The Altrac ST100 uses the Orchard-Rite Autostart to run the wind machine on demand. It does this by spoofing a temperature to the Autostart. For this to work correctly, please follow the following guide.
Temperature Spoofing
The Altrac ST100 sends the Orchard-Rite Autostart a call to run signal by spoofing a temperature to the autostart. When the ST100 wants the Autostart to start and run the machine, the ST100 sends a temperature of 20F (-6.7C). When the ST100 wants the Autostart to stop and keep the machine off, the ST100 sends a temperature of 90F (32.2C). Due to calibration settings in the Autostart, the ST100's sent temperatures may have an error of 5-10F (3-6C).
The wiring for the ST100 temperature spoofing is as follows:
Once you've wired the ST100's wiring harness into the terminal block, you can check that it is operating correctly by turning the Autostart on via the physical switch and observing the temperature displayed. When the ST100 is not sending a start signal, you should see 80F - 100F (27C - 37C). When the ST100 is sending the start signal (do this by adjusting the start temperature to above the current ambient temperature) you should see 10F - 30F (-12C - -1C).
Setting the Autostart Start Temperature
The start temperature set on the Orchard-Rite Autostart needs to be higher than the low temperature sent by the ST100 (20F, -6.7C). To ensure this works with all Orchard-Rite Autostarts and their custom internal calibration values, we recommend you set the start temperature to at least 32F (0C).
You can do this by rotating the Autostart's dial to "S" for temperature start point then pushing in the dial and rotating until the Autostart reads 32, if your autostart is set to fahrenheit, or 0 if your autostart is set to celsius.
Ensure the Autostart is Armed
In order for the Altrac ST100 to start and stop an Orchard-Rite through it's Autostart, the Autostart needs to be "Armed". This is the same mode the Autostart needs to be in in order to run from its factory temperature probe.
To arm the Autostart rotate the dial counter clockwise until you get to the first setting. This will show either "RUN" or "STOP". If the Autostart shows "STOP" push the dial in and rotate until it says "RUN". At this point an LED light will begin flashing on the front of the Autostart indicating the autostart is armed and ready to run.
Orchard-Rite Warranty and Altrac Interference
Warranty
Orchard-Rite distributors and their employees have claimed that connecting an Altrac device to an Orchard-Rite Wind Machine will void that machine's warranty because the Altrac system will damage the Orchard-Rite Wind Machine. This document shows that the Altrac system installed on an Orchard-Rite Wind Machine cannot harm that machine or its electronics.
Claim #1 - Altrac Temperature Signal Damages the Autostart
The Orchard-Rite autostart's temperature probe is a custom analog temperature sensor. The sensor communicates with the autostart by sending a current signal to the autostart. Higher current from the probe equals higher temperature.
The Altrac Current Output device (in the harness) uses the same power signal the Orchard-Rite probe uses in order to generate an equivalent current signal. The Altrac current signal is electrically identical to the Orchard-Rite probe's analog signal.
This Altrac Current Output Device cannot damage the Orchard-Rite Autostart because of two decisions engineered into the product:
- The Altrac Current Output Device uses only the power it receives from the Orchard-Rite Autostart to generate the current signal
- Power from the 12V wind machine battery cannot be rerouted to the Orchard-Rite Autostart
- The Altrac Current Output Device is internally fused / diode protected so it cannot generate more current than an Orchard-Rite Temperature Probe outputting the equivalent current of 95 farenheit.
Claim #2 - Altrac Wiring Harness Prevented the Wind Machine From Running
Some maintenance personnel or users may be concerned the Altrac Wiring Harness installed on an Orchard-Rite machine can prevent that machine from starting and running, even if the Altrac temperature signal and cellular device is disconnected.
Altrac has designed the harness and device to minimize interference with the machine and its electrical system. The connections listed at the bottom of this document are the only connections made during install.
The short answer is: the Altrac Wiring Harness cannot stop an Orchard-Rite Wind Machine from running. This is because the connections made to the electrical system are very limited. If a user removes our temperature signal and replaces it with the Orchard-Rite temperature probe, their machine will be functionally identical to how it was before the Altrac system was installed.
Power and Ground Connections
The power and ground connections are used to power the Altrac device and to detect and measure wind machine battery voltage. No wires are removed in the installation of these connections, so there is no possibility of damaging or preventing a machine from starting.
Further the Altrac device is fused and internally protected so that it cannot discharge voltage back to the wind machine's electrical system.
One issue that may come up is a dead Wind Machine battery if the user does not have a solar panel and solar charge controller installed. Altrac recommends 10W solar panels for all wind machines. The proper solar panel will keep the battery charged and ready to run the machine and keep the Altrac device operational year round.
