Generator Switch Over

Question

So here we go: I have a TRC 120 / 240 V 50A 60 HZ Model # 40100 generator switch. Works? Yes great and has for almost two years. Last trailer had one as well and never an issue. Recently the switch started humming while connected to shore power. As a few days ago, we came across about 10 miles of dusty dirty roads, that is when we noticed the humming. I made contact with tech support at Surgeguard and was told i could use some electric contact cleaner to clean the unit by spraying some cleaner in the contact area while holding the contacts down about half way, yes before you say, YES the power was disconnected.Tech guy said the humming is not abnormal and won't hurt anything. So here i am to get a couple other opinions, suggestions etc. to eliminate the humming if possible. Just my OCD i guess, I don't like listening to it. Any input is welcome and yes constructive please. unit is almost 2 years old and used about 2/3 time on shore power and the rest on generator. Thanks in advance! Good Luck &amp; Be Safe ! ! !

enblethen · Answer

Humming is not necessarily good. It quite often is the contacts not closing tightly.
next would be a coil vibrating.
Yes, dust can effect it as the box is not sealed.
If you have an air compressor blow it out good. No, air compressor, use a can of compressed air.
Yes, turn the power off during maintenance.
If the noise does not go away, you could carefully use a non-metallic object to push against the relays to see if you can change sound.
Turn off main breaker in the rig to prevent opening the neutral and causing 240 volts to get into system.
Does the sound change when connecting heavy loads such as AC?
TRC transfer switch

mrwizard · Answer

Moved from technology

jffnkrn · Answer

The noise doesn't change when a load, (a/c) is added. I won't be able to get to a good air compressor to blow out until i am home around the end of the week. I will only be using electricity one more day, then the generator for the few stops along the way heading home. So I will just have to wait. In hopes of not hurting anything in it. thanks for the input.

wa8yxm · Answer

There are two or three different types of changeover switches.

My Intelletec does Not HUM on shore power.. the coils are not energized and thus do not hum.

What causes the hum? Well the "Core" of the coils is a collection of thin metal leaves, varnished together... As the varnish ages it dries out and no longer holds the "leaves" properly. alas there is no cure.. But .. it can still last many many years (Well there is one cure but it is very technical and you have to have to know a bit more than average about electronics..... (I took went to school to learn about electronics so.. Well. I know how to do it, but telling you is above my pay grade unles you too are an electronics technician)

Short description of cure: Coils are currently eating AC.. You need to feed them DC, this requires a proper converter That's the tricky part.

jffnkrn · Answer

Well, update. We are home and hooked back up to our shore power here. just a minimal amount of hum from the transfer switch. I will blow it our with stronger air now and see what happens. I think we will be ok. If the darn thing ever quits, i will install a manual transfer switch and eliminate the auto one. this will most likely be better. Thanks for the input. Good Luck &amp; Be Safe ! ! !

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Generator Switch Over

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