Transfer switch hookup for champion generator

[daytona7]

Have an 04 Carriage Cameo that is wired for a Onan Generator. In the front basement is an ESCO Safe Guard ES30 Transfer Switch also wired and the generator plug in wiring harness for the Onan. What would I need to be able to hook up my Champion 4000w manual start generator to the transfer switch/RV without having to unplug the shore line from the main shore line post or from the trailer? The generator will be stored and operated on the ground under the front overhang or awning.
leonreisner@yahoo.com

[daytona7]

Bud, Any suggestions on one that would take it without bankraupting me?

[enblethen]

I would advise you to not have shore power and genset connected at the same time.
The transfer switch you have may not like that.

[daytona7]

enblethen...THANKS! What I plan to do is get a locking cable hatch cover to mount to the front of the front basement away from the door to run the cable through. This way I can keep the basement door closed and visitors out and if I wanted, I could run the genny from the back of my TV for the AC while on the road. Fridge and water heater can run on propane and since the genset is mainly for power outages, I might not need to use the micro or W/D.
Again, THANKS!

[enblethen]

It should be fairly easy to add a cable from the transfer switch out the compartment door to the genset.
The genset should be able to give basic power to the rig along with microwave. it will be able to run one AC unit, but not while using microwave. Insure that all other 120 volt heavy loads are not being used. (water heater on 120, washer/dryer)
You could have three or four wires coming from transfer switch for pre-wire. Locate the start/stop hour meter, and pre-heat wires and seal off you won't be using them. Only need the two 120 volt wires for phase conductor and neutral(white) plus greeen for the ground.

[daytona7]

enblethen.. The transfer switch(?) is located in the front basement along with the power converter and 12v fuse box. The rig is prewired for an Onan genset with the primer, on-off switch and hour meter inside the living area. The face plate has the following: "ESCO Safe Guard" "Supplementary generator compartment overcurrent protection" with 2 buttons. The only info I can find just shows a diagram of the setup and parts list, nothing else.

[enblethen]

Where is the transfer switch located?
Is the rig prewired to the front of the rig for a standard genset installation?

[daytona7]

Maybe I should have presented this differently. I have an 04 Carriage Cameo 5th wheel RV with 50 amp service and in the basement there is an ESCO ES30 Safe Guard transfer switch box along with the power converter box. The RV is factory wired for an Onan generator but none has ever been installed. I also have a Champion manual start 4000 watt generator. I hope to be able to have the Champion generator hooked up to my RV, plugged in to a seperate power supply box or a hard wired 30 amp power cord to the transfer switch that I can just plug into the generator when the shore line power goes out due to the weather. What I hope to avoid is having to unplug the power cable from either the shore line post or power cable hookup on the RV since the power post is over 30 foot from my RV at the rear and in order to keep the generator under either my awning or the front overhang of the RV, I would either need an additional 10+ foot 50 amp cable extention, a new 40 foot 50 amp power cable from the genny to main hook up or just a short 10 foot hard wired 30 amp power cable from the Transfer switch and genny. Just do not like the idea of having to get wet and standing in water or wet grass to undo the power cable from the power post or main house hook up if the power goes out during a heavy rain storm.

[jimmyfred]

............Assuming you have 50 amp service , simply purchase one of those yellow , 50 amp to 30 amp adapter cords for your regular 50 amp power cord , plug it into the Champion genset , ..........the transfer switch doesn't know where the power is coming from and doesn't care ! As long as the champion is putting out power , the xfer switch will never switch over to the Onan Unless the Champion dies !!!!!!!! , jf

[Swamp_Man]

Looking at this transfer switch, it does not disconnect shore power. It only connects the generator to the trailers electrical system. Also, the 4000 watt generator puts out more power than the switch is rated for (30 amps equal 3600 watts). I don't think that is a huge consideration but the one thing that you would to be careful with is that shore power is disconnected before using the generator. I suggest using one of the transfer switches that disconnects shore power before switching to generator power. Once the generator is shut off, the switch will switch back to shore power. A little safer.

[enblethen]

It appears by ESCO website that your transfer switch only has one relay. Is this correct?
It indicates there is a double pole double throw relay. One set is in use as of now.
There should be a second set of terminals adjacent to the ones going to your converter. You would connect your genset on these terminals observicing color code.
ES-30
Do proper testing before applying power to the rig. Turn off all circuit breakers in the rig.
Test power to the transfer switch from shore power. Disconnect shore power, start genset and apply power to the transfer switch. Verify voltage to the AC section of your 120 volt panel in the rig.

[daytona7]

Thanks Bud! Only problem is that there is no schematic on the cover of transfer switch. Even their web site does not have much info on it.

[enblethen]

Get a properly sized peice of cable, correct connector for the genset.
Wire it up as per schematic on cover of the transfer switch and the connector