Auto Mode Detect
The auto mode detect connection is used to determine when the autostart is in Auto mode. The Altrac input for measuring this is a high-impedance analog input which is similar to using a multimeter in the voltage setting.
Measuring this signal cannot damage an Orchard-Rite Autostart or prevent an engine from starting.
RPM Signal
Although the Altrac device measures RPM using different methods for different machines, all methods are electrically identical. In order to read RPM, the Altrac device counts the number of electrical pulses over a 1-2 second period. For this, the Altrac uses either a high-impedance analog input or a variable reluctance measurement circuit. Both measurements methodologies are similar to using a multimeter set to the voltage Hz setting.
Measuring these pulses cannot damage an Orchard-Rite Autostart or prevent an engine from starting.
Temperature Power and Temperature Signal
Refer to Damage Claim #1 - Altrac Temperature Signal Damaged the Autostart for detail on how these connections function.
Once these connections are made and the Orchard-Rite Autostart is armed, the Altrac system controls the Orchard-Rite Wind Machine.
These connections are the only place where the Altrac system could prevent an Orchard-Rite Wind Machine from starting. There can be physical reasons for a machine not to start, such as rodent damage and unplugged wires, and there can be electrical or software reasons for this, such as bad set points or Altrac device failures.
Connections
Connection | Wires | Attachment Point | Photo |
---|---|---|---|
Power | Red | 3-Way Manual-Off-Auto Switch, Bottom-Center Power Contact | ![]() |
Ground | Black | Ground post or other nut and bolt that the Altrac wiring harness will attach to securely | ![]() |
Auto Mode Detect | Brown | 3-Way Manual-Off-Auto Switch, Bottom-Left Auto Contact | ![]() |
Temperature Power | Orange | Orchard-Rite Terminal Block, Connected to Red Wire from Autostart | ![]() |
Temperature Signal | Blue | Orchard-Rite Terminal Block, Connected to Black Wire from Autostart | ![]() |
RPM Sensor V-10 | Green with Connector | Engine RPM Sensor, Next to Fan Belt | ![]() |
RPM Sensor 454 | Purple | Splice into TACH wire from distributor | ![]() |
RPM Sensor CAT | Green with Connector | Engine RPM Sensor, Behind Fuel Filter Near Front of Machine | ![]() |
Orchard Rite Autostart Error Messages
Error Messages
E-H2O -coolant temp too high err
E-OIL-oil psi too low err
E-PUL-Failed to receive a engine rotating pulse err (failed to start)
E-RUN – completed attempts to start but engine didn’t run-error
E-FUS- internal fuse is blown or one of the power wires to the A/S is bad. Usually diode
E-SEN-Temp sensor failed or is connected backwards
E-SPD --rpm went higher than set point error
E-CAN- Lost CANN Communication with the ECU. Usually Box set to CH or DL or internal switch not on CANN
E-AIR- wind is too high and won’t allow engine to start.
Front Menu Locked
STOP/RUN: PUSH IN TO TOGGLE
“O” OFF/ “A” ARMED/ “n” WHEN TO WINDY TO RUN: AMBIENT TEMP/ ERROR CODES, PUSH IN TO CLEAR CODES, PUSH AND HOLD TO UNLOCK FRONT MENU
“S” START TEMPERATURE: PUSH IN AND TURN TO ADJUST
“Dh” / “dC” DIFFERENTIAL HEAT/ COOL: PUSH IN AND TURN TO ADJUST
“OF” TEMPERATURE OFFSET: VIEW ONLY, PUSH IN TO VIEW CURRENT TEMPERATURE
“r” DISPLAYS ENGINE RPM: WHEN ACTIVATED ( IN BACK MENU), PUSH IN TO ADJUST DOWN ENGINE MAXIMUM RPM
“Cl” DISPLAYS COOLANT TEMP (CAN MODE ONLY)
“Op” DISPLAYS OIL PRESSURE (CAN MODE ONLY)
“b” DISPLAYS BATTERY VOLTAGE: VIEW ONLY
“0.0” ENGINE HOURS: DISPLAY ONLY (CAN MODE ONLY)
“AS” DISPLAYS AIR SPEED WHEN “AS” IS ACTIVATED (BACK MENU) AND ANNOMETER IS ATTACHED
“SI” DISPLAYS SATELITE COMMUNICATION CONDITION IF ACTIVATED: PUSH TO TURN ON OR OFF
“=” DISPLAYS FIRMWARE CHECKSUM: PUSH IN FOR BOARD SEARIAL NEMBER: PUSH AND HOLD TO UNLOCK BACK MENU
Front Menu Unlocked
STOP/RUN: PUSH IN TO TOGGLE
“O” RUN MODE OFF / “A” RUN MODE ARMED: PUSH IN DISPLAYS”SEE” WHEN UNLOCKED
“S” DISPLAYS START TEMPERATURE: PUSH IN AND TURN TO ADJUST START TEMP
“dH”/”dC” DIFFERENTIAL HEAT AND COOL DEGREES OFFSET (SET Dh/Dc NEXT MENU): PUSH /TURN TO ADJUST THE NUMBER OF DEGREES OFFSET.
