Generator charging questions

[biscosity]

I talked to my local solar guy and he told me that with the kid I should be able to charge the batteries with a generator.  I have an inverter generator but it doesn't seem to be taking a charge.

Is the whizbang Jr required to be able to accept the charge from a generator.

This generator is not an auto start.

If there's some settings that I need to change or any advice would be appreciated. I'm relatively new to this. Thanks!

[ClassicCrazy]

you can't put 120v  AC from a Generator into the Kid .
You would need to run the generator into a something like an AC to DC converter first .
But if you did that you might as well just get a suitable DC battery charger for the specific type of battery you have and charge your batteries with that directly without going through the kid.
The generator start would be for starting a generator that was connected to something like an inverter charger , which is what would take in the 120v AC and then make it into DC to charge a battery. And inverter charger has it's own battery charge controller built in to it.
If you hook 120v ac directly  into your kid you my ruin your Kid and it won't ever work again.
If you are talking about a DC output from a generator that could work but it really depends on what DC voltage your generator puts out , what kind of batteries you have, etc. I wouldn't connect that DC  generator output to the Kid. Better to get a 120v battery charger or inverter charger . Refer to the Kid owners Manual
https://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/10-268-1_REV-V_Kid-Solar-Manual.pdf
I don't understand exactly what you have for your system and how you are trying to connect things up.
Larry

[biscosity]

I appreciate the reply. Here's a little more info about the setup:

- Outback FXR2524A Inverter
- The Kid charge controller
- 2 Continental CB8D-IT Sealed Lead Acid Batteries 12V260AH
- 3 250 watt panels
- Generator is a Ryobi inverter RYi2322VNM 1800w (not auto start)

This setup belongs to a friend. The way it is wired now, the generator is wired into the outback. It will power the house while not pulling from he batteries but will not take a charge.

With that additional info, is it possible to charge the batteries with he current setup or would I need to add something to the system?

[ralph day]

No mention of a Mate product.  You need one to program the parameters in the outback inverter.  Things like charging on or off and such like.  The inverter just has some default settings that probably don't include charge numbers.

[ClassicCrazy]

Like Ralph said - that is 100% issue with the Outback and most likely the way it is programmed. It doesn't have anything to do with the Kid .
Larry

[biscosity]

No mention of a Mate product.  You need one to program the parameters in the outback inverter.  Things like charging on or off and such like.  The inverter just has some default settings that probably don't include charge numbers.

Thanks. Is the Mate required to be connected to the inverter at all times or just for programming?


Also, with this setup will the Mate, Mate2, and Mate3 all basically do the same thing?

[ClassicCrazy]

You can use the Mate to program it and then disconnect it.
That is what I usually do . If you can borrow a Mate from someone  you can set it and then unhook it.  The menus for the Outback inverter are not great so have the manual to be able to figure out what to set. And there is a code you have to enter to be able to make changes - it is in the manual - and if I remember right it is something like 141 or 142 ?
I have a knockoff oval Mate  because I didn't want to spend hundreds for something I would use once or twice.   
I think any Mate model should interface with the inverter but I only have experience with the one that I have.
Larry
 

[ralph day]

Hardly use your Mate?  I use mine almost daily 

[ClassicCrazy]

Hardly use your Mate?  I use mine almost daily 

I put a pzem energy monitor on the output of the Outback inverter. That brings the data onto my computer and controls monitoring. Other than that I don't know what I would want to look at the Mate for .
Larry

[ralph day]

Not watching the Mate here, using it as the interface with the inverter.  But most of it's interaction with me is for Mate programming/switching....HBX on or off, charger mode on or off etc.  I'd be blind without it.  How does your pzem monitor work?  I don't even have A wbjr hooked up, just an old Trace meter showing battery status/input output/state of charge.

[ClassicCrazy]

The PZEM has a CT that goes around the AC line. The DC version has a shunt in the line.
I would recommend getting a Shelly EM if you want to monitor AC as they are much more user friendly and integrate easily with their own built in webpage . The Pzem options are a bit more diy.
But if you are using the Midnite Classics , there is no doubt that a Whizbang and associated shunt is the best option.
Larry