I can’t find transfer switch or onan now putting out power

Onan generators usually have a rather hidden circuit breaker in the generator itself. On my 3600 (LP, 4000 if gasoline) you remove the cover and it is located down low, and is a toggle type, that pushes away from you/toward you, near the starter switch. Very hard to spot.

Many motorhomes also have the "manual" transfer via a receptacle you plug your shore cord into.

Always plug the cord into the receptacle when storing it, then if you stop midday for lunch, you can run the generator if needed, without having to make a special trip to the cord compartment to make the connection. Just make it a habit to ALWAYS plug it into the generator, you cannot go wrong.

Charles

Some (about 14.5) years ago I needed to find my ATS.. So I sat down and visualized where the shore power inlet is (a long way away) and where the generator is (Fairly close) and where the two paths crossed. Then I found a panel blocking a cupbord. removed the panel and dang near passed out in shock (The Surprise kind not the electrical kind) There is was. RIGHT WHERE LOGIC SAID IT SHOULD BE..... That's very odd and normally would be the last place I'd look in an RV (Ok so I'm joking a bit) but I an tell you several other sub systems are a long way from logical.

On a trailer I will go with the "Poor Man's Transfer" (an outlet you plug into) as the most likely.. Otherwise it's good luck finding it.>> I've tracked down a few of 'em and Mine is the only one that was where it belonged.

The older style RV usually had a plug (female receptacle) in one of the storage bays. Probably the bay where the power cord enters. When you plug into shore power, the plug goes to the receptacle on the pedestal. When you need the generator, the plug goes into the receptacle in the storage bay. If you don't plug the cord into the receptacle, the generator will run but will not connect (power up)


Look in your electric bay or one of the others see if you can find something like this


Plug your shore cord into it to power the RV from the generator

rk911 wrote:
the default state of an automatic transfer switch is GENERATOR. when you plug into shore power you should hear a loud THUNK sound caused by the ATS electromagnet switching FROM genny TO shore. it may take 5-10 secs for the EM to switch. conversely, when unplugging from shore power you should hear the same THUNK of the EM back to genny.

since shore power is working unplug and listen for the THUNK sound. if you don't hear it you either don't have an ATS or it's stuck on the shore power side. sometimes you can unstick the ATS by lightly tapping on the ATS with a rubber mallet. if you do hear the THUNK the circuit breakers ON the genny may have tripped. check to be sure...don't just look at them.

Most transfer switches I've encountered are set up so that, absent any power from the generator, they are always set to shore power. The generator power being present causes it to switch over to the generator, after a time delay; shutting off the generator lets it switch back. Hence the generator does have priority (after the time delay), but there's no clack or clunk when connecting to shore power. There are a few different designs of transfer switch, of course, so any statement about when it clunks is probably not universal.

The automatic transfer switch is usually located near where the shore power cord comes in or where the AC electric panel is (which often is in the same general vicinity). Mine is attached to the back of the AC distribution panel.

Definitely check the circuit breakers on the generator. Sometimes they can still look like they're in the on position after they've tripped, so it's a good practice to flip them off and on if you suspect them at all, rather than just looking at them.

I'm gonna guess that because you have a trailer and not a MH that you do not have an ATS. Look in your electric bay. You may need to plug your trailer into your gen. As stated above. Follow your shore power cord into your trailer.

Yes, check the shore power cord entrance for a genset powered receptacle to plug shore power cord into.

the default state of an automatic transfer switch is GENERATOR. when you plug into shore power you should hear a loud THUNK sound caused by the ATS electromagnet switching FROM genny TO shore. it may take 5-10 secs for the EM to switch. conversely, when unplugging from shore power you should hear the same THUNK of the EM back to genny.

since shore power is working unplug and listen for the THUNK sound. if you don't hear it you either don't have an ATS or it's stuck on the shore power side. sometimes you can unstick the ATS by lightly tapping on the ATS with a rubber mallet. if you do hear the THUNK the circuit breakers ON the genny may have tripped. check to be sure...don't just look at them.

Trace the shore power cord to where it connects in the RV. You may have a “manual” transfer box where you have to plug either the shore cord OR the output from the gen into a connection. Also have you checked the cb’s on the Onan?