Power Transfer Switch Burning Up
Hi there
New to this forum. This was where I was directed by a couple friends to get help with technical issues.
I just brought my fifth wheel back home from storage and started in on a rotten floor issue that I unfortunately discovered after purchasing the unit a year and a half ago.
Anyway....
I have the trailer plugged in to a 15 amp plug in the house directly with adapters on the heavy 50 amp cord from the trailer. I was using a heater last night to dry some floor leveling compound and had the breaker in the house trip a couple times when I overloaded the circuit trying to run anything else. Nothing tripped on the trailer panel. Not a big deal but this morning I was using my skill saw plug inside and I lost power when the heater tried to start at the same time. Went in the house but the breaker was not tripped there and I still had power at the receptical where the RV was plugged in.
The RV has a solar pannel and 4 six volts but no generator installed. I believe the switch in the attached photos is to automatically switch in between generator power and 110, but not entirely sure. I am also a little lost in terms of what all the electical “stuff” at the front compartment actually does. It does seem quite extensive compared to our other RV’s.
I did not unplug the RV cord (I know I should have!) and I heard a noise coming from the switch box and heard the microwave beap indicating the 110 power return to the RV on its own. Knowing there was an issue in the box I unplugged the trailer and took the cover off.
I could see that the white wire leading to the box was burnt at the connection and the insulation had melted back a few inches.
I would appreciate any input as to what might have caused this. Is the switch even necessary if I dont have a generator installed?
We have had the fifth wheel plugged in living in it for a couple months before without issue. That was at RV parks both on 30 and 50 amp services. I know the circuit in the house I was plugged to is quite overloaded. This may be a stupid question but could that have something to do with it. I would assume not, as something should have tripped, either at the house or in the RV.
Thank you in advance for any suugestions or input.
Gary
New to this forum. This was where I was directed by a couple friends to get help with technical issues.
I just brought my fifth wheel back home from storage and started in on a rotten floor issue that I unfortunately discovered after purchasing the unit a year and a half ago.
Anyway....
I have the trailer plugged in to a 15 amp plug in the house directly with adapters on the heavy 50 amp cord from the trailer. I was using a heater last night to dry some floor leveling compound and had the breaker in the house trip a couple times when I overloaded the circuit trying to run anything else. Nothing tripped on the trailer panel. Not a big deal but this morning I was using my skill saw plug inside and I lost power when the heater tried to start at the same time. Went in the house but the breaker was not tripped there and I still had power at the receptical where the RV was plugged in.
The RV has a solar pannel and 4 six volts but no generator installed. I believe the switch in the attached photos is to automatically switch in between generator power and 110, but not entirely sure. I am also a little lost in terms of what all the electical “stuff” at the front compartment actually does. It does seem quite extensive compared to our other RV’s.
I did not unplug the RV cord (I know I should have!) and I heard a noise coming from the switch box and heard the microwave beap indicating the 110 power return to the RV on its own. Knowing there was an issue in the box I unplugged the trailer and took the cover off.
I could see that the white wire leading to the box was burnt at the connection and the insulation had melted back a few inches.
I would appreciate any input as to what might have caused this. Is the switch even necessary if I dont have a generator installed?
We have had the fifth wheel plugged in living in it for a couple months before without issue. That was at RV parks both on 30 and 50 amp services. I know the circuit in the house I was plugged to is quite overloaded. This may be a stupid question but could that have something to do with it. I would assume not, as something should have tripped, either at the house or in the RV.
Thank you in advance for any suugestions or input.
Gary
