Woke around 2:30 to the sound of something "switching " off and on at the foot of the bed. We are visiting relatives in Hattiesburg Ms. and we're running gen as there was no suitable plug in options. The inverter was in the on position at the same time the gen was on. Hoping this hasn't damaged something?.
Has anyone else ever experienced such racket? We shut down gen for ten minutes or so , switched inverter to standby mode then refired gen and only heard one switch as AC came on line. Thanks .
Probably. Should look into replacing the transfer switch. It has a finite life from arcing as it switches as all the loads are not off it when it does switch.
Thanks John! It appears to be an intermittent end of life event. Hopefully we can get several hours out of her before we get back to Nashville.
I used some Emory Cloth to clean the contacts till I got home last time.
:) love this forum!
Yep - ATS - Automatic Transfer Switch.
The sound is also referred as "flutter".
If your set-up is the same as ours, you have two of these things. One transfers between shore power and genset, probably located in one of your bays and the other, under the bed switches between shore power/generator and inverter/converter.
It will probably "flutter" intermittently until it is replaced. Try the emory cloth it may help for a while.
The transfer switch is not difficult to replace.
ATS - Automatic Transfer Switch - Secondary Relay - Install (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=27009.msg219620#msg219620)
Good luck. ;D
Awesome pics! A former Foretravel owner used to emphasize that it's all really only "nuts and bolts". Having said that , it helps to know which nuts and bolts and where to find them!
Tom,
One other thing, check the connections where the wires come into the transfer switch from the generator to make sure they are tight while you have the top off the transfer switch to clean the contacts as have been mentioned above. Both of your transfer switches should be located under your bed (one is stacked on top of the other). You also need to check the wire connection where the generator is tied into the coach wiring.(this could have been left a little loose when your generator was reinstalled) You will have to roll the generator out and the junction box is located on the back wall of the generator bay. If this connection is loose your the transfer switch could be hunting for power.
Pamela & Mike
YEs I would second the wires check. I thought my switch was going bad and it was just loose wire.
I'm always amazed how it's not the "big deal " upon investigation. Going to work on her after Cracker Barrel . Will update
Interesting. My coach flutter, which I would refer to as violent banging only occurred when there was an electrical event such as; the shore power going out and the batteries too weak to support the load. Since installing new batteries I have had no flutter.
Tom,
Your coach may be closer to my '96.
I am attaching a copy of the 110 Electrical relay system.
I have the two transfer switches at the foot of the bed.
In my mind either could be the trouble maker, altho the 1st one is more probable. let's hope so.
It would be interesting to see if by turning off the inverter the noise stops (should it happen again).
I am also attaching a couple of drawings that talk about which lines power what things.
hth