“HEAt”/CooL” DISPLAYS WHICH MODE, HEAT OR COOL IT’S IN: PUSH/ TURN TO TOGGLE
“OF” TEMPERATURE CALIBRATION OFFSET: PUSH IN AND TURN TO ADJUST THE CORRECT TEMP
“r” DISPLAYS ENGINE RPM: PUSH IN AND TURN TO TURN HIGH SPEED ADJUST ON /OFF
“Cl” DISPLAYS COOLANT TEMP (CAN MODE ONLY)
“Op” DISPLAYS OIL PRESSURE (CAN MODE ONLY)
“b” DISPLAYS BATTERY VOLTAGE
“0.0” ENGINE HOURS: DISPLAY ONLY (CAN MODE ONLY)
“I” DISPLAYS INPUTS: VIEW ONLY
“O” DISPLAYS OUTPUTS: VIEW ONLY
“L” DISPLAYS COM LOCK FEATURE, PUSH IN/TURN TO SET EACH POSITION LOCK CODE
“SI” DISPLAYS SATELITE COMMUNICATION CONDITION: PUSH IN AND TURN TO TOGGLE OFF/ON
“=” DISPLAYS FIRMWARE CHECKSUM: PUSH IN FOR BOARD SEARIAL NEMBER: PUSH AND HOLD TO UNLOCK BACK MENU.
BACK MENU
“dEg F”/”dEg C” SETS DEGREES F OR C: PUSHING IN/TURN TO TOGGLE
“OF” DISPLAYS THE INTERNAL TEMP OFFSET OF THE BOX: PUSH IN/TURN TO ADJUST
“PS” THE LENGTH OF TIME THE WARNING ALARM WILL GO OFF BEFORE ENGINE ATTEMPS START
“C” IS THE CRANK TIME THE ENGINE WILL CRANK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START
“Sn” “Dl”/ “CH” / “Cn” MODE OF ENGINE RPM MONITORING: PUSH/TURN TO TOGGLE
“P” NUMBER OF PULSES PER RPM OF THE ENGINE IN “CH” AND “dL” MODE
“LS” SPEED THE A/S DECIDES THAT THE ENGINE IS RUNNING: PUSH AND TURN TO ADJUST
“r” DISPLAYS RPM: PUSH IN AND TURN TO TOGGLE MAXIMUM SPEED CONTROL (CAN MODE ONLY)
“h” DISPLAYS OVERSPEED SHUT DOWN SETTING: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST
“Tl” DISPLAYS TORQUE MIMIMUM LIMIT: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST (VISIBLE IN CAN ONLY)
“Ac” DISPLAYS WINDSPEED: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST CONSTANT FOR WIND SPEED: 0.00 = OFF
“At” DISPLAYS TIME WIND SPEED IS AVERAGED OVER (MIN): PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST THE TIME.
“AL” DISPLAYS AVERAGE WIND SPEED THRESHHOLD THAT A/S WILL NOT RUN THE MACHINE
“ot” DISPLAYS TIME OIL PRESSURE IS IGNORED AT START-UP: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST
“Rs” DISPLAYS RS232 COM RATE: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST (19)
“Cn” DISPLAYS SELECTED CAN PROTOCOL: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST (2.0)
“Ct” TEST DISPLAY ONLY, TESTS CAN BUS COMMUNICATION
“ht” DISPLAYS HIGH SPEED THRESHHOLD (MAX ENGINE SPEED): PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST (DOWN ONLY FROM ECU SET MAX)
“HU” DISPLAYS ENGINE HEAT-UP TIME: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST
“Cd” DISPLAYS ENGINE COOL DOWN TIME: PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST
“Cl” DISPLAYS COOLANT TEMP (CAN MODE ONLY): PUSH /TURN TO SET SHUT-DOWN THRESHOLD
“Op” DISPLAYS OIL PRESSURE (CAN MODE ONLY): PUSH/TURN TO ADJUST SHUT-DOWN THRESHOLD
“I” DISPLAYS INPUTS
“=” FIRMWARE CHECKSUM: PUSH FOR S/N: PUSH AND HOLD TO LEAVE BACK MENU.
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