tunesmithers Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 I have a whole house 20KW Generac generator. Whenever the power goes out, it takes about 20 seconds, and then the generator kicks in and we have power. When the power is restored, and I am "back on the grid", my lights are dim. Even when they show 100% on the C4 app, they at about 60%. This happens every time, and is not a brown out, or voltage issue... because if I turn the main power off and on again (not allowing the generator to kick in), I get full lights. Any idea on why this is happening and what I can do to prevent it? I have an EA5 and an EA1, and running 3.2.1 Director. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 What is the default on and max on set to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunesmithers Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 100%... per my installer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 There is a setting about restoring last power level on power off. Is that on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunesmithers Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 I haven't asked that to my installer. is there a specific setting name that I can refer to? I feel like he did mention that he looked at all of the settings and didn't see anything that would cause this. He also reached out to C4 and this is what they told him... "...when the power goes out there is a certain delay until the generator kicks in, small delay but enough of a delay so the dimmers don't go off fully. So they are thinking if this delay can be increased enough so this doesn't happen with the dimmers. They are looking into the amount of delay and are supposed to get back to me." That was a month ago... still no word from C4 and just trying to see if someone else might have experience with this (and a solution). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Do you have composer he? If so post a dimmer properties screenshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amr Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 8 hours ago, tunesmithers said: I have a whole house 20KW Generac generator. Whenever the power goes out, it takes about 20 seconds, and then the generator kicks in and we have power. When the power is restored, and I am "back on the grid", my lights are dim. Even when they show 100% on the C4 app, they at about 60%. This happens every time, and is not a brown out, or voltage issue... because if I turn the main power off and on again (not allowing the generator to kick in), I get full lights. Any idea on why this is happening and what I can do to prevent it? I have an EA5 and an EA1, and running 3.2.1 Director. Thanks in advance! Get a UPS for your rack to cater for this 20 seconds, u should be always ON and will cost you nothing compared to the Generator! msgreenf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Africa C4 user Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 49 minutes ago, Amr said: Get a UPS for your rack to cater for this 20 seconds, u should be always ON and will cost you nothing compared to the Generator! This! If you have spent money on a generator you have to have your rack on UPS. Your dealer should know this. Not having it on a UPS is doubling the number of in / off sequences you will experience which is not good for the equipment. I have a generator and UPS for the rack and we have terrible power supply in South Africa. I’ve never had lights coming back on at the wrong levels after the switch over from mains to generator and vice versa… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunesmithers Posted June 14, 2021 Author Share Posted June 14, 2021 I do have a UPS (Surgex) for the rack. Not sure if it is "always" on, but I can find out. Assume that is a fairly standard setting for a UPS (starting to get a little over my skis)...are you suggesting that if is not set to always on, that it turns off at some point between when power loss occurs and generator kicks on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amr Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 2 hours ago, tunesmithers said: I do have a UPS (Surgex) for the rack. Not sure if it is "always" on, but I can find out. Assume that is a fairly standard setting for a UPS (starting to get a little over my skis)...are you suggesting that if is not set to always on, that it turns off at some point between when power loss occurs and generator kicks on? Something is not right here, UPS by default is always ON, so it might not setup up correctly or it’s batteries need replacement or it’s not adequately sized … Also I didn’t know Surgex do UPS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunesmithers Posted June 15, 2021 Author Share Posted June 15, 2021 I am certain that they are always on… just waiting on confirmation from dealer. They are new (within last couple of years) so I don’t think it’s the battery. But if the logic suggested here is that if the power goes off the UPS should provide uninterrupted power until the generator comes on and vice versa switches back to main power that does make sense to me and I believe that is what is happening. Just not sure why it’s coming back on at 60% (when showing 100). I feel like it’s something with director because light that are not controlled by C4 switches are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAV Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 Confirming - turning the light off, back on doesn't correct, still dim? - rebooting processor doesn't correct - if a light was off during the event, does it work right afterwards? - are they all ADP dimmers, and are they set to auto phase select? - must use breaker to kill power to wall dimmers, then they are good again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunesmithers Posted June 15, 2021 Author Share Posted June 15, 2021 - turning the light off, back on doesn't correct, still dim? Correct - rebooting processor doesn't correct Correct - if a light was off during the event, does it work right afterwards? no... all become dim - are they all ADP dimmers, and are they set to auto phase select? not sure what ADP is but they are all control 4 dimmer switches.... - must use breaker to kill power to wall dimmers, then they are good again? Correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytrojan Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 I know this is old thread but I have exact issue. UPS and generator protecting C4 HC800 with 3.3.1 director. However with every outage the generator kicks in after flickers on lights and c4 dimmers which are on go dim. The only way to restore full brightness is to go director and auto detect dimmer phase . Everytime it works. However is annoying as I am in Texas and we do have power issues. Anybody found any fix? May be the generator reverses the phase and when power comes it’s not resetting as the hand off from generator to utility is seemless. This is more of dimmer and generator issue vs control 4 controller power issue. My dimmer phase is on auto detect and just pressing set fixes the issue. thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAV Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 9 hours ago, tommytrojan said: I know this is old thread but I have exact issue. UPS and generator protecting C4 HC800 with 3.3.1 director. However with every outage the generator kicks in after flickers on lights and c4 dimmers which are on go dim. The only way to restore full