Automatic Transfer Switch

[1L243]

Iv'e decided to add a Automatic Transfer Switch to my Toy Hauler I installed a solar system with a 2000 watt Renogy Inverter several months ago.

I purchased a 30amp Progressive Dynamics ATS. I also recently added a Progressive Dynamics 4 way charge controller in place of the OEM charger. The ATS will switch between Shore Power and the Inverter.

Question.

If plugged into shore power and the inverter is on at the same time which will the ATS select as priority?

























Q

[Bobbo]

StirCrazy wrote:
don't know if thats miswired or just the way the person wants it set up.

What is the difference? If it is wired the reverse of what the instructions called for, it doesn't matter WHY it was wired in reverse.

StirCrazy wrote:
I don't understand why you would want your generator to take over from your shore power,

So you can exercise your generator under load without having to go out and unplug from the pedestal. A bad idea, but it is done.

StirCrazy wrote:
but I dont know anyone with generators either. every Transfer switch I have seen is a set up to supply power from an inverter or from shore power and you need to stack another to add a input from genny or shore power that gets sent to a second one that choses between one of thoes and the inverter, unless there making a three input that I haven't seen yet.

He is not wanting an ATS for inverter/shore AND an ATS for genny/the other pair. Generators were brought into this conversation because that is how an ATS is labeled. He wants a single ATS that switches between an inverter and shore power.

StirCrazy wrote:
but for me I would want the shore power to be the ultimate pripority, then the genny, if neither one of thoes is hooked up then the second ATS will automaticly pick the inverter. now this could all be me just not knowing the reason why you would want a generator to have priority but I dont see a reason for it off the hand.

Then feel free to wire it reversed from the instructions. It is not necessary to follow the industry standard. No harm will be done. And, again, it is not two ATS's. It is a single ATS. In his case it is inverter/shore power. However the instructions will reference generator/shore power. He just has to replace the term "generator" with "inverter" while he is installing it.

[BFL13]

By "charge controller" I think you meant "converter" The converter should be off the 120v supply to it when the inverter is supplying that 120 so no loop.

You can have the converter on shore power (or gen) with the inverter supplying 120v to other appliances such as the fridge. This is handy when you have 15a shore power such as visiting friend's house and don't want pop the breaker in the house. The converter keeps the RV batts up while the inverter etc are the draw on the batts.

Towing with the 120v fridge on inverter with an ATS in line, means you don't have to plug the shore power cable into the inverter like you do when parked, which you can't do with the shore cable deployed outside when driving down the road?

If you have a way now of plugging shore power into the inverter all inside the rig with no wire hanging out on the road, then you would not need the ATS. Some folks have arranged that by using an "inverter" receptacle (extension from the inverter's receptacle) for the shore power plug next to the shore cable compartment, so it is all right there.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I chose to move to an inverter/charger with load support. It does have pass through and if shore power fails when I have the inverter on there is no time delay at all.

ATS devices that switch under load tend to not last too long as the contacts burn.

[1L243]

My bad I missed the small paragraph in the not so comprehensive instructions that said.

"When the shore power is applied the relay is at rest and the power is to the panel.

When the Generator (Or Inverter in my case) is applied there is a 20-45 second delay and then the relay activates transferring Generator power to the panel.

If shore power returns while the Gen power is present nothing will happen. Then the Gen power is removed the relay will drop out and allow the shore power side to supply power.

Generator overrides shore power"

With this in mind and I am substituting the Inverter for the Generator The Inverter would have priority if both were connected at the same time.

Although not covered in he installation instructions I have read that when using an Inverter with the ATS the Charge Controller will need to be disconnected from the 15 amp circuit breaker in the control panel and wired directly to the ATS using a 15 amp fuse on the Panel side to prevent a feed back loop. The charger will only work when shore power has priority.

So, If I want the batteries to charge when connected to shore power the inverter must be turned off?


Typically I would just plug the shore power into the Inverter once we reached our dry camping destination.

The main reason I have decided to go with a ATS is that I want to run my refrigerator on AC when towing instead of Propane. I have towed while running the refrigerator on propane for years BUT I got the Inverter the batteries and the solar so why not run on AC? It will eliminate that, should you or should you not have refrigerator run on propane question when towing.

