Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed (Dang, I hate working on my knees.)
| Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268116] |
Tue, 23 December 2014 20:11  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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My back is killing me. There just isn't enough room in the hall to sit and work so I knelt the better part of the day.
Last year I was up in Wisconsin and the wife called and asked how to start the generator in the coach. Seems some weather was coming through and she was concerned the power would go out. Starting the genny wasn't a problem but it is pretty difficult to unplug the extension cord and wrestle it around and get it plugged in. I explained what had to be done and made arrangements for a neighbor to come do it if needed. Fortunately, we didn't have a tornado that day and when I got back, I ordered a 50A Progressive Dynamics automatic transfer switch and a 30 foot long 30 amp extension cord. I'm tired of wrestling that stiff 50 A cord and we only need 30 because we only have 1 AC.
So today, I decided to do it. I pulled the 50A female cover plate inside the cable box and realized I could add additional wires in the chassis mount plug so I did that and added a romex connector. The transfer box is in the area where the old stove was. Our PO removed it and put in a Corian counter-top.
I then unplugged the shore power, unscrewed the lugs for the 50A cable from inside the breaker box, and pulled it out. The 30A cord had a molded male and female connector. I cut the female off, leaving about a foot so I could make an adapter if I ever needed one. The bare cable was fished in through the same hole in the cable box and wired everything up. A new 50A sized wire (2 hot, one neutral and one ground) was threaded from the transfer box to the breaker box and wired in.
Went outside and plugged in the shore power. Everything inside worked fine. Then I started the Onan. In about 60 seconds, I heard a 'click', and the green light came on in the transfer switch indicating it had switched to the Onan power. The way the switch is designed, the generator takes precedence. That is, when the generator is running, the transfer switch uses that power.
I then plugged the shore power back in. No change in the coach because the switch knew the Onan was still running. I then turned off the Onan and about the time it was down to about half speed, there was a 'click' and the switch changed over to shore power.
Perfect.
And I won't break a sweat coiling up the power cord and trying to get it all in the box. And if I ever need to back feed from the coach to the house, I can plug in a 50A cord from the coach to the house. And yes, I understand how to do that given two 25amp legs.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268119 is a reply to message #268116] |
Tue, 23 December 2014 20:23  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Kerry,
Congratulations on getting everything to work the first time!
One minor correction: If you ever need to supply the house from the coach,
you'll be able to supply 40A (or maybe 50A dependent on the Onan's CB) per
leg, not only 25A. BUT that will NOT support the 240 vac circuits in the
house. Our Onans are unique in that they will not supply 240 vac split
phase but only 120 vac.
One other comment in case I'm not around if you ever decide to install a
second A/C: Don't revert to the 50A cord but rather install a second
breaker box and 120 vac cord for that A/C. You may want to make a splitter
box with 30A and 15/20A receptacles to connect to 50A power poles in case
you're somewhere the power pole doesn't have both. That way you can retain
easier handling cords. JWID on earlier coaches.
Ken H.
On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 9:11 PM, Kerry Pinkerton
wrote:
> My back is killing me. There just isn't enough room in the hall to sit
> and work so I knelt the better part of the day.
>
> Last year I was up in Wisconsin and the wife called and asked how to start
> the generator in the coach. Seems some weather was coming through and she
> was concerned the power would go out. Starting the genny wasn't a problem
> but it is pretty difficult to unplug the extension cord and wrestle it
> around and get it plugged in. I explained what had to be done and made
> arrangements for a neighbor to come do it if needed. Fortunately, we didn't
> have a tornado that day and when I got back, I ordered a 50A Progressive
> Dynamics automatic transfer switch and a 30 foot long 30 amp extension cord.
> I'm tired of wrestling that stiff 50 A cord and we only need 30 because we
> only have 1 AC.
>
> So today, I decided to do it. I pulled the 50A female cover plate inside
> the cable box and realized I could add additional wires in the chassis mount
> plug so I did that and added a romex connector. The transfer box is in
> the area where the old stove was. Our PO removed it and put in a Corian
> counter-top.
>
> I then unplugged the shore power, unscrewed the lugs for the 50A cable
> from inside the breaker box, and pulled it out. The 30A cord had a molded
> male
> and female connector. I cut the female off, leaving about a foot so I
> could make an adapter if I ever needed one. The bare cable was fished in
> through the same hole in the cable box and wired everything up. A new 50A
> sized wire (2 hot, one neutral and one ground) was threaded from the
> transfer box to the breaker box and wired in.
>
> Went outside and plugged in the shore power. Everything inside worked
> fine. Then I started the Onan. In about 60 seconds, I heard a 'click', and
> the green light came on in the transfer switch indicating it had switched
> to the Onan power. The way the switch is designed, the generator takes
> precedence. That is, when the generator is running, the transfer switch
> uses that power.
>
> I then plugged the shore power back in. No change in the coach because
> the switch knew the Onan was still running. I then turned off the Onan and
> about the time it was down to about half speed, there was a 'click' and
> the switch changed over to shore power.
>
> Perfect.
>
> And I won't break a sweat coiling up the power cord and trying to get it
> all in the box. And if I ever need to back feed from the coach to the
> house,
> I can plug in a 50A cord from the coach to the house. And yes, I
> understand how to do that given two 25amp legs.
>
>
>
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76
> Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268120 is a reply to message #268116] |
Tue, 23 December 2014 20:30 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Good job Kerry.
