Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-08-2016, 06:05 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
Transfer switch won't stay engaged

I've listed this problem in another thread, but today right now, I can't run both a/c units without the transfer switch tripping out when the back a/c unit compressor tries to engage, I have to turn both a/c units off, wait for the transfer switch to engage, start the front unit, wait til compressor pulls in, start back one, fan comes on, then when the compressor tries to engage, transfer switch kicks out, there's NO other loads on, fridge is off, water heater is off, no lights on..... This system has got me frustrated and tired of messing and stressing with it!!! Any ideas???! Thoughts????


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2016, 06:18 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
Yesterday at this time, both a/c units worked ok after the 2nd attempt, now both units are working after about 6 attempts. I'm missing something, not sure what.....


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2016, 06:32 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
Interesting and thanks for more input.

As far as I know the transfer switch that comes with the Georgetown between the generator and shore power is just a switch and has no circuitry that monitors amperage and only sees shore power or generator power and switches to that source.

Is this only happening at one campground or multi?

Now if you are having specific issues when on generator power and both AC running it may be that you are exceeding the amperage of the generator and its tripping off.


You just may have one AC starting to fail the way you talk about the compressor kicking in and the power disconnects.
No tripped breakers?
Has the generator mounted circuit breakers ever trip?
Are you in a very hot area?
Are you at a high altitude?
These all relate to the generator and not the transfer switch.

If it happens on both generator and shore power I would look for some loose wire connections in you cable or at the transfer switch.

Have you actually measure with a meter what voltage you are getting from generator and or shore power?

This would tell more if you could do that.
Iggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2016, 06:43 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
HONDAMAN174's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
What happens if you turn on the back then the front? I am wondering if that rear one is pulling more amps for some reason. Do you have hard start capacitors?


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"

Just glad to get away
HONDAMAN174 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2016, 09:36 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
Transfer switch won't stay engaged

This issue has been an issue since I bought it in Feb.2013, has16K miles on it now, I replaced the transfer switch with a new Furrion unit just like what I took out, same issue, IT ONLY HAPPENS ON GENERATOR POWER, never have any issues on shore power. I'm in Oklahoma 1000 ft. Sea level, today's high temp was around 90' I've had 2 different dealers check it out under warranty, can't duplicate concern / no problem found etc. both a/c units have been checked for amp draw and was ok / in spec range at the time of testing. I go through this every summer and I'm just so over it already.


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2016, 09:39 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
I added hard start capacitors 2 summers ago and can't tell that they did anything to help.

I have not actually checked the voltage from the generator myself. Was checked under warranty....


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2016, 10:41 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
Have you checked the generator output voltage with a meter when running both AC?

Are both AC the same size?
I have a 15,000 btu front and a 13,500 btu bedroom.
Is your generator an Onan 5500?
How many hours on the generator?
When was the last oil change?
Iggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 06:03 AM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 55
Mine does the same thing under generator power only. Had for a year, will run one a/c but not both. Even then it may trip (jump). Dealer says they can't duplicate but I am not crazy. I think that the issue is a heat issue. As you run more amperage things get hot, running both a/c means it also hot ambient temperature. Running down the road the compartment get hot. Heat and electrical things don't work well together. I know it is called a switch but to me it is really relays that have coil. When they get overheated they chatter then you loose power.

Just an idea, but still does not fix this.
cbmerton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 07:59 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
Quote:
Originally Posted by cbmerton View Post
Mine does the same thing under generator power only. Had for a year, will run one a/c but not both. Even then it may trip (jump). Dealer says they can't duplicate but I am not crazy. I think that the issue is a heat issue. As you run more amperage things get hot, running both a/c means it also hot ambient temperature. Running down the road the compartment get hot. Heat and electrical things don't work well together. I know it is called a switch but to me it is really relays that have coil. When they get overheated they chatter then you loose power.