Any thoughts?

[BFL13]

Not very clear on ATS (as seen from questions), but

ISTR from previous info on here that there is a short time delay in switching from shore to gen to let the gen spin up, and no 240v happens.

If the OP wires to inverter (one with no ATS of its own) instead of gen, is there any chance to get 240v briefly?

I have the shore power plug and manually plug it into either inverter, portable gen, or shore power. No need for an ATS. AFAIK they are for built- in gens, not portable gens and just make it complicated when you also have an inverter.

OP didn't say why he wants an ATS in his situation. Probably should lie down until that urge goes away? 🙂

[StirCrazy]

Bobbo wrote:

Roger10378 wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
The ATS has two inputs normally marked LINE and GENERATOR

Two types of ATS One is a relay race (Whatever is first is only) But I doubt that's how yours works... More likely GENERATOR controls it.

If there is power on the GENERATOR input. than that is used.

NOTE: DO NOT SWITCH UNDER LOAD
Turn off all loads before plugging in or turn off main breaker so there is no 120 volt load when you plug in.

I have to disagree. Most likely if there is power on the line then it is used. When line power is not there then it will switch to the Gen position. There should be instructions with the switch that will tell you how it works.

I have to agree with wa8yxm. I have never seen one with LINE priority that wasn't mis-wired. Every one that I have ever seen, wired as the instructions call for, when the generator starts, the ATS switches to it regardless of what the shore power line has.

don't know if thats miswired or just the way the person wants it set up. I don't understand why you would want your generator to take over from your shore power, but I dont know anyone with generators either. every Transfer switch I have seen is a set up to supply power from an inverter or from shore power and you need to stack another to add a input from genny or shore power that gets sent to a second one that choses between one of thoes and the inverter, unless there making a three input that I haven't seen yet. but for me I would want the shore power to be the ultimate pripority, then the genny, if neither one of thoes is hooked up then the second ATS will automaticly pick the inverter. now this could all be me just not knowing the reason why you would want a generator to have priority but I dont see a reason for it off the hand.

[Michelle_S]

I concur, Generator is the primary input on mine. Can be connected to shore power, start the genny and it switches from shore to genny.

[Bobbo]

Roger10378 wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
The ATS has two inputs normally marked LINE and GENERATOR

Two types of ATS One is a relay race (Whatever is first is only) But I doubt that's how yours works... More likely GENERATOR controls it.

If there is power on the GENERATOR input. than that is used.

NOTE: DO NOT SWITCH UNDER LOAD
Turn off all loads before plugging in or turn off main breaker so there is no 120 volt load when you plug in.

I have to disagree. Most likely if there is power on the line then it is used. When line power is not there then it will switch to the Gen position. There should be instructions with the switch that will tell you how it works.

I have to agree with wa8yxm. I have never seen one with LINE priority that wasn't mis-wired. Every one that I have ever seen, wired as the instructions call for, when the generator starts, the ATS switches to it regardless of what the shore power line has.

[Roger10378]

wa8yxm wrote:
The ATS has two inputs normally marked LINE and GENERATOR

Two types of ATS One is a relay race (Whatever is first is only) But I doubt that's how yours works... More likely GENERATOR controls it.

If there is power on the GENERATOR input. than that is used.

NOTE: DO NOT SWITCH UNDER LOAD
Turn off all loads before plugging in or turn off main breaker so there is no 120 volt load when you plug in.

I have to disagree. Most likely if there is power on the line then it is used. When line power is not there then it will switch to the Gen position. There should be instructions with the switch that will tell you how it works.

[wa8yxm]

The ATS has two inputs normally marked LINE and GENERATOR

Two types of ATS One is a relay race (Whatever is first is only) But I doubt that's how yours works... More likely GENERATOR controls it.

If there is power on the GENERATOR input. than that is used.

NOTE: DO NOT SWITCH UNDER LOAD
Turn off all loads before plugging in or turn off main breaker so there is no 120 volt load when you plug in.