As I recently posted, we're camp hosting in West Texas for the next 3 months. Almost every night around 2:00 AM the power fluctuates. Last night it went out briefly. It wouldn't be a big deal -- especially with the Progressive EMS-50 protecting the coach -- but we are jolted out of deep sleep with each power event by the automatic transfer switch under our bed.
Our 42' has an east-west bed configuration with a Maverick ATS under the bed that switches between the first ATS (generator/shore) and the inverter. We don't run the inverter much so if the power goes out at night we really don't care. Right now the second ATS under the bed stays energized whenever there is power from the first ATS. If we lose power from the first ATS then the second ATS' coil de-engergizes and the NC side of the switch (inverter) goes active.
My thought is to reverse the inputs and the coil circuit so the NC side of the ATS has it's line/input side from the first ATS and the line/input from the inverter is connected to the NO side of the ATS. This way if we lose power in the night, nothing happens. There's no CLUNK and we continue to sleep. If we want to use the inverter, we turn the inverter on at the control panel. That in turn energizes the second ATS's coil and current is supplied to the load side of the second ATS from the inverter.
Factory Config
1st ATS --> 2nd ATS NO + 2nd ATS coil
Inverter --> 2nd ATS NC
Proposed Config
Inverter --> 2nd ATS NO + 2nd ATS coil
1st ATS --> 2nd ATS NC
I realize there will be a penalty when boondocking of having to keep the 2nd ATS' coil energized to use the inverter. Other than that is this a dumb idea? Already done before? What am I missing here? Is there an easier/better way to accomplish the goal?
Mark, may be wrong, but assume second ats coil is energized when sp available, and drops out to inverter position on loss of power? If this is true, why not install a small switch [mounted on side of bed], on line that energizes coil on 2nd ats? That way you could just flip switch to open contactor and it would go to default inverter position. Working with that 6 gauge wire is PITA.
Oh man, that is such a good idea!
Speaking of which, does the 6 gauge connect to the system via screw down lugs, or do you crimp on connectors which are then attached via screw terminals?
Thanks,
Trent
I did not follow Mark's plan exactly, but Jim's idea gives us something to share with this thread...
Our ATS-100 has shore power priority.
When we are on minimal shore power and want to run the microwave for a few minutes, we start our generator.
We added a low-amp switch mounted on the front of the bed that can disconnect the shore relay's energizer coil.
Without unplugging shore cable, this makes the ATS think shore has been turned off, so generator can power coach.
Great idea if at your relatives on 110v extension cord. Think some newer coaches have generator priority.
Jim,
Thinking about your switch idea some more. While I said we don't care much if the power is out, after thinking about it I realize we kinda do care because we use a couple of portable electric/oil radiant heaters to keep the living room warm. Plus there are a few more items that would be off if we regularly powered down all the outlets by switching the coil every evening. Still, you're right abuot the hassle of #6 wire. Plus the 2nd ATS is pretty far back under the bed/slide frame.
Barry love your idea, On our model the 1st ATS does have generator priority.
Though you might have a problem, I think your coach is like mine, and only has a couple of sockets that are not wired through inverter panel. Think the only ones are block heater and outlet under sink. Older coaches had more sockets wired directly to main panel so you could of put your heaters on them. You might check your second ATS condition, just tried mine and can't really hear it through the mattress. If I were going to the trouble of changing the wiring to the ATS, I think I would just put a manual switch on the base of the bed. Good luck.
In researching the ATS today, the Siemens switch is rated for 10,000,000 duty cycles and the expected failure rate is 1 per 100 million cycles. Crazy good quality.
Both of our ATS' make about the same sound level when engaging.
As an interesting aside, the ground wire for the incoming shore power into the 2nd ATS was never connected to the ground block on the side of the ATS enclosure. The end of the bare conductor was bent over 90 deg. to go into the block and the screw terminal was down, but the actual conductor was just resting against the inside of the galvanized enclosure. There was no mark on the conductor as would have been made had it been screwed down at some point. Also one of the strain-relief clamps was not fastened down. A little FOT quality issue. Maybe it was a Friday afternoon task.
Ground wire that didn't get connected. It's just resting under that lock nut. Should be in the 2nd hold from the left and it is now.
What's the stranded wire just hanging there? Or is that the wire you are referring to?
That's a ground wire that's attached to the same grounding block but from the outside of the 2nd ATS. The other end of the stranded wire attaches to the frame of the coach under the bed.