Just an idea, but still does not fix this.
You are absolutely correct.
On my 5500 watt Onan I have 2- 30 amp circuit breakers and yes during hot weather the generator may stop if the oil is low and will make it shut down on heavy loads.
Many people have seen this.
Good luck all.
Iggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 09:03 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
Transfer switch won't stay engaged

Quote:
Originally Posted by Iggy View Post
Have you checked the generator output voltage with a meter when running both AC?

Are both AC the same size?
I have a 15,000 btu front and a 13,500 btu bedroom.
Is your generator an Onan 5500?
How many hours on the generator?
When was the last oil change?

I have not myself checked voltage, but was checked when under warranty and I was told it was good, front a/c is a 15k, rear is a 13.5K, Onan 5500, just changed oil and filter last weekend, Onan filter/ 15w40 oil. New air filter, new fuel filter, new plugs, 735 hours on generator. But, it's done this since new......


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 09:38 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
bubbles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,645
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dijoeboss View Post
I have not myself checked voltage, but was checked when under warranty and I was told it was good, front a/c is a 15k, rear is a 13.5K, Onan 5500, just changed oil and filter last weekend, Onan filter/ 15w40 oil. New air filter, new fuel filter, new plugs, 735 hours on generator. But, it's done this since new......


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Do you know if the generator was checked with a load bank connected (was it checked by onan or dealer). Was the frequency output also checked?
bubbles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 09:58 AM   #12
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
This sounds like the relay dropping out due to low voltage. Some relays are fairly sensitive to voltage.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 11:58 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Chuck.C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 168
This may be a long shot, but...
Typically, each A/C unit runs off a different 50 Amp leg. If someone miswired it, they may share the one leg, which will usually work when you have shore power, but with only 30 amps from gen, will probably fail.
If you can get them both running, switch off one breaker at the gen. One should quit. If both do or neither does, you've found the problem.
__________________
2013 Coachmen Mirada 35DL
Chuck and Susan, RIP Toby and Gracie, the greatest dogs.
Chuck.C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 08:46 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByForest River Forums1465523176.965716.jpg
Views:	247
Size:	60.8 KB
ID:	110649.

My temporary fix......


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 08:58 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Whitehouse, Texas
Posts: 1,275
Dijoeboss, you need to watch out doing what you have done. If you forget and plug in shore power you may damage the inverter in the generator.
__________________
2013 Georgetown XL 378
2008 Honda CR-V
wrapperman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 09:16 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Dijoeboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 532
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrapperman View Post
Dijoeboss, you need to watch out doing what you have done. If you forget and plug in shore power you may damage the inverter in the generator.

I won't forget.... This is an issue I've been dealing with for 3 years.


2013 Georgetown XL 350
Bunkhouse
2002 F250 4X4 CC
2012 Jeep Liberty
Dijoeboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2016, 10:12 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Whitehouse, Texas
Posts: 1,275
Bummer
Mine has shut down a few times, but only when I an on generator power, driving and hit a bump in the road
__________________
2013 Georgetown XL 378
2008 Honda CR-V
wrapperman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 04:39 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
cjd10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 585
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrapperman View Post
Bummer
Mine has shut down a few times, but only when I an on generator power, driving and hit a bump in the road
I have found that keeping the oil level completely full helps that. If mine is low on oil just a little bit I have that issue.
__________________
2014 Georgetown 351DS

Charleston SC
1 Boston Terrier, 1 Frenchie, Two Siamese
Gonna miss you Toby, Sage, and Izzie. RIP
cjd10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 06:30 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Whitehouse, Texas
Posts: 1,275
Thanks
I keep mine checked
__________________
2013 Georgetown XL 378
2008 Honda CR-V
wrapperman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 08:01 AM   #20
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrapperman View Post
Dijoeboss, you need to watch out doing what you have done. If you forget and plug in shore power you may damage the inverter in the generator.
I was thinking the same thing.

I think I'd put a big ole tag on the blades of the shore power plug to remind me to remove the jumpers before plugging it in, just in case you get in a hurry, or in case someone besides you happens by and wants to do you a favor. Or in the event something happens and someone else has to make or break camp for you.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
transfer switch

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:12 AM.