Possible electrical damage - new to RVing
I have purchased a 2013 Raptor 27ft Toy Hauler. Have enjoyed it for a 6 months - no issues. I made a mistake - Not sure if I made the mistake but - the issue is that I went to a RV park - with elect...
Forum Discussion
There are two or three types of Automatic Transfer Switches used in RV service.. And a warning about 30 amp outlets.
First the ATS
My Intelletec if there is no power, none at all, the relays (Contactors if you like) are set to "Shore power" If I plug in shore power is sent straight to the breaker box (Ok, so not straight there's other stuff hiding but as delivered, straight)
Another brand has two sets of Normally OPEN Relays, when you plug in and it senses SHORE power it pulls in one set,, Generator causes that set to drop out and another set to pull in...
Side note: I can see a POSSIBLE advantage to that type.. But will cover it later
One of the problems with ATS switches is this: They really are NOT designed to switch inductive loads.... Like your Air Conditioners.
So I "Switched" from Generator to Shore with teh A/C running... Welded the contacts in the "SHORE" position. Would not go back to Generator.
Now if you had the "Dual" system.. The generator might well still pull in, and when you parallel Generator and Shore there is basically a 1 in 360 chance it will work. and Murphy's law says it's more like 1 in 360000. This is because of something called Phasing.. If the generator and shore power are in perfect phase,, It works.. If not.. It does not.. That simple, and "not" can be rather impressive in a damaging way.
The possible advantage.... or how I'd design it, and also how you prevent arcover due to Inductive loads.
I would put it so that if you were switching from an active shore power to Generator, or Generator to SHORE with the system "hot" a 3 minute delay would be inserted between the drop out of the departhing source and teh engagement of the new.
Or in my case, I turn off the MAIN breakers for 3 minutes and do the transfer within that time frame.. That way I transfer NO LOAD.. No Load = NO Arcing and no welding of contacts.
At the very least turn off the A/Cs for 3 minutes and transfer within that time.
First the ATS
My Intelletec if there is no power, none at all, the relays (Contactors if you like) are set to "Shore power" If I plug in shore power is sent straight to the breaker box (Ok, so not straight there's other stuff hiding but as delivered, straight)
Another brand has two sets of Normally OPEN Relays, when you plug in and it senses SHORE power it pulls in one set,, Generator causes that set to drop out and another set to pull in...
Side note: I can see a POSSIBLE advantage to that type.. But will cover it later
One of the problems with ATS switches is this: They really are NOT designed to switch inductive loads.... Like your Air Conditioners.
So I "Switched" from Generator to Shore with teh A/C running... Welded the contacts in the "SHORE" position. Would not go back to Generator.
Now if you had the "Dual" system.. The generator might well still pull in, and when you parallel Generator and Shore there is basically a 1 in 360 chance it will work. and Murphy's law says it's more like 1 in 360000. This is because of something called Phasing.. If the generator and shore power are in perfect phase,, It works.. If not.. It does not.. That simple, and "not" can be rather impressive in a damaging way.
The possible advantage.... or how I'd design it, and also how you prevent arcover due to Inductive loads.
I would put it so that if you were switching from an active shore power to Generator, or Generator to SHORE with the system "hot" a 3 minute delay would be inserted between the drop out of the departhing source and teh engagement of the new.
Or in my case, I turn off the MAIN breakers for 3 minutes and do the transfer within that time frame.. That way I transfer NO LOAD.. No Load = NO Arcing and no welding of contacts.
At the very least turn off the A/Cs for 3 minutes and transfer within that time.
