Generator Monitoring and Alerts

“Power when you need it”  Remote generator monitoring system ensures your backup power systems are always at the ready when called upon.

What is a Remote Generator Monitoring System?

A device that connects to your generator and via supplied sensors, or utilizing sensors already installed on the generator, monitors the status and health. Communication between the generator and the monitoring system is typically over Modbus RS485 connection to the generator control panel. Most popular control panels such as ComAp and Deepsea come with an option for Modbus RS485. Some control panels with an Ethernet TCP/IP network can be monitored via SNMP to collect data.  

When these communications aren’t available, control panels will typically have dry contact alarm outputs that can be programmed for specific alarms. These are only alarm outputs, not actual readings of engine speed, fuel level and temperatures.

Additional sensors can be added if the above options aren’t available. For example, a battery health monitoring sensor can check the engine battery and ensure that it’s properly charged, outputting the correct voltage and current. Fuel level sensors are installed on reserve tanks and power meters on the generator output. These sensors connect to a base unit that contains the communications and stores the data.

The remote generator monitoring system collects the data from the sensors and connects to the internet. This provides remote monitoring over WiFi, cellular network or wired ethernet, depending on what is available. These wireless protocols provide the main communications for remote monitoring of the system.

For generators installed in difficult locations with no network, LoRa based wireless sensors can be installed, and communicate the generator data over a long distance to the base unit installed at a suitable location with online communications available.