Open Neutral and failed transfer switch

smkettner wrote:
Time to find a new dealer that has a technition that understands split phase electric service.

Agreed. Because the technician that used this following procedure didn't understand what he was chasing:

tammyinwv wrote:
The tech did indeed turn off ALL breakers while his voltage/amp (?) meter was plugged into the microwave outlet. The microwave was one of the appliances blown. He would switch on one breaker at a time while checking meter for a change. He also pulled the breaker box out and wiggled the wires behind while checking meter.

This does not sound like a valid way to check for an open neutral. There has to be an imbalanced load to cause a voltage change.

tammyinwv wrote:
That might not help either, as I have an email direct from Progressive Dynamics stating that a transfer switch CAN cause open Neutral. I sent it to dealer, and Anthony at Heartland RV. They then told me that if I had open neutral I would have burnt or melted wires which I did not. So I again contacted progressive, and they said that symptoms of an open neutral could well be ONLY a series of blown appliances which I had. Even with this email direct from the maker of my transfer switch, they still deny warranty.

That just proves you need to find another dealer, as this one is unable or unwilling to help, and doesn't understand the problem. Progressive has it right: an open neutral can create an over-VOLTAGE condition, not over-CURRENT. It's too much current or heat that will create burned wires, not too much voltage. You need a different dealer/technician.

Maybe an alternative is to talk to a GOOD electrician, one who understands how things actually work, and not one who just knows the mechanics of pulling and connecting wires. This is an electrical power problem, and the wiring concepts are no different than in a house. The most esoteric part in RV AC wiring is the transfer switch, and even this is not a foreign concept in residential applications. A 50 amp RV is still a 120/240 volt split phase system, just like a house.

westend wrote:
With the main power turned off, you could pull on the wires attached to the bus and make sure all are tight.

I would take it a step further: unplug the shore cord, and make sure the inverter and generator are off. Better yet, switch off or disconnect the batteries so that the inverter or generator can't be accidentally started.