# Generator Runtime Display in Hours **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** scripting\ **Created:** [December 27, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/generator-runtime-display-in-hours/100252 "2024-12-27T12:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Treadway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Matthew\_Treadway](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matthew_Treadway)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/generator-runtime-display-in-hours/100252/1 "2024-12-27T12:54:58Z")
Hi all, New to the scripting world and would like to get some input on a simple tag event script. I have a status input in my PLC code linked to a Boolean coil telling me when the generator is running - value 0 for normal utility power and value 1 for generator running. Without doing it through the code in the PLC, I'm looking for a way to track the Generator runtime in hours when the bit is true and display it for the operators on an overview screen. Any input would be greatly appreciated - thanks! ---
**Author:** ![justinedwards.jle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/justinedwards.jle/32/37854_2.png) [@justinedwards.jle](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/justinedwards.jle)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/generator-runtime-display-in-hours/100252/2 "2024-12-28T00:33:03Z")
You have tag history enabled? ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Treadway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Matthew\_Treadway](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matthew_Treadway)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/generator-runtime-display-in-hours/100252/3 "2024-12-30T17:37:56Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/generator-runtime-display-in-hours/100252/4 "2024-12-30T18:33:36Z")
If you have the ability / authorisation to change the PLC code, I recommend adding a retentive timer or counter to the PLC to monitor the run hours. Then use the historian1 or a transaction group to log the meter value onChange and, if you want, at midnight. That way you can easily calculate daily run hours and runtime since midnight. 1 Ignition's Historian doesn't interpolate or extrapolate values to the boundary of a selected time range. That means you'll get errors which increase with the intervals between the last reading before and the first reading after midnight, for example. Anywhere I've needed it I create a separate data table, a scheduled task to log the reading (at midnight / on the hour / every 15 minutes or whatever you decide) and onChange of the generator's run status. ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Treadway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Matthew\_Treadway](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matthew_Treadway)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/generator-runtime-display-in-hours/100252/5 "2024-12-31T12:18:13Z")
Ok sounds good - I appreciate the feedback.