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Automatically run a generator from battery SOC

BoatKit can start a connected DynaGen generator when a selected battery’s state of charge (SOC) falls to a low mark, then request a stop when it reaches a high mark. You can set separate marks for quiet hours or start a run manually for a duration or SOC target.

Before you start​

You need administrator access, a configured and connected DynaGen generator, and an enabled battery that reports a current SOC reading. The generator controller must be in Auto for BoatKit to start it.

caution

Test generator control with a person aboard. The DynaGen controller remains responsible for its start, cooldown, and stop sequence and its protections. Before enabling BoatKit automatic starts, disable overlapping Cerbo GX start rules. If you enable the Victron timing settings below, verify the full generator and inverter sequence aboard before relying on automation.

Set up automatic running​

  1. Open Settings > Equipment > Generators and choose Configure for the generator.
  2. Under Automatic running, choose an enabled battery in Battery SOC source.
  3. Set Start at or below and Stop at or above. The low mark must be below the high mark. The initial marks are 30% and 85% SOC.
  4. If you want different marks overnight, turn on Quiet hours. Set Quiet hours begin and Quiet hours end using 24-hour time, then set Emergency start at or below and Emergency stop at or above. The initial quiet-hours settings are 22:00–07:00 and 15%–50% SOC. Quiet hours use the vessel host’s local clock and can cross midnight. During those hours, the emergency marks replace the normal marks, including the stop mark for an automatic run already underway.
  5. In Tools > Generators, check that the generator shows Connected and Controller: Auto. If the controller shows Off, use Enable Auto when it is appropriate to make the generator ready for remote starts.
  6. Return to the generator settings and turn on Automatic generator control. Automation remains off until you enable it explicitly.

Optional Victron AC input timing​

When Victron Cerbo GX integration is enabled, each generator's equipment settings offer Warm-up before accepting AC and Cool-down before stopping. Both default to None. Choose a period only if the vessel's Cerbo GX AC input is configured as a generator and the inverter requires isolation during that period. BoatKit detects the generator input from the Cerbo GX configuration; it will not guess if the configuration is missing or ambiguous.

With warm-up enabled, BoatKit tells the Cerbo GX to ignore that generator AC input before commanding Start. Once the controller reports the engine started, BoatKit waits the selected period and restores the input. With cool-down enabled, BoatKit ignores the input, waits the selected period, requests the DynaGen controller's normal Stop sequence, then restores the input after the controller reports the generator stopped. The DynaGen controller may perform its own additional cooldown.

BoatKit saves each temporary AC-input hold on the vessel before sending the Cerbo GX command. It removes that recovery record only after the Cerbo GX confirms the input is no longer ignored. If BoatKit restarts or the Cerbo GX disconnects, BoatKit retries the release when communication returns. These live recovery records are excluded from portable backups so restoring a backup cannot reapply an old AC-input hold. A Cerbo GX that remains offline cannot be cleared remotely; check its AC-input state locally if BoatKit reports a connection problem during a run.

Confirm it is working​

In Tools > Generators or a Generator dashboard item, check the connection and controller state. When valid battery SOC is at or below the active low mark, BoatKit requests a start and shows BoatKit run: Automatic. At or above the active high mark, BoatKit requests a stop for that run. The DynaGen controller carries out the actual sequence.

BoatKit also requests a stop after 24 hours if an automatic run has not reached its SOC stop mark. This limit depends on BoatKit being able to communicate with the controller; it is not an independent generator shutdown.

Start or stop a run manually​

  1. Open Tools > Generators or a Generator dashboard item. With the controller connected and in Auto, select Start.
  2. Choose For a duration and enter hours and minutes from 1 minute through 24 hours, or choose Until battery SOC. The SOC target initially matches the currently active high mark. An SOC-targeted start requires a valid reading from the battery selected in generator settings, and the target must be above its current charge. That run keeps using the battery selected when it starts.
  3. Select Start generator. BoatKit shows a timed run or the selected SOC target while it manages the run. You can select Stop to request the controller’s normal stop sequence.

After a manual Stop, BoatKit pauses automatic starts until the selected battery’s SOC rises above the currently active low mark. A timed run does not require a battery SOC reading.

The same pause follows a run that reaches its time limit or 24-hour safety limit, or a start that the controller does not confirm within a minute. BoatKit requests the controller's normal Stop sequence at a run limit; a new manual start can override the pause.

Restarts, missing readings, and offline operation​

BoatKit saves active run targets and warm-up/cool-down phases on the vessel so it can resume monitoring or safely unwind them after a restart. These temporary targets are excluded from portable backups. Once setup is complete, vessel-local generator control continues to work without an internet connection or BoatKit Cloud.

If the selected battery is disabled or its SOC reading is missing or stale, BoatKit does not start a new automatic run. An existing automatic or SOC-targeted run cannot stop based on SOC until a valid reading returns; BoatKit still requests a stop at its 24-hour limit when the controller is connected. A timed run uses its time limit instead of SOC.

If the generator does not behave as expected​

  • No automatic start: Check for Connected and Controller: Auto, confirm the selected battery is enabled and reporting current SOC, and compare its charge with the active low mark. During quiet hours, the emergency low mark applies. A previous manual Stop or unconfirmed start also pauses starts until SOC rises above that mark.
  • Unexpected thresholds: Check whether Quiet hours is on and whether the vessel host’s local time matches the intended schedule.
  • No stop at the SOC target: Confirm the battery is still reporting current SOC and the controller is connected. BoatKit stops runs it started; a run started at the controller is not a BoatKit-owned run. Check the controller’s displayed sequence, warnings, and faults.
  • Still running at the 24-hour limit: BoatKit requests a stop through the connected controller. Check its connection, sequence, warnings, and faults if the request does not result in a stop.