Managed Power

Standby Generator Load Management allows a smaller, more efficient, and less expensive standby generator to power multiple high-voltage loads like Air Conditioners or Electric Water Heaters.

Standby Generator Load Management

A Power Management System provides a way for 240-volt loads to share available power from a standby generator. Standby generator manufacturers offer various load-shedding strategies in conjunction with an intelligent controller to manage the power. Generator Load Management strategies are usually prioritized—the load with the highest priority always runs first. Lower priority loads run after the higher priority load ends.

Generac Smart Management Module

Generac offers Smart Management Modules for Prioritized Generator Load Management. The system manages up to 8 loads by monitoring the AC output frequency. At generator startup, all SMMs turn off. After 5 minutes, they turn on in order of priority. If the AC frequency drops below a preset level, the SMMs use an algorithm to determine which loads to shed and which loads continue to run. When a higher priority load completes its work, the system allows a lower priority load to start.

Briggs and Stratton Symphony II Power Management

The Symphony II Power Management System prioritizes loads and allows them to start and run according to the amount of power available. The system controls each high-voltage load with a remote module that communicates with the generator through the house wiring. Five minutes after the generator starts, Symphony II begins to add the high-voltage loads in order of priority from 1 to 8 with a 10-second delay between each load. The system only allows loads to run if sufficient generator power is available and locks out any loads with a priority of 9 or 10.

Cummins Intelligent Load Management

Cummins takes a different approach to generator load management. The generator controller stores the power requirements of up to four central air conditioners in its memory. This allows the generator to monitor the power requirements of the air conditioners and only allows them to turn on when the generator has enough power available. Although specifically designed for air conditioners, the generator may control other high-voltage loads that operate through a low-voltage contactor relay.

Kohler Load Shedding

Kohler implements prioritized generator load shedding through the optional Kohler Load Shed Kit. The kit implements two contactor loads (air conditioners) as is. Additional high-voltage loads require Power Relay Modules. The Kohler Load Shed Kit monitors the generator current and frequency to determine when to shed loads. If the addition of a load causes an overload condition, the generator sheds that load. Loads are shed in order of priority with priority 6 shed first and priority 1 shed last.