Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Mark Duckworth on May 26, 2017, 10:38:44 am

Title: ATS Short Circuit Concern
Post by: Mark Duckworth on May 26, 2017, 10:38:44 am
Good morning.  In preparation for installation of a PI EMS , I was surveying the innards of our Maverick MTS-20K ATS.  I noticed a safety issue that seems worth sharing.  There are two uninsulated ground conductors that are very close to shorting to neutral and hot. First the incoming shore power feed's ground conductor is within 1/8" of a bare neutral terminal.  Second the generator feed's ground conductor -- while  not as close -- is within spitting distance of shorting to hot. 

These are both easily remedied by reforming the ground conductors away from  potential trouble spots.  A couple of good bumps on the road could produce some difficult to isolate intermittent symptoms, especially since it would be unlikely to happen while not in motion.

Best,
Mark
Title: Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on May 26, 2017, 11:02:50 am
Great photos Mark! The OEM wiring sure missed in this case. Like the song says "too close for comfort."

Pierce
Title: Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern
Post by: Michelle on May 26, 2017, 03:49:26 pm
How fortunate you decided to add the hardwired EMS!  If you hadn't, you never would have opened up the transfer switch and found that.

Something for others with a Maverick transfer switch to check (which is one of the things I love most about this forum - the sharing of important information like this!)
Title: Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on May 26, 2017, 05:48:15 pm
"Nice eye" Mark!
Title: Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern
Post by: John Duld on May 27, 2017, 10:49:53 am
Think I would sandwich the bare ground wires between two pieces of electrical tape and then put a piece of spiral wrap over that.
If that is original, nothing has happened in about 13 years so should be ok after an easy upgrade to that wiring.