How can we see when the backup generator started and how long it ran?

[ProcessPilot]

Our site has a diesel backup generator that starts automatically during grid outages. At the moment we only know it ran because someone checks the fuel level or the hour meter. Management wants to know how often it starts, how long it runs and how much load it carries, especially after short outages at night.
There is an energy analyzer on the generator output feeder, which is not yet connected to anything. Is that analyzer enough to detect generator operation in an energy monitoring system, or do we need signals from the generator controller as well?

[Technical Support]

The analyzer on the generator output is a very good starting point, and for most questions it is enough.
What the analyzer can show
- Running with load: when the generator supplies power, the analyzer shows current, voltage and active power on its output. A rule such as "generator active power above a small threshold" marks the periods when the generator carried load.
- How much load: phase currents, voltages and active/reactive power show whether the generator was lightly or heavily loaded and whether the phases were balanced.
- Duration and frequency: if these values are logged, the start and end of each run can be read from the history, and you can count how many times the generator took over.
What it cannot show
- A generator that starts but does not take over the load (for example during a test run without a transfer) shows no current at the output feeder.
- Fault conditions inside the generator (low fuel, high temperature, start failure).
For these, the generator controller's status signals or communication interface are needed. Many controllers offer Modbus or dry contacts; check the controller's manual.
Suggested setup
1. Connect the generator analyzer and log current, voltage and active power.
2. Define an alarm or event when generator power rises above the threshold, so operators are notified when it takes over.
3. Optionally add the controller's "running" and "fault" signals later.
In the Forschner Turkey project, the generator was one of the monitored points (current, voltage and power), so operators can see on one screen whether the generator has started.
Reference: https://greensoft.ai/news/greensoft-...-line-diagram/