Red (+) lead of the supplied USB sense cable, plugged into one of the iGen5000DF's USB ports
USB cable lead
SENSE −
Black (−) lead of the same cable
USB cable lead
— (no GenStart terminal)
TT-30R → your inverter/charger AC input stays exactly as it is today
Existing cable
Start Signal — Three Ways
Option
How it works
Use 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. Wireless
The 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 loss
A 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
Setting
Value for the iGen5000DF
Why
Start Mode
Button
The iGen5000DF starts from its electric start button; its onboard controller handles the automatic choke and cranking
Double-Press Gap
0 (off)
The manual starts it with one press-and-hold, not two presses
Press Length (Start)
2.5 seconds
The manual says to hold the button for 2 seconds; the extra half second makes sure the hold registers
Press Length (Stop)
2 seconds
A hold on the same button shuts the engine down; confirm this by hand first (see below)
Start Confirm Time
15 seconds
The generator's USB port must come alive within this window or the attempt counts as failed
Retries / Retry Delay
3 / 10 seconds
Automatic re-try; after 3 failures GenStart stops and reports a fault
⚠ CHECK YOUR PANEL FIRST: Stand at the generator and try it by hand. Hold the electric start button for 2 seconds: the engine should start. Then, with it running, hold the same button for 2 seconds: it should shut down. GenStart can only stop the generator if that button stops it. If the first press only lights the button and a second press cranks, set Double-Press to 3 seconds and Press Length (Start) to 1 second. Then use GenStart's Test Run button and watch a full start, run and stop before you leave the system unattended. BATTERY SWITCH MUST STAY ON: The iGen5000DF will not respond to the button, the key fob or GenStart while its battery switch is OFF. The manual has you turn it OFF after each use, which an unattended system can't do. Leave it ON and keep the included battery float charger connected so the battery stays charged between runs. ECO MODE: The manual starts the generator with ECO mode OFF. If you turn ECO mode on for your loads, run a Test Run afterwards to make sure the start is still confirmed. NO CO SHUTDOWN ON THIS MODEL: The iGen5000DF has no built-in carbon monoxide sensor. It must run outdoors, well away from doors, windows and vents, with CO alarms in the building. GenStart can start it with nobody present.
TAP IN PARALLEL: The two START/STOP wires splice alongside the existing start button wires (posi-taps or solder and heat-shrink). Nothing is cut, so the panel button and the remote key fob still work normally. NO OTHER CHANGES: Choke (automatic), fuel selector and the remote-start receiver stay factory — nothing to modify. RUNNING SENSE — NO 120V INTO GENSTART: The iGen5000DF's USB ports only have power while the generator is running, so the supplied USB sense cable plugged into one of them tells GenStart the engine actually started. Without it GenStart cannot verify a start or retry a failed one. Leave that USB port for the cable; the other one is still free. If you'd rather keep both USB ports, the supplied 12V adapter in the 120V duplex outlet does the same job. Never wire 120V to any GenStart terminal. LOW OIL: The generator will not start while its LOW OIL light is on. GenStart will retry 3 times, then report a fault. Check the oil regularly. PROPANE: If you run on LPG, the tank valve must be left open for unattended starting to work. On gasoline, keep the tank topped up. SAFETY: Disconnect the generator battery before you begin wiring.