GenSet/Transfer Switch???

[Chiefbvfd]

Hi Guys,

I'm on the road in Kansas heading to Colorado Springs and it is hot here 104 today. Anyhow, I have been running my 8000 Onan Generator about a half hour every 2 hours going down the road. It cools the coach off and helps the fridge a little. Yesterday and this morning everything was fine and this afternoon the GenSet starts fine idles up for a few minutes and then goes back to a slow idle and that's it. It sounds to me like the Transfer switch is not changing over. What can I do to check this or maybe there is another problem. Need Help it's gonna be hotter tomorrow......THANKS

[BFlinn181]

If you plug into shore power, does the transfer switch connect? You could also remove the cover and see if the contact points are pitted or burnt to create a bad connection. All large loads should be off when the ATS is switching between sources, that reduces the arcing at the switch points.

[NHRA225]

Me ?
I would start the Genny in the Am and run it all day while driving in those Temps.
your Generator always take priority over everything else .
Start the Generator and go listen for the click at the Transfer SW-- usually about 30 seconds or so .

[vsheetz]

Originally Posted by NHRA225

Me ?

I would start the Genny in the Am and run it all day while driving in those Temps.

your Generator always take priority over everything else .

Same here, for sure.

[Jerry J]

How about the circuit breaker switch on the generator?

[twinboat]

Did you check the generator circuit breakers.
If the generator doesn't output, the transfer switch won't do anything.

[NHRA225]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Did you check the generator circuit breakers.
If the generator doesn't output, the transfer switch won't do anything.

Good points Guys !
If that's the case there must be a reason why it would trip the breaker though !
In Hot weather I run my Generator 24-7 for weeks at a time and run both A/C's .

[Chiefbvfd]

I'm not sure about the breakers. Where would they be. On the generator there is the start switch and a 30A on/off switch. There is nothing for the generator that I see in the transfer switch compartment. I will check in the morning to see if I can hear the switch trying to make. As far as the question about shore line power, everything is working with that.

[Chiefbvfd]

Everything works on shore power, I will open up the ATS in the AM and look at the contacts....THANKS

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Chiefbvfd

I'm not sure about the breakers. Where would they be. On the generator there is the start switch and a 30A on/off switch. There is nothing for the generator that I see in the transfer switch compartment. I will check in the morning to see if I can hear the switch trying to make. As far as the question about shore line power, everything is working with that.

That 30 amp "switch" on the generator control panel is really a breaker. Push it solidly to the off position and then to the on position just like a residential breaker.

[mmartin]

An 8000 Onan generator should have a couple of breakers that need to be checked

[BFlinn181]

Generally the circuit breaker(s) are on the front of the generator in plain sight. As was said, turn them off, then on again to reset.

[Texasranger]

I have a 4 week old coach and my auto transfer switch is bad. Under warranty so Winnebago sending me a new one. Once they start going out they need replaced.
Mine was working oh and off and quit again last night so emptied refrigator and turned everything off. Hope new one arrives tomorrow. About and hour to switch out.
If your out of warranty I would get a manual one vs automatic from Home Depot.
Around $120. No more problems but you have to switch over manually. Easy.
Auto are around $190 on eBay.

[Chiefbvfd]

UPDATE: I checked the ATS this morning and there is no power coming from the generator, 0v. I took the cover off the generator and have 120volts on each leg. The 30 Amp breaker switch is working because when I shut it off I lose the power exiting the generator. Is there another breaker or something between the generator and the ATS????

[twinboat]

Possibly a juntion box between the two.

[Texasranger]

Originally Posted by Chiefbvfd

UPDATE: I checked the ATS this morning and there is no power coming from the generator, 0v. I took the cover off the generator and have 120volts on each leg. The 30 Amp breaker switch is working because when I shut it off I lose the power exiting the generator. Is there another breaker or something between the generator and the ATS????

Not sure what side your checking. You removed the switch cover? Are you using a volt meter inside transfer switch? On mine the shore power is on the top and gen power is below. The power to the coach goes out the left side from which ever power the transfer switch has switched. There should be a clunking sound when it switches over. Mine has stopped making any sound.

[BFlinn181]

Have you checked to see if voltage reaches the transfer switch? Generally there's nothing between the generator and the transfer switch. If you've got voltage at the generator breaker(s) output, the next place to check is at the wires from the generator going into the transfer switch. You can check with power off, just check for continuity with a jumper wire and multimeter to extend the distance of the probes. I imagine you have a 50 amp system, so you'll need to check for voltage at both hot legs coming from the generator and the neutral. The ATS should have 3 sets of contact points, make sure all are closing properly to conduct power to the output that goes to your breaker panel.

If the power seems to be conducted properly through the circuits of the ATS, you could check it's switching function using a 120 v source (extension cord) to energize the solenoid in the ATS. Done carefully, hooking up the wires before plugging in the extension cord, you should see and hear the solenoid closing the points on the generator side of the ATS. I carry jumper wires with alligator clips on both ends, as a part of my tool kit for electrical issues.