What is this and where does it go. I think it is some kind of converter, and goes in the side box where the shore cord is stored. The previous owner Jury rigged the cord to work with out this box. He said it was burnt out, and might cost $300 to replace. Hope the picture shows.Can't get the picture to show for some reason, it is in the some pictures link.

Disregard. I tried. Unfortunately, I'm on my work computer, images are blocked.Maybe without the HTML tags:https://photos.app.goo.gl/wPnfCR8ziiexgnCX6

Right click and open the image in a new tab. Pic will come up.

Was able to copy the url on my iphone and bring it up. I've never seen anything like that before. My first guess would be a very old-school-style surge protector custom made for an RV.

brought image up, beats me.bumpy

Some kind of transfer switch (just from looking at the relay)?

What is this | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 23, 2018
Bumpyroad wrote:
I there is such a thing as a double throw, single (or double) pole 30 amp switch, wouldn't it be fairly easy to build a manual system to change between the two electrical sources.???
bumpy

A double pole, double throw, non-shorting switch would be reasonable and basically safe (so long as the switch doesn't fail). It still may not be technically up to code (as most switches would not be listed for such duty), but the basic concept is reasonable and sound. On a smaller scale I have set up much the same thing between a little inverter and shore power for the TV and DVD player in my motorhome, in matter of fact.

Single pole switches would have to be tied together so they operate as a single double pole switch. You shouldn't have the hot and neutral able to be switched independently of each other. In general, anything that relies solely on the user to do things in the proper order to be safe is at best very ill-advised. Much preferable is to have systems that make it impossible to operate in the wrong way where one can do that.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 23, 2018
I there is such a thing as a double throw, single (or double) pole 30 amp switch, wouldn't it be fairly easy to build a manual system to change between the two electrical sources.???
bumpy
sleepygeek
Explorer
Oct 23, 2018
Bumpyroad wrote:
If it is a transfer switch, I "assume" the original owner just switched it to a manual change from gen set to campground outlet like my first motorhome was set up. fool proof and save $300.
bumpy

Yeah ! , I think that is what he might have done. When or If I get the bendix fixed on the inboard Gen, I'll see if it will work with that. The previous owner is a Detective in the Roanoke area of Va. Found a un-spent 9 mm hollow point in the cabinet. Sure he knew more about guns.
DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 19, 2018
Switching just the hot wire doesn't work if everything is to stay up to code. The built-in generator needs to have ground and neutral bonded (it's a permanently installed system, not a portable generator, so the code requirements are different), and they need to be not bonded when connected to shore power. That's not possible unless you switch both the hot and the neutral (or, I suppose, have some sort of an approved switch system for the bond).

Normal single-throw switches would also require some sort of approved interlock to prevent more than one source from being connected at the same time. Connecting both the generator and shore power simultaneously is a very bad thing, and indeed is the primary thing that a transfer switch is designed to make impossible.
YC_1
Nomad
Oct 19, 2018
Bumpyroad wrote:
YC 1 wrote:
30 amp switch
Bumpyroad wrote:
don't really see how you can use a standard household switch for 30 amp circuits?
bumpy

thanks, but how many of these would you need to build a transfer switch? seems to me it would be better to use double pole/double throw switches??? I still like how it was set up on my first RV, 30 amp cord/plug hooked to RV, 30 amp outlet on gen set. move the cord to whichever input you are using and can't hook both up at same time.
bumpy

I didn't get specific on the switch in my example. I just showed there are 30 amp switches availale.

On one of my Rv's that was 30 amp it just switched the hot wire.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 18, 2018
YC 1 wrote:
30 amp switch
Bumpyroad wrote:
don't really see how you can use a standard household switch for 30 amp circuits?
bumpy

thanks, but how many of these would you need to build a transfer switch? seems to me it would be better to use double pole/double throw switches??? I still like how it was set up on my first RV, 30 amp cord/plug hooked to RV, 30 amp outlet on gen set. move the cord to whichever input you are using and can't hook both up at same time.
bumpy
YC_1
Nomad
Oct 18, 2018
30 amp switch
Bumpyroad wrote:
don't really see how you can use a standard household switch for 30 amp circuits?
bumpy
sleepygeek
Explorer
Oct 18, 2018
It is working, but I think I had better get a bigger Fire Extinguisher just in case.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 18, 2018
don't really see how you can use a standard household switch for 30 amp circuits?
bumpy
YC_1
Nomad
Oct 18, 2018
Ah ha, witholding evidence!

A simple switch to replace a fancy transfer switch is an easy mod. I had an rv built that way. Quite reliable. I would give the old piece of work a toss unless you are interested in keeping things original.

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