The Evolution 1.0 control panel was introduced to air-cooled home standby generators manufactured in 2013. In 2018, the Evolution 2.0 control panel was introduced. From 2010-2013, air-cooled home standby generators featured the Nexus controller. Generator controllers used on home standby systems manufactured before 2010 are referred to as "pre-Nexus" controllers.
The Evolution control panel acts as the brain of the generator by controlling many critical functions:
Utility sensing - loss and reconnection
Starting/stopping the generator
Transferring
Voltage regulation
Exercising
Battery charging
Evolution 1.0 vs Evolution 2.0 control panels
Features introduced in Evolution 2.0 controllers
Gained encryption capabilities with a firmware update
Introduced a powered accessory port
Introduced programming to support Wi-Fi (Evolution I controllers require an additional accessory for Wi-Fi capability).
Physical differences
The sticker on the controller will distinguish if the controller is an Evolution 1.0 or Evolution 2.0 controller.
If the controller was replaced, the two stickers above the interface area will be
White for Evolution 1.0
Orange for early Evolution 2.0 (before encryption firmware update)
Green for current Evolution 2.0 (firmware updated with encryption capabilities)
Note: For more information about firmware encryption on Evolution 2.0 controllers, see the Controller Encryption FAQ's article.
Pinouts between the two controllers are also different, and the Evolution 1.0 and Evolution 2.0 controllers cannot be swapped out for each other (a unit with an Evolution 1.0 controller cannot be "upgraded" to an Evolution 2.0 controller). See If I Replace My Control Panel Is My Generator Still Compatible with Mobile Link Devices? for more information.
