"Plug In" generator transfer switch/relay?
When we purchased our used 2017 Coachman Leprechaun Class C I failed to notice that we have to plug in the power cord into a receptacle every time after starting the generator. I didn't think of th...
Forum Discussion
Jim@HiTek wrote:
It's simplicity itself.
You just need a small Square D box with wiring knockouts, a 120 Volt coil DPST continuous duty relay, a few wire clamps and wire nuts.
You wire the Hot and Neutral of the incoming 30 amp cable to the Normally Closed contacts. The Normally Open contacts are wired to the Hot and Neutral of the generator.
The Common contacts go to the RV. The relay power leads are wired to the Hot and Neutral of the generator, just like the NO contacts.
So what happens is if you plug into shore power, power goes through the NC contacts and your RV is hot. Now, if you want to run the Generator, just start it up, and when power is available, it automatically closes the Relay, and you have power.
Takes just a couple hours to install it all and configure and wire it up. Let me know if you need a schematic.
Better make that a "DPDT" relay with contacts rated for a 30 amp or higher load. And make absolutely sure it's a "break before make" relay! Commercial automatic transfer switches often have arc suppression and/or a delay timer that allows the generator to get up to speed with a stable voltage before connecting a load to it.
