Westinghouse WGen3600DFc Auto-Start Wiring

4650 PEAK / 3600 RUNNING WATT DUAL FUEL • REMOTE ELECTRIC START  •  GENSTART BASE CONTROLLER
ACIDNI LLC  |  SEPTEMBER 2026  |  REV 1.2
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 AC SENSE L AC SENSE N SETUP (in the GenStart app / web page) Start Mode: BUTTON  •  Double-Press: ON Press 1 sec → wait 3 sec → press 1 sec WESTINGHOUSE WGen3600DFc 212cc • 3600W GAS / 3240W LPG • AUTO-CHOKE • CO SENSOR PUSH-BUTTON START/STOP the lit button on the control panel its two wires TAP IN PARALLEL — DO NOT CUT ANYTHING GENERATOR 12V STARTING BATTERY + − install supplied 3A inline fuse on the + wire 120V 5-20R DUPLEX OUTLET ON THE PANEL HOT NEUTRAL this generator is 120V only — any outlet works L5-30R or TT-30R — 120V 30A → YOUR INVERTER / CHARGER AC INPUT LEAVE THE GENERATOR SET UP LIKE THIS • Battery switch — ON (needed for the button) • Fuel valve OPEN, fuel selector set (gas / LPG) • Oil level good, low-oil shutdown clear • Choke — automatic, nothing to wire • 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 (1 sec) —    the button light comes on 4. Waits 3 sec, presses again — cranks 5. Confirms real AC power within 15 sec;    if not, waits 10 sec and tries again    (3 tries, then reports a fault) 6. Battery recharged — your inverter    opens the contact 7. GenStart presses the button once    more — the generator shuts down The key fob keeps working the whole time.

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 wire of the WGen3600DFc push-button START/STOP switch (tapped in parallel)Green, 18 AWG
START/STOP 2The other wire of the same button (tapped in parallel)Green, 18 AWG
BATTERY +WGen3600DFc 12V starting battery, positive post or the + lead of its quick-connect plug — 3A inline fuse requiredRed, 18 AWG
BATTERY −WGen3600DFc 12V starting battery, negative post or the − lead of its quick-connect plugBlack, 18 AWG
AC SENSE LHot side of the 120V 5-20R duplex outlet on the generator panelOrange, 18 AWG
AC SENSE NNeutral side of the same outletWhite/Orange, 18 AWG
— (no GenStart terminal)L5-30R or TT-30R → your inverter/charger AC input stays exactly as it is todayExisting cable

Settings — GenStart Web Page

SettingValue for the WGen3600DFcWhy
Start ModeButtonThe WGen3600DFc starts from a lit panel push-button; its onboard controller handles choke, cranking and shutdown
Double-Press Gap3 secondsThis start module needs two presses: the first wakes it (button lights), the second cranks — the same module behaviour as the Generac GP series
Press Length (Start)1 secondMatches a firm press-and-release
Press Length (Stop)1 secondA single press shuts the engine down
Start Confirm Time15 secondsAC power must appear within this window or the attempt counts as failed
Retries / Retry Delay3 / 10 secondsAutomatic re-try; after 3 failures GenStart stops and reports a fault
⚠ CHECK YOUR PANEL FIRST: Stand at the generator and start it by hand with the button. If the first press lights the button and the second press cranks, leave Double-Press ON at 3 seconds as shown. If one press-and-hold starts it (the manual describes a 2-second hold), turn Double-Press OFF and set Press Length (Start) to 2.5 seconds. 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 WGen3600DFc will not respond to the button, the key fob or GenStart while its battery switch is OFF. Leave it ON. The generator charges its own battery while running, but a small battery maintainer is cheap insurance for a remote site that only runs a few hours a week.
CO SENSOR: If the generator shuts itself down for carbon monoxide, the manual requires a restart at the control panel. GenStart will retry 3 times, then report a fault. Never bypass the CO system, and keep the generator well away from buildings.
TAP IN PARALLEL: The two START/STOP wires splice alongside the existing push-button wires (posi-taps or solder and heat-shrink). Nothing is cut, so the panel button and the wireless key fob still work normally.
NO OTHER CHANGES: Choke (automatic), ignition, fuel selector and the remote-start receiver stay factory — nothing to modify.
WHY THE AC SENSE WIRES MATTER: They are how GenStart knows the engine actually started. Without them it cannot verify a start or retry a failed one.
PROPANE: If you run on LPG, the tank valve must be left open for unattended starting to work. On gasoline, leave the fuel valve open and keep the tank topped up.
SAFETY: Disconnect the generator battery before you begin wiring. Never work on the 120V outlet while the generator can start.
Start signal from your inverter
Start/stop button wires
12V battery power
AC sense (generator running)
120V power to your inverter
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.
Westinghouse® and WGen3600DFc 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 12V DC and 120V AC circuits. Follow all applicable electrical codes and the manufacturers' safety instructions. If you are unsure, hire a licensed electrician.
support@acidni.net  •  genstart.acidni.net  •  Rev 1.2 — September 2026