The last couple of times I ran my generator, I noticed that I had no AC power. If I open the door on the transfer switch and slam it shut again, I then have power. What can I clean in there without killing myself? With it unplugged from shore power and without the generator I moved the switch back and forth and it seems to move freely. There's a few hundred dead ants in there, which I'm thinking might have something to do with it. There's quite a few on the electrical contacts. What do I clean this with? WD40?

I would check each wire screw to make sure they are all secure.I found that my generator ground was loose.If you slam the door it is probably causing it to make contact?You can spray some Deoxit D5 on the connection .

Honestly I would clean out the ants and replace the transfer switch.You do know they have a ~30 second delay right?

If you check and re-check your connections and you still are having issues you should replace your transfer switch.

I think the ants are the source of the problem. They get between the contacts and gum them up. The contact points need to be cleaned thouroughly or maybe even replaced since you'll most likely have to disassemble the transfer switch to clean them.You may be able to get by with spraying some electrical contact cleaner on them first just to see if that will do the trick.Get some ant killer for future use.

Blow it out or vacuum it good but for the love of all that sparks, don't go near anything in there with WD40. :)

Lazy transfer switch? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
Not motorhome related but I had ants attack my pool system controller. They filled up the electric box causing all the breakers needing to be replaced. Never imagined something like that could happen.

MM.
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 16, 2014
Blow it out or vacuum it good but for the love of all that sparks, don't go near anything in there with WD40. :)
wrgrs50s
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
I think the ants are the source of the problem. They get between the contacts and gum them up. The contact points need to be cleaned thouroughly or maybe even replaced since you'll most likely have to disassemble the transfer switch to clean them.

You may be able to get by with spraying some electrical contact cleaner on them first just to see if that will do the trick.

Get some ant killer for future use.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2014
If you check and re-check your connections and you still are having issues you should replace your transfer switch.
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 16, 2014
Honestly I would clean out the ants and replace the transfer switch.
You do know they have a ~30 second delay right?
rexabbot
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
I would check each wire screw to make sure they are all secure.

I found that my generator ground was loose.

If you slam the door it is probably causing it to make contact?

You can spray some Deoxit D5 on the connection .

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Lazy transfer switch?

16 Replies

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