Converting a 005A with a Digital Controller

[gabriel mercuri]

good afternoon i have one of these generators I want to convert mine also do you have a detailed part list

 

[peapvp]

good afternoon i have one of these generators I want to convert mine also do you have a detailed part list

contact Larry @Cowhunter
he bought all the parts and can tell you exactly what he got and where he got it

 

[Scoobyshep]

@Cowhunter what did you use for the backup battery?

 

[peapvp]

@Scoobyshep we havent installed a backup battery yet.

The MeBay documentation does not specify a particular Battery or a even a voltage.
What is also important is that the Plus terminal off this back up battery is grounded to chassis and the negative terminal connects to E3 on Mebay Controller!

There is a Parameter # 28 in Group 1 listed for Auto start operation, in case of mains failure for the D72 Version
I have absolutely no clue of what ABF is or what they are talking about in this parameter description

If you find any more information Scoobyshep please let us know.

 

[2Pbfeet]

@Scoobyshep we havent installed a backup battery yet.

The MeBay documentation does not specify a particular Battery or a even a voltage.
What is also important is that the Plus terminal off this back up battery is grounded to chassis and the negative terminal connects to E3 on Mebay Controller!

There is a Parameter # 28 in Group 1 listed for Auto start operation, in case of mains failure for the D72 Version
I have absolutely no clue of what ABF is or what they are talking about in this parameter description

If you find any more information Scoobyshep please let us know.

Wow.

A positively grounded battery on a modern piece of electronics seems unusual to the point where I would be wondering about a documentation error. It would certainly have me being extremely careful. If you probe the (-) point when the controller is powered up is there a voltage?

I realize it is a long shot, but have you reached out to MeBay directly? They do, at least reportedly occasionally, respond, sometimes with useful information.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[peapvp]

Wow.

A positively grounded battery on a modern piece of electronics seems unusual to the point where I would be wondering about a documentation error. It would certainly have me being extremely careful. If you probe the (-) point when the controller is powered up is there a voltage?

I realize it is a long shot, but have you reached out to MeBay directly? They do, at least reportedly occasionally, respond, sometimes with useful information.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

@2Pbfeet
Yes, I agree. The back up battery has not been a priority for Larry. It affects only the Date and Time and therefor Maintenance schedules, which can be setup.

I checked several other MeBay Controllers and those have integrated 1.5 V Battery's as Backup or no backup at all.

We have not contacted MeBay as this has not been a priority.

 

[peapvp]

@Scoobyshep and @2Pbfeet

when Larry and I started this project a few months ago, I thoroughly investigated this reversed battery polarity issue by checking several older D7x manuals and the controller itself without contacting MeBay.

The reversed polarity for this backup battery is consistent in all of their manuals, written and in wiring diagram.
All of their specs as to I/O’s checked out during test and implementation.
I would say that it is save to assume that this battery connection is reversed polarity for whatever illogical reason they did it this way.

 

[2Pbfeet]

@Scoobyshep and @2Pbfeet

when Larry and I started this project a few months ago, I thoroughly investigated this reversed battery polarity issue by checking several older D7x manuals and the controller itself without contacting MeBay.

The reversed polarity for this backup battery is consistent in all of their manuals, written and in wiring diagram.
All of their specs as to I/O’s checked out during test and implementation.
I would say that it is save to assume that this battery connection is reversed polarity for whatever illogical reason they did it this way.
View attachment 950146
View attachment 950147
View attachment 950148

That does look convincing similar for negative input/positive ground, though I wonder a bit at the diagram in both places of a multi-cell battery for a 1.5V input.

Learn something new every day!

Thanks.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[peapvp]

That does look convincing similar for negative input/positive ground, though I wonder a bit at the diagram in both places of a multi-cell battery for a 1.5V input.

Learn something new every day!

Thanks.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

We do not know what the voltage input is rated for.
That’s the big question mark.

 

[peapvp]

@2Pbfeet
I just rechecked with MeBay HQ website and they released the MK III version of the DC70 DC72 on April 2nd and guess what

they call the back up battery now UPS Battery Pack and have changed Terminal E2 for + Pole and left E3 as - Pole of battery
Allowable voltage input range: 0 to 100VDC

I am pretty sure they had plenty of Chinese customers scratching their head on this thing with the backup battery thing on the MK II units and a few off those probably went up in smoke…

 

[2Pbfeet]

@peapvp That seems like a nice find! Congratulations.

0-100V seems like quite the range though, but it does take so little to keep an RTC going.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[peapvp]

@peapvp That seems like a nice find! Congratulations.

0-100V seems like quite the range though, but it does take so little to keep an RTC going.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

@2Pbfeet
MeBay makes ATS and they use DC to switch the contactors. They operate at 72VDC and have 6 pcs 12V 10Ah batteries to bridge and operate the whole system including DC7x between Mains failure and Genset power available.

A 9V battery should suffice to power RTC

 

[2Pbfeet]

@2Pbfeet
MeBay makes ATS and they use DC to switch the contactors. They operate at 72VDC and have 6 pcs 12V 10Ah batteries to bridge and operate the whole system including DC7x between Mains failure and Genset power available.

A 9V battery should suffice to power RTC

The 0-100V spec makes sense now. Thanks!

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[peapvp]

@Scoobyshep did the above Posts about the backup battery answer your questions?

 

[jmenende]

contact Larry @Cowhunter
he bought all the parts and can tell you exactly what he got and where he got it

Did Larry ever give you that parts list. Ive got 2 004a units that followed me home. Fortune cookie says lots of trouble in my future.

 

[Scoobyshep]

I am in the middle of a retrofit of a 004. My project went a bit over the original scope, so apples to oranges here.

One thing I had quite the frustration with was the analog sensors (oil pressure, water temprature, and fuel level) I found that the fuel sender doesnt need to be custom programmed (theres a profile baked into the mebay) now for the oil and water, I found replacement sensors that are also baked into the mebay, the were mostly drop in. They did require an additional ground wire to function.

 

[peapvp]

Did Larry ever give you that parts list. Ive got 2 004a units that followed me home. Fortune cookie says lots of trouble in my future.

No he didn’t. I didn’t ask him for the list, that was another member. Not sure if Larry ever got in touch with that member. You can send Larry a PM @Cowhunter

 

[peapvp]

I am in the middle of a retrofit of a 004. My project went a bit over the original scope, so apples to oranges here.

One thing I had quite the frustration with was the analog sensors (oil pressure, water temprature, and fuel level) I found that the fuel sender doesnt need to be custom programmed (theres a profile baked into the mebay) now for the oil and water, I found replacement sensors that are also baked into the mebay, the were mostly drop in. They did require an additional ground wire to function.

that’s good news @Scoobyshep ! Would you be so kind and post the sensors you found which work with the MeBay presets? Thanks

 

[Scoobyshep]

that’s good news @Scoobyshep ! Would you be so kind and post the sensors you found which work with the MeBay presets? Thanks

Happy to.
Oil pressure I used https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SL2FKBW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title please note this requires a 1/4 npt to 1/8 npt bushing

water temp I used https://www.ebay.com/itm/326152036724 Direct drop in

Programming wise the oil pressure sensor needs to be set to value 6 (MEBAY-003B) and the water temp sensor value 3 (MEBAY-001B)

 

[Scoobyshep]

@peapvp I think something that will leave many curses uttered is the fuel pump comtrol (mainly because it just left me cursing). You have the fuel pump relay being driven by the mebay only, When you change filters (or drain the day tank) the pumps need to be forced on to refill and prime. might me useful to add a easy means of forcing the pumps on.