Just experienced a IOTA ITS-50R Transfer Switch "melt down". Fortuneately we were in the RV when the incident occurred. Total loss of shore power. Battery source OK. Fridge OK. MicroWave oven did not survive, One TV smoked. Ground Fault circuit breaker will not reset. Service Technician arrived and located the problem. Melted IOTA ITS-50R Transfer Switch. No replacement available at time. Remedy: tech removed switch and wired around to get us operational. (Wire Nuts and Tape) Replaced the GF breaker.Question:the RV is wired for a generator, however, We do not have a generator on board. Am I okay to leave the Transfer Switch out? Maybe improve the wiring situation by putting it in a junction box? Or, if I must replace the switch, which is recommended.2010 Cameo by Carriage37ft 5th WheelPlease advise...Rick Smithrlsem

If NO Genset, there is no reason to install a ATS. Hardwired with rated wire nuts is OK. I hope he also wire nutted and taped off the 3 feeds from the Genset compartment. If someone added a genset in the future, those wires will be hot when the genset is started. I would put a note on the Geset area wiring 120 box that the ATS has been removed for any future owner or repair Tech. Doug

Hello Doug,Thanks for speedy reply!Good to read I am okay to leave it out of circuit. It will mean we can continue the road trip as planned...Traveling to and Hiking all National Parks, including Big Bend!Best regards,Rickrlsem

The connections should still be in a box not just twisted and taped in free airspace. No particular reason to have a switch. If access is easy consider pulling new continuous wire from the inlet to the breaker panel.A Progressive Industries EMS would have cut power before those items were damaged.http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-hw50cIf you want to replace the switch... I recommend the PD53-100http://www.bestconverter.com/100-Amp-Transfer-Switch

Sounds as if there may have been an "open neutral" event which put 240 volts through one leg of the RV.In other words--the transfer switch may not have caused the failure--but rather was damaged by the failure upstream from it.

pianotuna wrote:Sounds as if there may have been an "open neutral" event which put 240 volts through one leg of the RV.In other words--the transfer switch may not have caused the failure--but rather was damaged by the failure upstream from it.You are correct which is all to often from the chord connection just hanging on the side of the trailer not using the twistlock ring

IOTA ITS-50R Transfer Switch Failure | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Nov 13, 2017
Corkey05 wrote:
time2roll wrote:
I thought there was a recall on IOTA switches due to connections coming loose.
Switch was melted would seem to indicate the issue was in the switch itself, not the cord.
True!

IOTA Recalls forced the makers into bankruptcy, but they restarted under a different name and LLC. But many RV manufacturers (like Monaco) were in bankruptcy too leaving RV owners in the dark, they were never notified of the fire danger involved.

This OP's story had a lucky ending ... time for a lotto ticket.
That is absolutely correct about the recall. We had ours on a 2010 Fuzion replaced by the dealer.
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 13, 2017
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Lessee. Is there any reason a DPDT 120 vac COIL relay could not protect against loss of neutral in a single phase system?

AMAZON
Yuco
YC-GP-DPDT-2D YuCo Power Relay 110/120V DC Coil 50Amp 2 Pole DPDT Heavy-Duty
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No, I don't see how that would help with a neutral going bad.
How would you wire it?
rlsem
Explorer
Nov 13, 2017
Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions...
my project for tomorrow is to install a junction box and secure all wiring as recommended. I will label the box accordingly.

Many thanks and best regards

Rick
Corkey05
Explorer
Nov 13, 2017
time2roll wrote:
I thought there was a recall on IOTA switches due to connections coming loose.
Switch was melted would seem to indicate the issue was in the switch itself, not the cord.
True!

IOTA Recalls forced the makers into bankruptcy, but they restarted under a different name and LLC. But many RV manufacturers (like Monaco) were in bankruptcy too leaving RV owners in the dark, they were never notified of the fire danger involved.

This OP's story had a lucky ending ... time for a lotto ticket.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 12, 2017
Lessee. Is there any reason a DPDT 120 vac COIL relay could not protect against loss of neutral in a single phase system?

AMAZON
Yuco
YC-GP-DPDT-2D YuCo Power Relay 110/120V DC Coil 50Amp 2 Pole DPDT Heavy-Duty
Be the first to review this item
Price: $39.99 & FREE Shipping
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 12, 2017
I thought there was a recall on IOTA switches due to connections coming loose.
Switch was melted would seem to indicate the issue was in the switch itself, not the cord.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2017
pianotuna wrote:
Sounds as if there may have been an "open neutral" event which put 240 volts through one leg of the RV.

In other words--the transfer switch may not have caused the failure--but rather was damaged by the failure upstream from it.
You are correct which is all to often from the chord connection just hanging on the side of the trailer not using the twistlock ring
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 12, 2017
Sounds as if there may have been an "open neutral" event which put 240 volts through one leg of the RV.

In other words--the transfer switch may not have caused the failure--but rather was damaged by the failure upstream from it.
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 12, 2017
The connections should still be in a box not just twisted and taped in free airspace. No particular reason to have a switch. If access is easy consider pulling new continuous wire from the inlet to the breaker panel.

A Progressive Industries EMS would have cut power before those items were damaged.
http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-hw50c

If you want to replace the switch... I recommend the PD53-100
http://www.bestconverter.com/100-Amp-Transfer-Switch
rlsem
Explorer
Nov 12, 2017
Hello Doug,
Thanks for speedy reply!
Good to read I am okay to leave it out of circuit. It will mean we can continue the road trip as planned...Traveling to and Hiking all National Parks, including Big Bend!

Best regards,

Rick
rlsem