Transfer Switch and Shore Power Cord Relocation

[alexchuang]

So I finally got around to be sick and tired of messing around with the shore power cord in my storage bay. I also got tired of always having to swap my shore power plug from the generator socket to the bollard when I am camping with hookups. I cannot believe that FR didn’t make this at least and option to have a transfer switch with a removable shore power cord for storage. Mind boggling.

Total cost... about $250.






For anyone that wants to attempt this, I recommend a 2-7/8” hole saw to cut into the wall. I was noticing saw “walk” when I examined the cut out core. Had I used the 2-1/2” hole saw, I probably would have had a bigger problem on my hand other than finding stainless steel hardware that was long enough. God bless Amazon because Home Depot sure didn’t have the 8-32 x 3” pan head screws.

[alexchuang]

Still need to hook up the generator but you get the idea.

[alexchuang]

Couple more shots of the install.

[Maxrates]

How does the original setup work?

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by Maxrates

How does the original setup work?

Thought it was quite clear. The shore power cable had to be unplugged from the shore pedestal and plugged into a (50 amp) receptacle inside the coach that was fed by the generator to get genny power. Now there is auto switching to generator power while still connected to shore pedestal. Shore power will be disconnected and genny power will now be the power source.

[alexchuang]

Originally Posted by Maxrates

How does the original setup work?

In place of the transfer switch, there used to be a J-Box where the shore power cord was connected to the house power. The generator had its own J-Box with receptacle in the bay as well. Every time you would need to connect to the generator, you would need to plug in your shore power line to the receptacle that was for the generator. And every time you would want to switch from generator to shore power, you would shut off the generator and then unplug the cord in the bay and then plug it in to shore power. All the while wrestling with the heavy cord inside the storage bay. Not fun when your bay is full.

[Maxrates]

OK thanks.
But it doesn't seem all that hard. When you unplug from the shore power and roll up the cord just plug it into the inside outlet. Takes what....3 seconds? Also why would we ever need gen power and shore power?

Maybe if there is a power failure in the middle of the night...? Then it could be a pain to have to go out in the rain

[alexchuang]

Originally Posted by Maxrates

OK thanks.
But it doesn't seem all that hard. When you unplug from the shore power and roll up the cord just plug it into the inside outlet. Takes what....3 seconds? Also why would we ever need gen power and shore power?

Maybe if there is a power failure in the middle of the night...? Then it could be a pain to have to go out in the rain

You’re right. Not hard at all. It’s a hassle for ME. One that I would rather not have to deal with when I am camping. I would also rather the cord not take up valuable space in my largest bay that could be used to haul more booze and put into a less used compartment. But hey to each their own.

[merlinhomeauto]

Very clean install looks professional (better than factory).

[Maxrates]

Its a good modification. Until I started looking at the FR3 I didnt know there was even a manual design like that.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by Maxrates

OK thanks.
But it doesn't seem all that hard. When you unplug from the shore power and roll up the cord just plug it into the inside outlet. Takes what....3 seconds? Also why would we ever need gen power and shore power?

Maybe if there is a power failure in the middle of the night...? Then it could be a pain to have to go out in the rain

It's not gen AND shore power it's gen OR shore power. Can't have both at same time but it is most convenient for switching from one source to the other (either going from shore to gen or gen to shore). You'll never know how convenient till you don't have it.

[Maxrates]

Well.....maybe we can invent one that gets out of the RV and plugs the cord in for me....

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by Maxrates

Well.....maybe we can invent one that gets out of the RV and plugs the cord in for me....

Been done. They named it spouse.

[apr67]

I too find it amazing. Not having an ATS was standard back in 84. But to skimp on something I pay $150 for, seems short sighted.

The detachable cord is something some like, some don't, so that doesn't bother me as much.

[dathomas9]

That's a VERY clean installation. Well done, and thanks for posting the results. A few questions:

1) You still need a power cable from the power source to the exterior receptacle, right? If so, then there still is the issue of storing the cable, maybe just a shorter one?
2) Did you modify the existing power cable to make a new one, or purchase a brand new one?

We have a very long 50A cable, and it is a pain to store since it takes up so much room, but it did come in handy the other week when the power pedestal was on the opposite side of the campsite pad. It was a wide pad, too. Made it with room to spare, but it was quite the surprise when we pulled in.

[alexchuang]

Originally Posted by dathomas9

That's a VERY clean installation. Well done, and thanks for posting the results. A few questions:

1) You still need a power cable from the power source to the exterior receptacle, right? If so, then there still is the issue of storing the cable, maybe just a shorter one?
2) Did you modify the existing power cable to make a new one, or purchase a brand new one?

We have a very long 50A cable, and it is a pain to store since it takes up so much room, but it did come in handy the other week when the power pedestal was on the opposite side of the campsite pad. It was a wide pad, too. Made it with room to spare, but it was quite the surprise when we pulled in.

Thank you for the kind words. For the cable that I purchased, I purchased a 25ft cable after looking at the 50ft ones and really thinking about it. In most cases 25ft is all you really need. That and like you said, the 50ft cord takes up a lot of space. I fit the 25ft with no issues.

I purchased a new cord instead of modifying one because of the cost of the components. I think it was a cost difference of $40 at the time to buy one pre-made vs buying the bulkhead power connector. This also gave me the option of making an extension cord out of my existing cord, which I have not done yet. But if I stick a male and a female connector on both ends, then I get (I think) about a 40ft long cable and I can basically bury the extension wherever I have space for it and I only have to dig it out of a bay when required, so I have two very manageable lengths of cord to deal with instead of one difficult long one.

[Kentucky Bob]

what kva generator do you have ? what is the brand and part number of the
auto transfer switch. and part number of the outer plug.

Bob

[alexchuang]

I have the Onan 5.5 gen set. Looks like pricing has gone up a little in the past few months though. Pictures of the plug and transfer switch with the Amazon title are attached.

[alexchuang]

I also picked up one of these. While the cord didn’t look strained, I was a little concerned with the fiberglass sidewall. I really should have put crush tubes in behind the Lauan along with fabricating up a nutplate to help spread out the load on the Lauan but this right angle cord should be plenty now. I tend to overbuild and overthink when it comes to mods. But this right angle adapter should work great for many years as a strain relief.

[LegacyFB38]

Originally Posted by merlinhomeauto

Very clean install looks professional (better than factory).

2X...nicely done!