Transfer switch

dougrainer wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
If your Transfer switch has the standard screw in wire lugs. I always tighten the wires with a screwdriver, wait 10 minutes, then retighten. This allows the copper strands to settle. You will be amazed how much more you can tighten the 2nd time. Doug

Doug...
Have you found any benefit in using a No Oxide grease on the connections, as well?
It's sort of a habit with me, but the last time I had to get in there for replacing some short and burnt, crystallized wires, we were in a campground late and I didn't have any available right then.

I use nothing on the connections. Doug

And probably not a bit necessary, except in the case of copper making contact with aluminum and what the stuff was made for, in the first place.

tropical36 wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
If your Transfer switch has the standard screw in wire lugs. I always tighten the wires with a screwdriver, wait 10 minutes, then retighten. This allows the copper strands to settle. You will be amazed how much more you can tighten the 2nd time. Doug

Doug...
Have you found any benefit in using a No Oxide grease on the connections, as well?
It's sort of a habit with me, but the last time I had to get in there for replacing some short and burnt, crystallized wires, we were in a campground late and I didn't have any available right then.

I use nothing on the connections. Doug

dougrainer wrote:
If your Transfer switch has the standard screw in wire lugs. I always tighten the wires with a screwdriver, wait 10 minutes, then retighten. This allows the copper strands to settle. You will be amazed how much more you can tighten the 2nd time. Doug

Doug...
Have you found any benefit in using a No Oxide grease on the connections, as well?
It's sort of a habit with me, but the last time I had to get in there for replacing some short and burnt, crystallized wires, we were in a campground late and I didn't have any available right then.

If your Transfer switch has the standard screw in wire lugs. I always tighten the wires with a screwdriver, wait 10 minutes, then retighten. This allows the copper strands to settle. You will be amazed how much more you can tighten the 2nd time. Doug

Each spring as part of my de-winterizing I start with the shore power cord and work my way toward the coach breaker panel ending with checking each hold down screw for the circuit breakers. I also open the connection box where the generator output is tied into the lines that feed the transfer switch. So far so good.

If you're switching gen/shore with heavy loads like A/C etc the life will be shorter. I always turn everything off first to minimize electrical transients and relay arcing.

Yes unlike a house your RV vibrates and bounces down the road so ALL connections should be checked every year or two. Not just the ATS but CB panel and any other locations.