possible so that there is no need to climb ladders or climb hatches to get to them. This is especially important for critical facilities and special electrical equipment (refrigeration units, microclimate systems, boilers, furnaces, etc.).
- Clarity and simplicity. The design of switches and circuit breakers should be as simple as possible, and the switching diagram should be clear and intuitive. This significantly reduces the likelihood of human error and equipment failure. Such circuits are easier to maintain, and repairs if they break will cost less.
It is worth noting that no matter what method of switching to backup power you use, manual or automatic, all conditions should be met as much as possible. After all, not only ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the facility, but also the safety of people will depend on this.
Description of possible ABP connection methods
Relationship between contacts KM1 and KM2 Source asutpp.ru
When connecting a generator with auto-start, the most important thing in this process is to take care to exclude the slightest possibility of counter currents entering the circuit. This can happen if the contactors operate incorrectly, that is, power will come from two sources. At the top there is a simple diagram with terminals K1 and K2, which should always be in different positions. When one turns on, the other necessarily opens and vice versa. At the moment, you can find more than one diagram on the Internet indicating how autostart occurs for a gas generator, but the general principle, taking into account the position of K1 and K2, will never change.
The principle of connecting the reserve input never changes Source asutpp.ru
Also, the location of the ABP on the diagram never changes, although physically it can be hung anywhere - even on the ceiling. The essence of the insert is that the machine will always be between the electricity meter and the substation, and no one will install it after the meter, so that you do not have to pay for the electricity that you yourself produce.
Schematic diagram for a private house Source asutpp.ru
When it comes to a private home, an autostart for a generator can be assembled according to the diagram above. Yes, you see exactly the fundamental warrant for the ABP installation, but in order to draw up a specific installation diagram, you need to know exactly the location, type and power of the equipment that should be started from the reserve. So, if you show a little ingenuity, you can tailor this scheme to the needs of your building and the electrical appliances located in it.
Detailed connection diagram for ATS Source asutpp.ru
Microprocessor-based contactless systems
Concluding the topic, one cannot fail to mention ATS with microprocessor control units. Such devices typically use solid-state switches, which are more reliable than devices that switch using contactors.
Electronic unit AVR
The main advantages of contactless automatic transfer switches are easy to list:
- Absence of mechanical contacts and all associated problems (sticking, burning, etc.).
- There is no need for mechanical locking.
- Wider control range of response parameters.
The disadvantages include the complex repair of electronic automatic transfer systems. Implementing a device circuit yourself is also not easy; this will require knowledge of electrical engineering, electronics and programming.
The operating principle of the ATS is based on monitoring the current in the circuit.
This can be implemented using any voltage relays or digital logic protection blocks.
But the principle of operation still remains the same.
Example:
This is a single-line diagram, which shows that voltage monitoring is carried out by the KM contactor. Both machines QS1 and QS2 must be turned on, while the KM coil will receive power and be drawn in, and its closing contact in the main input circuit is also closed and the breaking contact in the spare input circuit is open.
Is it possible to connect welding when ABP is running?
You can connect welding to a generator when there is enough power. Source burforum.ru
You probably understand that autostarting a gas generator is good, but the carburetor unit cannot handle all the powerful equipment. As an example, we will consider the choice of a device that will be sufficient for electric welding, as one of the most powerful energy consumers possible in domestic conditions. At the same time, we will consider compromise solutions when the main device is not only a welding machine, but also a generator with a diesel, gas or carburetor. By the way, no less power will be required for a carpentry workshop if it is equipped with professional equipment.
So, if your autostart system for a gasoline generator is equipped with an inverter and the output power of the unit indicated in the documents or on the case coincides with the welding power consumption, that’s not all. There are not only basic, but also additional quantities that affect voltage:
- power consumption of the welding machine;
- voltage range;
- maximum inverter for welding current;
- arc voltage parameters;
- expected duration of the work process;
- Efficiency
Note: it is also important to consider the condition of the electrical wiring in the building and the welding modes provided for the time when the generator will automatically start in the event of a power outage.
It is very important to take into account the factor of false information, that is, not very powerful inverters connected to the ABP circuit are not always capable of delivering 220 V. But in such cases, we turn to the technical parameters of the welding machine and, if the unit is capable of operating at a voltage of 150-200 V, it means everything is fine and you won't have any problems.
Technical parameters Source asutpp.ru
When it is known in advance that when the main power source is turned off, a reserve will be automatically introduced, and welding work will be carried out, it will not be amiss to study the table given above. This way you can choose the optimal ratio for a generator with ABP and an electric welding machine.
Advice: when choosing the ratio of the power of the generator and the welding machine, it is best if there is a reserve at the output, that is, when you enter a reserve, you will get more than what is needed for the operation of the equipment.
Scheme of AVR 380V with diesel generator set
a diesel generator set (DGS) is provided as the third power source .
Power supply to consumers from three independent power sources is provided for consumers of the 1st category of a special group, when uninterrupted operation is necessary for an accident-free shutdown of production in order to prevent a threat to human life, explosions and fires in accordance with the PUE 7th edition, clause 1.2.18.
The peculiarity of this scheme is that when both inputs are disconnected, in the event of an accident or the inputs were manually disconnected, for example, to check (repair) electrical equipment, the diesel generator set is automatically started and the load is connected to it. When the voltage is restored at any of the inputs, it automatically switches to its original state. Figure 1 shows a diagram of an automatic transfer switch with a diesel generator set made on contactors in a single-line image.
Fig. 1 – Diagram of an automatic transfer switch with a diesel generator set on contactors in a single-line image
What it is?
As mentioned above, AVR is translated as automatic switching on (input) of a reserve. The latter should be understood as any generator that generates electricity if the power supply to the facility is interrupted.
It should be said that this block consists of a number of units and is either single-phase or three-phase. To change the load, you will only need to install a special controller after the electric meter. The position of the power contacts will be controlled by the main source of electrical energy.
Almost all types of devices starting from an electrical station can be equipped with autonomous automatic transfer mechanisms. To install backup injection units, you should use a special ATS cabinet. At the same time, the ATS panel is usually located either after the gas generators, or installed on a common electrical panel.
About contactors
Thus, the use of conventional relays is out of the question for us; only specialized contactors are suitable. For higher powers there is also an option with motorized drives, but this is expensive and redundant for typical home use.
To make a mechanical interlock, you need to select contactors that can work in pairs. Typically, mutual interlocking is achieved by installing identical contactors next to each other and installing an additional option - a mechanical interlock. It is sold separately from contactors and costs pennies.
