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

Transfer switch

January 11, 2022, 04:53:11 pm

I have a DEAD Progressive Dynamics PD52DCSD automatic transfer switch, the one with built-in surge protection.
It appears the DC power supply, for the electromagnets, is no longer supplying.
Progressive Dynamics has discontinued this model.

Mine IS out of warranty, about 6 months, bummer....
Has anyone had a similar problem?
Suggested replacement?

Thx
Tim

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #1 – January 11, 2022, 06:25:46 pm

Tim, I am the process of replacing my dead Progressive Industries unit with a Hughes autoformer.  This unit has surge protection a long with voltage boosting if in a low voltage park.  Hughes also makes units that just provide surge protection.

If you call Progressive, they may help getting you going under lifetime warranty.  But to do so for mine would require too much work getting all the info they need with mine under a bed that requires the very heavy mattress to be removed to remove the plywood the mattress rests on.  And I have a hankering for the Hughes Autoformer.

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #2 – January 11, 2022, 06:55:23 pm

Just as a point of reference, I have a 50a Hughes Autoformer and it's been back twice in the last 6 months.  It works great when it works, then I had it showing bad neutral all the time.  Sent it back and they fixed it, then it was boosting when it shouldn't be (line voltage was 120V, and it was boosting 11V to 131V).  They repaired it the second time and it's been working good since (a month or so now).

My FIL has the Surge Guard 10175 50a voltage regulator that does a similar job as the Hughes unit.  I couldn't find one this summer, so I bought the Hughes instead.  No personal experience with the SG unit.  He has it but mainly boondocks.  I don't think he's used it much except as his own house, so no real feedback there that I can report.

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #3 – January 11, 2022, 07:49:24 pm

Autoformer is not a replacement for Progressive Industries EMS. Autoformer is a limited use item. Its surge protection, like all surge only devices offer little or no protection from the anomalies of campground electric services.

We are not proponents of leaving an Autoformer in-line all the time.  Need to have it working when on the few occasions, campground voltage is too low. Why 'wear' out this expensive unit when it is not needed to increase voltage.

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #4 – January 11, 2022, 11:05:30 pm

I always leave it inline when I'm at a park because I can't know what the voltage may fluctuate to while I'm there.  It may be good at night when I show up, but low during the day when everyone is running their A/C or something.  I'd rather wear this sacrificial unit out than blow up something more expensive in the coach.  YMMV.

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #5 – January 12, 2022, 03:27:48 pm

Hi Keith, keeping Autoformer inline all the time is helpful if the coach does not have one of the brands of over-under voltage disconnects (EMS).

Autoformer will not protect like the EMS units will do.

Autoformer will do one important thing:  Boost low voltages by 10%.

Boosted shore pedestal voltages:

95-99 will be boosted to 105-109, still be too low, not acceptable and could damage devices, EMS would disconnect to save coach.

100-109 will be acceptably boosted to 110-120, very good in this range to save the day and worth the money...

110-115 will be boosted to 121-127, acceptable boost, little too high, but boost is not needed.

Does not protect from higher voltages, hot-neutral reversed, missing ground, etc

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #6 – January 12, 2022, 03:58:16 pm

My ATS setup has a voltage sensing relay that will not allow the ATS to close to shore power under/over certain voltages.

Quote Selected

Re: Transfer switch

Reply #7 – January 12, 2022, 07:33:53 pm

I see a used one listed on ebay right now for $35 + $35 shipping.
I would open it up and see if they use standard off the shelf contactors. If so, it may just be one of the coils which can be replaced.

Quote Selected