Predator 5000 Auto-Start Wiring

HARBOR FREIGHT SKU 71367 / 70143  •  GENSTART BASE CONTROLLER
ACIDNI LLC  |  JULY 2026  |  REV 2.0
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 PREDATOR 5000 — SKU 71367 DUAL-FUEL INVERTER • CO SECURE • WIRELESS REMOTE ENGINE START / STOP BUTTON on the generator control panel its two wires TAP IN PARALLEL — DO NOT CUT ANYTHING GENERATOR 12V STARTING BATTERY + install supplied 3A inline fuse on the + wire ANY 120V OUTLET ON THE GENERATOR HOT NEUTRAL use the supplied AC sense lead — this is how FACTORY WIRELESS REMOTE (2x FOB) KEEPS WORKING — NOTHING IS DISABLED LEAVE THE GENERATOR SET UP LIKE THIS • Engine / Battery switch — ON • Fuel selector — GASOLINE or PROPANE • Fuel / tank valve open, oil level good • 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 START button once (1 sec) 4. Waits 3 seconds, presses again —    the engine cranks and starts 5. Confirms real AC power is present    within 15 seconds — if not, it waits    10 sec and tries again (3 tries total) 6. Battery recharged — your inverter    opens the contact 7. GenStart presses the button once    more — the generator shuts down No one needs to touch the generator.

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 generator's Engine Start/Stop button (tapped in parallel)Green, 18 AWG
START/STOP 2The other wire of the same button (tapped in parallel)Green, 18 AWG
BATTERY +Generator 12V starting battery, positive post — 3A inline fuse requiredRed, 18 AWG
BATTERY −Generator 12V starting battery, negative postBlack, 18 AWG
AC SENSE LHot side of any 120V outlet on the generator (supplied sense lead)Orange, 18 AWG
AC SENSE NNeutral side of the same outletWhite/Orange, 18 AWG

Settings — GenStart Web Page

SettingValue for the Predator 5000Why
Start ModeButtonThis generator is started by a panel push-button, not a key or solenoid
Double-Press Gap3 secondsThe owner's manual says to press and release the Start/Stop switch twice
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
⚠ IMPORTANT — 12-HOUR STANDBY SHUTDOWN ON THIS MODEL: The Predator 71367's own controller stays in standby for 12 hours after the generator is shut off, then powers down completely to protect its battery. Once it has powered down, nothing can start it electrically — not GenStart, not the panel button, not the wireless fob. Someone has to flip the Engine/Battery switch OFF then ON by hand.
WHAT TO DO: Use GenStart's scheduled exercise run (a 30-second start, built into the app) at least once every 11 hours. Every successful start resets the 12-hour clock, so the generator stays ready indefinitely. If you need the generator to sit unused for days and still start on demand with nobody on site, this model is not the right choice — pick one without a standby timeout.
⚠ CO SECURE SAFETY LOCKOUT: If the generator ever shuts itself down for carbon monoxide, it disables all remote and electric starting until someone restarts it by hand. GenStart will make its 3 attempts and then report a fault. This is intentional — never bypass the CO system.
TAP IN PARALLEL: The two START/STOP wires splice alongside the existing button wires (posi-taps or solder and heat-shrink). Nothing is cut or removed, so the panel button and the wireless fob work exactly as they did before.
NO OTHER CHANGES: Choke, ignition, and fuel systems are 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.
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)
Negative / common