brightness is to go director and auto detect dimmer phase . Everytime it works. However is annoying as I am in Texas and we do have power issues. Anybody found any fix? May be the generator reverses the phase and when power comes it’s not resetting as the hand off from generator to utility is seemless. This is more of dimmer and generator issue vs control 4 controller power issue. My dimmer phase is on auto detect and just pressing set fixes the issue. thoughts? Maybe set the phase rather than leave as auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggzlot Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 10 hours ago, tommytrojan said: I know this is old thread but I have exact issue. UPS and generator protecting C4 HC800 with 3.3.1 director. However with every outage the generator kicks in after flickers on lights and c4 dimmers which are on go dim. The only way to restore full brightness is to go director and auto detect dimmer phase . Everytime it works. However is annoying as I am in Texas and we do have power issues. Anybody found any fix? May be the generator reverses the phase and when power comes it’s not resetting as the hand off from generator to utility is seemless. This is more of dimmer and generator issue vs control 4 controller power issue. My dimmer phase is on auto detect and just pressing set fixes the issue. thoughts? interesting timing - I am in the same boat - Generac generator, my EA5/EA1 are on UPS, but my electrical panel isnt, and when we lose power it take ~5 seconds for the generator to kick on. that is enough to mess with my dimmers. I used to walk up to each one that was messed up, and use the toggle on the top to reboot them. That is a pain as some are more recessed than others and I need to take off the faceplate, etc... So I read your post, and that does resolve the issue. What I noticed is my dimmers all said "reverse phase" and when I hit auto detect, it said detecting....and eventually said reverse phase again. so its not as if it "lost" or "mixed up" the phases... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penn65000 Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 22 minutes ago, eggzlot said: interesting timing - I am in the same boat - Generac generator, my EA5/EA1 are on UPS, but my electrical panel isnt, and when we lose power it take ~5 seconds for the generator to kick on. that is enough to mess with my dimmers. I used to walk up to each one that was messed up, and use the toggle on the top to reboot them. That is a pain as some are more recessed than others and I need to take off the faceplate, etc... So I read your post, and that does resolve the issue. What I noticed is my dimmers all said "reverse phase" and when I hit auto detect, it said detecting....and eventually said reverse phase again. so its not as if it "lost" or "mixed up" the phases... I’ve Generac generator too. Every time power goes out the multibutton keypads flash lights and need to be rebooted. V odd. And annoying as someone needs to be present to reboot them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penn65000 Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 On 6/12/2021 at 3:40 PM, msgreenf said: There is a setting about restoring last power level on power off. Is that on? Where can I find this in composer HE thx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggzlot Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 52 minutes ago, penn65000 said: I’ve Generac generator too. Every time power goes out the multibutton keypads flash lights and need to be rebooted. V odd. And annoying as someone needs to be present to reboot them all. hmm I mostly notice the issues on dimmers, or keypad dimmers. Not my switches or general keypads (non dimmer models). but yes, it is annoying but I think going into HE is an easier fix then removing faceplates and physically rebooting... guess I need a battery back up on my panel to give me 7-10 seconds before the generator kicks on. My electrician will have a good laugh at this.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytrojan Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 4 hours ago, eggzlot said: hmm I mostly notice the issues on dimmers, or keypad dimmers. Not my switches or general keypads (non dimmer models). but yes, it is annoying but I think going into HE is an easier fix then removing faceplates and physically rebooting... guess I need a battery back up on my panel to give me 7-10 seconds before the generator kicks on. My electrician will have a good laugh at this.... Ok So we all have same issues. We don't know the solution. I wonder if this is a bug for everybody who has generator and C4 Dimmers. Unless you have whole house Battery backup like Tesla powerwall this would be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytrojan Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 6 hours ago, eggzlot said: interesting timing - I am in the same boat - Generac generator, my EA5/EA1 are on UPS, but my electrical panel isnt, and when we lose power it take ~5 seconds for the generator to kick on. that is enough to mess with my dimmers. I used to walk up to each one that was messed up, and use the toggle on the top to reboot them. That is a pain as some are more recessed than others and I need to take off the faceplate, etc... So I read your post, and that does resolve the issue. What I noticed is my dimmers all said "reverse phase" and when I hit auto detect, it said detecting....and eventually said reverse phase again. so its not as if it "lost" or "mixed up" the phases... I am glad my trick worked. I figured it out myself without calling the dealer as it was getting too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggzlot Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 55 minutes ago, tommytrojan said: Ok So we all have same issues. We don't know the solution. I wonder if this is a bug for everybody who has generator and C4 Dimmers. Unless you have whole house Battery backup like Tesla powerwall this would be a problem. I wonder if the off for 5 seconds > generator kicks on > lights are powered again is the issue versus just losing power for a long time then coming back online. maybe the brief downtime is harder on the internal electronics? well I like your method to "reboot" better than mine, though it is certainly not a smooth response to the issue. Cant see spending $1,000's for a home battery set up to gap 5 seconds before my generator kicks in.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 This comes up time and time again. Your generator needs to be tuned to the right frequency. If you electrician/installer states it is; he's wrong. Generator at a proper frequency of 59.94 means no issues with the lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Africa C4 user Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 7 minutes ago, Cyknight said: This comes up time and time again. Your generator needs to be tuned to the right frequency. If you electrician/installer states it is; he's wrong. Generator at a proper frequency of 59.94 means no issues with the lights. Ha! This may well (will) work on your side of the pond… but where I live, the generator needs to be set to 49.95Hz or I have issues! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAV Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 Can anybody explain why the ideal goal isn't 60.0Hz, or 50.0Hz ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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