Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

Transfer Switch

September 11, 2015, 07:20:18 pm

I think I have a stuck contactor in the transfer switch. The contactor for the Generator can be pushed down easily. The contactor for the shore power cannot be pushed down it is if it is stuck in the open position Hence no shore power inside the coach. When I run the Gen I have power.  Just wondering if any of you fine folks have ru across this.

Thanks
Craig

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #1 – September 11, 2015, 07:26:50 pm

First thing to do is see if you can fix it!!!
Unplug shore power and turn inverter off then open box (T Switch) and take contactor apart. Mayb a piece of plastic/screw or? has got in the way. While apart check contact pads for burnt tips and fix too.
Easy to do as long as NO power on otherwise you may not have to worry about it not functioning  
JohnH

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #2 – September 11, 2015, 07:28:40 pm

Craig,

Spray contactor with CorroisionX liberally.  After several hours try to push the slide down.

Plus I like John's suggestion to check for an obstruction.

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #3 – September 11, 2015, 07:33:55 pm

I have the contactor out I cannot see anything obvious yet . it's not corroded contacts look good I am going to disassemble further to see if something is stuck in the coil.

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #4 – September 11, 2015, 07:44:03 pm

Well I found the problem. Now just have to find a new contactor.

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #5 – September 11, 2015, 07:46:30 pm

Here is what I found.

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #6 – September 11, 2015, 07:53:39 pm

Craig,

Depending on which brand contactor yours has you may be able to cross reference  a replacement from Allied Electronics - Industrial Automation & Control Products Distributor
We have had success with these people before.

Pamela & Mike

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #7 – September 12, 2015, 11:34:34 am

Not having examined one of these before, I don't know what it is supposed to look like Could you elaborate what is visibly wrong with the contactor in the picture for my continuing education?
Thanks, Don

Quote from: cwickham – September 11, 2015, 07:46:30 pm

Here is what I found.

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #8 – September 12, 2015, 12:11:27 pm

Don, the coil has shorted and ruptured, if the MFG. is known you can sometimes buy a coil kit to replace it.

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Re: Transfer Switch

Reply #9 – September 12, 2015, 04:59:46 pm

I might be having a similar problem.  Currently, I have NO power from the #2 transfer switch to the 120v sub-panel for the Inverter circuits.  Doesn't matter if the coach is plugged into outside power, the generator is running, or the Inverter is in the invert mode.  Multimeter shows no power to the Main breaker to the 120v sub-panel.  There is 120v measured at the circuit breaker in the main panel.  Of course the #2 transfer switch is mounted directly beneath the #1 transfer switch so I'll try to take them apart tomorrow to see if I can find a problem with the #2 switch.  If anybody has any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks, Nick

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