Remote Monitoring

We were asked to provide a solution to a client’s requirement for additional status monitoring on their standby generators at various remote telecomm sites.

The initial specification for the generators at time of purchase/installation had requested a single volt free contact to indicate that the generator was running for remote monitoring purposes.

However, it became evident that this was insufficient as due to the generators being on unmanned sites if there was a problem with the generator, ie low battery voltage, it wouldn’t be noticed until either a routine maintenance visit was carried out or other conditions ie UPS batteries low, was received via remote monitoring.

Unfortunately, there were no spare fault channels available within the existing remote monitoring system.

After discussing the problem with the client it was decided that the most cost effective solution was to use the generator-running signal to indicate multiple conditions, so that whenever the signal was active further action/investigation could take place.

We incorporated the following conditions into a Generator Alarm signal-
Generator Running (Due to a mains supply failure or manual run during maintenance)
Common Alarm (Low Battery, Fail to Start, Low Oil Pressure Shutdown etc)
Emergency Stop Active
Not In Auto

As there was a variety of generators installed on the sites we employed several methods to provide the required solution, from installing additional protection and/or sensing relays to re-programming control modules.

The works were completed and tested over a number of weeks in co-operation with the client’s own engineers.

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Progress Group are an Authorised Service Dealer for FG Wilson. We are CHAS accredited contractors and members of the British Safety Council