The Volvox generator didn’t arrive with a microprocessor based control unit; instead it had a number of discrete circuits to provide the required functions. Basically, the control unit should:
- Start the generator from a remote switch
- Stop the generator if the oil pressure is too low
- Stop the generator if the engine temperature is too high
- Turn the heater on before starting the engine
There’s a central unit in the Volvox manufactured by an Indian company called “GListen”, not much in it, instead the circuitry is distributed over 4 other units:
GListen control units
It looks as though each unit was soldered and assembled by hand! Now I can appreciate certain hand made items – but electronics isn’t one of them.
The main unit shipped to me was faulty so the chaps at Vidhata shipped a replacement unit, that too didn’t work… until I discovered the fault was a dodgy connection. By this time I’d given up on all these bits of circuitry and instead bought a proper microprocessor controlled unit from Deapsea PLC, the DSE3110.
It replaces all those boxes and the main GListen unit; it’s fully programmable with a PC so configuration is a snap and it offers all the important safety features including a few additional ones:
- Generator stop for under or over voltage
- Stop for under or over frequency
- Stop for under or over RPM
- Monitoring of battery voltage
All the values are completely configurable from the PC software.
It works wonderfully and now the control box is a bit cleaner too:
Just need to find a bit of metal so that I can mount it properly… the ductape isn’t a long term solution 
The RPM monitor that shipped with the generator is also a GListen unit and it’s been showing erroneous values sometimes displaying 4000+ RPM when the generator is really only doing 1500. Hopefully that problem will also be solved by the Deepsea unit as it also displays RPM.
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