DieHard DHD5000BiSRCO Auto-Start Wiring

5000W DUAL-FUEL INVERTER  •  GENSTART BASE CONTROLLER
ACIDNI LLC  |  NOVEMBER 2026  |  REV 1.0
YOUR INVERTER / TRANSFER SWITCH ANY 2-WIRE "GENERATOR START" DRY CONTACT GENERATOR START OUTPUT NO COM CONTACT CLOSED = start the generator CONTACT OPEN   = stop the generator WHITE BLACK GENSTART CONTROLLER BASE MODEL  •  WEATHERPROOF ENCLOSURE ALL CONNECTIONS ARE LABELED SCREW TERMINALS START SIGNAL IN SIGNAL COMMON GENERATOR START/STOP START/STOP 1 START/STOP 2 12V POWER IN BATTERY + BATTERY − GENERATOR RUNNING SENSE SENSE + SENSE − SETUP (in the GenStart app / web page) Start Mode: BUTTON  •  Double-Press: OFF (gap 0) One 2-sec press • wait up to 30 sec for power DIEHARD DHD5000BiSRCO DUAL-FUEL INVERTER • CO SENTRY • WIRELESS REMOTE ONE PUSH START / STOP BUTTON on the generator control panel its two switch wires TAP IN PARALLEL — DO NOT CUT ANYTHING 12V: GENERATOR BATTERY OR SEPARATE SUPPLY + − install supplied 3A inline fuse on the + wire 5V USB ADAPTER + SENSE CABLE (SUPPLIED) + − plugs into a 120V outlet on the generator FACTORY WIRELESS REMOTE FOB KEEPS WORKING — NOTHING IS DISABLED LEAVE THE GENERATOR SET UP LIKE THIS • Main Switch — ON • Fuel switch — GASOLINE or LPG • ECO switch — OFF for starting • LPG valve open if on LPG, oil level good • Battery maintainer recommended 2-wire WHAT HAPPENS, STEP BY STEP 1. Battery gets low — your inverter    closes its start contact 2. GenStart waits 3 seconds 3. Presses the button once (2 sec) —    the engine cranks and starts 4. Confirms the generator is running    within 30 seconds — if not, it waits    10 sec and tries again (3 tries total) 5. Battery recharged — your inverter    opens the contact 6. GenStart presses the button once    (1 sec) — the generator shuts down No one needs to touch the generator.

Connection Summary

GenStart TerminalConnects ToWire
START SIGNAL — SIGNALInverter / transfer switch generator-start output, NO terminalWhite, 22 AWG
START SIGNAL — COMMONInverter / transfer switch generator-start output, COM terminalBlack, 22 AWG
START/STOP 1One of the two switch wires of the generator's One Push Start button (tapped in parallel)Green, 18 AWG
START/STOP 2The other switch wire of the same button (tapped in parallel)Green, 18 AWG
BATTERY +Positive of a 12V source: the generator's starting battery or your separate 12V supply — 3A inline fuse required. Never a 24V or 48V battery bankRed, 18 AWG
BATTERY −Negative of the same 12V sourceBlack, 18 AWG
SENSE +Red (+) lead of the supplied USB sense cable, plugged into the supplied USB adapter in a 120V outlet on the generatorUSB cable lead
SENSE −Black (−) lead of the same cableUSB cable lead

Start Signal — Three Ways

OptionHow it worksUse it when
1. Dry contact (wired)A 2-wire contact wired to START SIGNAL IN (SIGNAL and COMMON): your inverter's or transfer switch's generator-start output, or the normally-closed contact of a relay whose coil is powered by utility power. Closed = run the generator, open = stop it.The inverter or transfer switch is close enough to run two small wires to GenStart. Available now.
2. WirelessThe Wireless Dry Contact Bridge Kit: a signal-source board at the inverter reads its contact and sends it by radio to the GenStart board at the generator, which then starts and stops the generator exactly as shown on this page.The inverter is too far from the generator to run the wire. Available now (the kit replaces the controller).
3. Utility power lossA second supplied 5V USB adapter plugs into an outlet powered by the utility, not by the generator. Wire its USB cable's red (+) lead to START SIGNAL IN SIGNAL and its black (−) lead to BATTERY − (ground). Do not use COMMON for this: on GenStart, COMMON is a +5V output, not ground, and wired there GenStart cannot see the outage. In GenStart's web page, open Settings > Start signal and set Start signal type to Utility power loss (5 V adapter). When the adapter's 5V is gone for the Start delay after loss (default 10 seconds, 1–600), GenStart starts the generator. Once utility has been back for the Stop delay after return (default 300 seconds, 0–7200; 0 keeps it running until you stop it), GenStart stops it.Backup for utility power through a transfer switch, with no separate relay. Available now in firmware 3.15.8. A GenStart uses one start signal: the inverter dry contact (option 1) or utility power loss, not both.
UTILITY POWER LOSS: Anything that removes power from the utility adapter looks like an outage to GenStart: unplugging it, a tripped breaker on its circuit, or a damaged or disconnected cable will start the generator. Plug it into a dedicated utility outlet that stays on and that the generator does not feed (if the generator powers that outlet, GenStart never sees the outage end). Use the start delay after loss to ride through short blips.