I am not familiar with the Earlier coaches where you have to move a plug. My 78 Royale has two breakers that control the powe input. One provides shore power and the other provides generator power. There is a lock out device that prevents both from feeding at the same time.
A modern transfer switch would be nice.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268132 is a reply to message #268124] |
Tue, 23 December 2014 23:00 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Just a reminder: For those with only 30A service, it's cheap and simple to
build your own automatic transfer switch:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/automatic-120-vac-power-source-selection/p8542.html
NOTE: For only generator switching, only one of the relays and associated
wiring is needed.
Mine fits inside the (replacement) circuit breaker box with room to spare
and has never given a moment's problem in the past 15 years.
For 50A service, the problem becomes more complex, usually requiring 3
relays or specially-built, generally unavailable, ones just to switch one
source. So commercial is a better option, despite the cost.
Ken H.
Dec 23, 2014 at 9:42 PM, James Hupy wrote:
> I have a 78 Royale. When I changed the twin bunks into a large bed, it
> complicated switching the toggle breaker. So I installed a 50 amp automatic
> transfer switch. I wired it through the toggle breaker which now remains in
> the permanently on position. When the generator is running, it takes
> precedence. If the shore power cord is also plugged in, it is locked out as
> long as the generator runs. It works really well. Sure beats tearing up the
> bed to switch the toggle breaker.
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268133 is a reply to message #268116] |
Tue, 23 December 2014 23:39 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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I probably could have managed to build one like your's Ken but, as you said, a mixed current system of 30 and 50 amps gets more complex and I'd probably have screwed it up and burned the coach down. The PD unit wasn't that expensive and I'm confident it's wired safely with either amperage. Other then working on my head upside down in the hall on my knees, it really wasn't that difficult.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268137 is a reply to message #268116] |
Wed, 24 December 2014 04:43 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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God, I hate working in that hall. As you probably remember my air suspension had a problem when we reached the Wisconsin rally. I spent a good deal of time sitting cross legged in that hall fixing it while we were there. It was still leaking when I got home and I had to do it all over again. I eventually found a hairline crack in a check valve. When I got done I could not stand up again. I had to lay on my side, roll over and stand up from there. There is nothing worse other than working under the dash of an airplane or a Datsun 260Z.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268140 is a reply to message #268116] |
Wed, 24 December 2014 06:43 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Norris simply fitted a DPDT 30 amp toggle switch under the lav marked :GENERATOR" and "SHORE POWER" in Dymo <tm> tape. When it self destructed, I replaced it with a 30 amp DPDT constant duty relay. Genset pulls the relay, the shore connection leaves it disengaged. Works just fine. These relays aren't cheap, but we use them in a critical section of our tower light controllers. Consequently, they're replaced on a time basis, and the old ones repurposed.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268148 is a reply to message #268140] |
Wed, 24 December 2014 08:30 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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Back around 1996, I added a second 125V 30A circuit to my boat. The boat originally had an Onan selector switch to choose between shore and Onan 3 kW generator power. To accommodate the 2 input system, I designed and installed a manual switching system using high current relays to replace the original selector switch.
If anybody is interested, I still have that 30 Amp selector switch available. It's NOT automatic, but it is fool proof in that it is impossible to cross connect both sources at the same time. It also allows the generator to get stable before bringing it on line, a noticeable disadvantage to automatic switching.
I'm asking $150 including shipping. Replacement cost is over $300.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*
> Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 05:43:45 -0700
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: jhbridges@ymail.com
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed
>
> Norris simply fitted a DPDT 30 amp toggle switch under the lav marked :GENERATOR" and "SHORE POWER" in Dymo tape. When it self destructed, I
> replaced it with a 30 amp DPDT constant duty relay. Genset pulls the relay, the shore connection leaves it disengaged. Works just fine. These
> relays aren't cheap, but we use them in a critical section of our tower light controllers. Consequently, they're replaced on a time basis, and the
> old ones repurposed.
>
> --johnny
>
> --
> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit
> Braselton, Ga.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268159 is a reply to message #268137] |
Wed, 24 December 2014 10:43 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Working inside a front door on a vw or Audi. Maybe not worse but just as bad.
Todd Sullivan
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
> On Dec 24, 2014, at 2:43 AM, Ken Burton wrote:
>
> God, I hate working in that hall. As you probably remember my air suspension had a problem when we reached the Wisconsin rally. I spent a good deal
> of time sitting cross legged in that hall fixing it while we were there. It was still leaking when I got home and I had to do it all over again. I
> eventually found a hairline crack in a check valve. When I got done I could not stand up again. I had to lay on my side, roll over and stand up from
> there. There is nothing worse other than working under the dash of an airplane or a Datsun 260Z.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed [message #268195 is a reply to message #268148] |
Wed, 24 December 2014 19:39 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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My transfer switch has been sold to another GMC owner for HIS boat!
Thanks very much.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*
> From: k2gkk@hotmail.com
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 08:30:52 -0600
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Got my automatic transfer switch and 30' 30Amp cord installed
>
> Back around 1996, I added a second 125V 30A circuit to my boat. The boat originally had an Onan selector switch to choose between shore and Onan 3 kW generator power. To accommodate the 2 input system, I designed and installed a manual switching system using high current relays to replace the original selector switch.
>
> If anybody is interested, I still have that 30 Amp selector switch available. It's NOT automatic, but it is fool proof in that it is impossible to cross connect both sources at the same time. It also allows the generator to get stable before bringing it on line, a noticeable disadvantage to automatic switching.
>
> I'm asking $150 including shipping. Replacement cost is over $300.
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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