low voltage

Re: low voltage

Is your generator already configured to accept either a 2 wire or 4 wire generator auto-start signal from your Trace Controller (I am not sure which the Trace supports).

As RCinFLA says--the "issues" with auto-start generally rest with how the generator is configured (what type of start/control signals; does the genset have its own controller to do the cranking, choking, cool down/shut down, emergency shutdown, etc.).

For example, a little Honda eu3000i would make a very nice auto-start genset--but there are not any controllers/accessories (that I can find) that support a full auto-controlled eu3000i. The best you can find is a "remote start"--basically, turn on the ignition and you push a button for remote crank.

-Bill

Re: low voltage

Lastly, look at the age of your DR system... Most of those older units are probably over 10 years old and may not even have factory support for parts and service (I will defend the company--it is very difficult to support electronics and other parts after a decade--pretty much everything used electronics wise is now obsolete and cost more than the parts in new designs)...

At this point, you probably want to avoid putting too much DR related money into your system. At some point, it will fail and some sort of upgrade (with genset controller option, PFC charger, true sine wave output, etc.) that comes now with the current designs.

Setting up a Battery Monitor (or voltage monitor) with an external PFC battery charger (power factor corrected) may be a reasonable option.

Other things to think about--would you stay at the current battery bank voltage, or upgrade to the next higher level. What is the generator's output rating--As RCinFLA says, the old type battery chargers require very hefty gensets to provide useful energy for the battery bank (Basically, perhaps only 60% of the current from the genset actually is used to charge the battery bank because of the sine wave peak only charging current).

-Bill