Use a GSCM to Auto‑Start Your RV Generator with Victron
- Todd Henson
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
How to Fully Automate Your RV’s Solar + Generator System (No More Manual Generator Pushes)
If you’ve ever camped off-grid with solar power, you know the trouble: your batteries dip too low, and you have to scramble to start the generator to avoid running out of juice. What if you could let the system handle that for you—automatically?
In this post, I'll walk you through how to set up a Generator Start Control Module (GSCM) with your Victron (or similar) system so your generator starts and stops based on battery state of charge (SoC) or schedule—no manual intervention.
Why Automate Generator Start?
Before diving into wiring and settings, let me explain why this matters:
Peace of mind. You don’t want to wake up in the dark thinking your batteries died.
Max out solar usage. Let solar do the heavy lifting during the day; use the generator only when necessary.
Efficiency. Prevent under‑charging or over‑cycling the battery bank.
Quiet hours. You can program “do not run” windows (e.g. late night), so you won’t disturb yourself or your neighbors.
Real‑World Tips & Gotchas
From hands-on experience and community feedback:
Always test in a safe environment before trusting it overnight or during full excursion.
If your generator starts but doesn’t supply power (breaker tripped or internal fault), Victron may not detect it—so you could be “running” a generator that isn’t actually charging.
Some users prefer to delay generator start slightly after SoC falls, to give the solar a chance to catch up (especially on partly cloudy days).
Label your wiring clearly during install—years later, you’ll thank yourself.
In very cold or extreme conditions, have a manual override ready.
Automating your RV’s solar + generator system is absolutely achievable, and it frees you from poking buttons in the dark. The heart of it is the GSCM + relay wiring + clever logic in your GX or controller. Once set up, your system can govern itself: the generator fills when needed, stops when full, respects quiet hours, and lets solar take over when possible.
If you want help designing your specific solar / generator setup, or want wiring diagrams or example parameter values, I’d be happy to help you break down your system and pick good thresholds. Just let us know!