Settings — GenStart Web Page

SettingValue for the DHD5000BiSRCOWhy
Start ModeButtonThis generator is started by a panel push-button, not a key or solenoid
Double-Press Gap0 (off)The manual's One Push Start takes a single press. A second press could stop the engine
Press Length (Start)2 secondsThe manual says to press for 1 to 3 seconds, then release. Stay well under 5 seconds: a 5-second hold puts the generator into remote pairing
Press Length (Stop)1 secondA single press of the same button stops the engine
Start Confirm Time (running sense)30 secondsKeeps a retry press clear of the generator's own start cycle, since the same button also stops it. Confirm with Test Run on your unit
Retries / Retry Delay3 / 10 secondsAutomatic re-try, adjustable from 1 to 10 tries. After the last one GenStart stops and reports a fault (see below)
⚠ ENTER THESE SETTINGS FIRST: The controller arrives with factory defaults (15-second start confirm, double-press ON). Double-press can stop this generator mid-start. Change the settings before you connect the start signal, then use GenStart's Test Run button and watch a full start, run and stop before you leave the system unattended.
⚠ 120-HOUR SLEEP ON THIS MODEL: The manual says the remote feature goes into sleep mode after 120 hours of inactivity, and that cycling the power switch off then on resets it. It also suggests turning the Main Switch off if the generator will not be used for more than 120 hours, to protect the battery. It does not say whether the panel button keeps working during sleep.
WHAT TO DO: Before relying on it, let one unit sit idle for more than 5 days with the Main Switch ON, then run GenStart's Test Run. To keep the generator from sitting that long at all, turn on Auto Exercise in Settings with the "every N hours" schedule, for example every 96 hours. Only do that if the generator is outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents, and safe to start with nobody present. A battery maintainer is recommended.
⚠ CO SENTRY AND LOW OIL SHUTDOWNS: The generator shuts itself off if it detects dangerous carbon monoxide, or if the oil is too low. GenStart does not override either one, and never bypass them. GenStart is not a life-safety device.
AFTER A CO SHUTOFF: The manual says the generator can be restarted once it has been moved to an open area, and does not describe a lockout of electric starting. Treat a flashing red CO light as needing a person on site: find the cause before restoring the start signal, because GenStart can start the generator again when the signal next closes.
IF THE ENGINE STOPS WHILE THE START SIGNAL IS ON: From firmware v3.15.9, if the generator's power stays gone for 30 seconds, GenStart logs a fault and shows it on the controller's dashboard. If the unit is online with GenStart Cloud, it also sends a text or email alert to the number or address you set. A tripped generator breaker looks the same to GenStart, so check whether the engine is still running. By default GenStart does not restart the engine until the start signal has opened and closed again.
RESTART SETTING (FROM FIRMWARE V3.15.9, OFF BY DEFAULT): When this is on, GenStart tries one restart and alerts you again if that fails. On this generator, that press stops an engine that is still running behind a tripped breaker. It can also start the generator again after a CO Sentry shutoff, so leave the setting off unless the generator is outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents. It can also start the engine again after someone stops it by hand. Turn off the start signal before working on the generator.
IF IT WON'T START: After the last try GenStart stops and shows a fault. The fault clears after 5 minutes, and if the start signal is still on it runs the tries again. After 3 failed rounds in a row it stays in fault until the start signal is removed or you press Reset. A successful start clears the count.
FIND THE TWO SWITCH WIRES: The One Push Start button may have more than two wires behind it. With the battery disconnected, use a meter to find the two that show continuity only while the button is pressed. Those are the two to tap. Do not connect GenStart to any other wire on the button. Tapped in parallel, nothing is cut or removed, and the panel button and remote fob keep working.
REPLACING ANOTHER AUTO-START: Remove the old controller completely before connecting GenStart. GenStart replaces it; do not run both on one button.
LOADS: The manual says to disconnect loads before starting or stopping, and to run with ECO OFF for starting and heavy loads. If a battery charger stays connected, use one that waits before drawing power, and confirm with Test Run.
VICTRON CERBO GX AND SIMILAR: Wire the relay's NO and COM to SIGNAL and COMMON. The relay must close to run and open to stop. Your start and stop voltages stay in the monitor; GenStart only follows the contact.
NO OTHER CHANGES: Ignition and fuel systems are factory — nothing to modify. GenStart has no choke control, and the manual's starting steps have no choke step.
RUNNING SENSE — 5V USB, NO 120V INTO GENSTART: The supplied USB adapter plugs into a 120V outlet on the generator, and the supplied USB sense cable carries its 5V to SENSE + and −. It only has power while the generator is producing power, which is how GenStart knows the engine actually started; without it it cannot verify a start or retry a failed one. Do not use this generator's own USB ports unless a meter shows 0V with the engine off and about 5V running; the manual does not say whether they stay live with the Main Switch on. Never wire 120V or 240V to any GenStart terminal.
SAFETY: Disconnect the generator battery (its quick-connect plug is behind the right exterior cover) before you begin wiring. Check with a meter that your 12V source reads about 12V before connecting it.
Start signal from your inverter
Start/stop button wires
12V power
Running sense (5V USB)
Negative / common
© 2026 Acidni LLC. All rights reserved.
GenStart™ is a product of Acidni LLC. This document is provided for use with genuine GenStart controllers and may not be reproduced or redistributed without written permission.
DieHard® and Pulsar® are trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for compatibility identification only. Acidni LLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any generator manufacturer.
Installation involves low-voltage DC wiring only; nothing on GenStart connects to 120V. Follow all applicable electrical codes and the generator manufacturer's safety instructions. If you are unsure, hire a licensed electrician.
support@acidni.net  •  genstart.acidni.net  •  Rev 1.0 — November 2026