AUTOMATIC LINE GENERATOR SWITCH

I agree the transfer switch is just bad. The toaster oven info was irrelevant to the issue and threw some off track.

If you ran a line to the pedestal for the toaster over and by passed the converter, it does not even figure in the equation. Even if it was going through the converter it would not have any effect.

It would be nice to know if you have a 30 or fifty amp system and what brand/model transfer switch you have and what brand/model generator also. Have you checked to see if your generator is putting out 120vac. You should be able to check either at the generator or the line side of the xfer switch coil. Low voltage will cause the relay coil to hum. Low voltage for a long time will cause the coil to overheat.

If your generator is putting out the required 120 vac, then with the work you have done being considered, I would say you need a new relay.

KD4UPL wrote:
I totally disagree that plugging into a 20A outlet destroyed your transfer switch.
Even so, you may need to replace the switch. I once had a 50 amp ATS made by Power Max go bad. Same problem, the contactor coils wouldn't pull the switch, they just hummed. This particular unit used DC coils so that when engaged they wouldn't hum. The rectifier circuit in the switch was only delivering about 70 volts DC instead of the 100 volts the coils required. The manufacturer couldn't provide a replacement. The switch was fairly inexpensive so it was just replaced.
Have you measured the voltage going to your coils? Does it meet the specification they require?

I agree.

I totally disagree that plugging into a 20A outlet destroyed your transfer switch.
Even so, you may need to replace the switch. I once had a 50 amp ATS made by Power Max go bad. Same problem, the contactor coils wouldn't pull the switch, they just hummed. This particular unit used DC coils so that when engaged they wouldn't hum. The rectifier circuit in the switch was only delivering about 70 volts DC instead of the 100 volts the coils required. The manufacturer couldn't provide a replacement. The switch was fairly inexpensive so it was just replaced.
Have you measured the voltage going to your coils? Does it meet the specification they require?

1. IF you only had 20 amp power at the Shore connection and you lost power, then you have destroyed the transfer Box. You were running MORE amps thru the box than you had supply for and the excess current draw destroyed the transfer relay.
2. The fact it hums shows it is defective
3. The only fix is to replace the Transfer Box. Doug