I have an old Generac generator with no connection to the outside world. The generator is outside the house, but the transfer switch is inside. I would like to know when the generator is running, or at least when it is providing power to the house.
Any sensor I install outside would either be enclosed in a metal case or exposed to the elements.
Is there something I can tap onto in the transfer case to detect when power is running through it? Someone in an earlier thread suggested using a window sensor in the transfer case looking for a magnetic field from a relay. This might work, but the transfer case is a metal box which would block the sensor signal.
Which specific model? I'm tagging @neonturbo. Your ATS may already have dry contact terminals (mine does), or this can be added. Dry contact terminals can be used to monitor when your generator is running.
Also, look into Genmon. I monitor/control/exercise my Generac using Genmon. AFAICT, it supports older Generac models as well. And doesn't require the generator to be cloud connected.
When S1 detects line voltage, if flips the relay on. You wouldn't need anything attached to the relay itself, but it will change the switch attribute to on in Hubitat when S1 gets line voltage, that you can trigger from for rules, etc.
At a past location, I toyed with various current sensors wrapped around one of the power feeds from the generator to the transfer switch, but for as not-very-often as I actually lose power here, I find that just knowing when it's running is sufficient.
Mine is about 12 years old. I looked through the manual, but there was nothing there that would help. Can you give me a hint as to what to look for when I open it up?
