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ATS Short Circuit Concern

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
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern

Reply #1 –
Great photos Mark! The OEM wiring sure missed in this case. Like the song says "too close for comfort."

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern

Reply #2 –
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!)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: ATS Short Circuit Concern

Reply #4 –
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.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'