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Old 06-12-2007, 06:29 AM   #1
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I was put it contact with Mike Swensin, 206-369-2665, who is a technician at Zantrex. He explained how to wire the AGS to start the generator to control the heat or air-conditioners ONLY if shore power is lost.

On my coach, behind the zantrex control panel and tank level gauges there is a Duo-Therm electrical box. On the left side there is a white plastic plug with two orange wires that exit, one goes to the Zantrex control panel the other is connected to a yellow wire (from the AGS module behind TV). Run a new wire, I used a 16 gauge speaker wire, one end connected to the yellow and one connected to the orange, down and through the firewall and all the way back to the Surge Guard electrical box (well marked) located in the center of the coach, mounted on the basement roof, behind and just forward of the automatic shore power cord container. Remove cover and run a wire from the white and black terminals on the ˜outlet' side to a ˜normally closed' relay. I mounted an electrical box to the basement ceiling and placed the relay inside. On the relay I used, the wire from front of coach gets connected to terminal numbers 3 & 9. The wire from the Surge Guard gets connected to the two terminals that are not marked on the relay.

What I did was to interrupt the signal from the coach's Comfort Control thermostat to the AGS module. Now, with shore power present, the relay is open or not calling for heat or cooling. When power is lost the relay closes and if the coach is calling for heat or cooling the generator will start, after a one or two minute delay.


5X838

Square Base General Purpose Relay, Number of Pins 8, Contact Form DPDT, Contact Current Rating @ 28VDC 12 Amps, @ 120VAC 13 Amps, @ 240VAC 18 Amps DAYTON
5X838-M $11.10

www.grainger.com

5X853
Relay Socket, Number of Pins 11, Mounting DIN/Screw, Length 3.00 Inches, Depth 1.03 Inches, Width 1.70 Inches, Current Rating 15 Amps DAYTON
5X853-M 8.89

Good luck,
Bob Brown
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Old 06-12-2007, 06:29 AM   #2
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 28
I was put it contact with Mike Swensin, 206-369-2665, who is a technician at Zantrex. He explained how to wire the AGS to start the generator to control the heat or air-conditioners ONLY if shore power is lost.

On my coach, behind the zantrex control panel and tank level gauges there is a Duo-Therm electrical box. On the left side there is a white plastic plug with two orange wires that exit, one goes to the Zantrex control panel the other is connected to a yellow wire (from the AGS module behind TV). Run a new wire, I used a 16 gauge speaker wire, one end connected to the yellow and one connected to the orange, down and through the firewall and all the way back to the Surge Guard electrical box (well marked) located in the center of the coach, mounted on the basement roof, behind and just forward of the automatic shore power cord container. Remove cover and run a wire from the white and black terminals on the ˜outlet' side to a ˜normally closed' relay. I mounted an electrical box to the basement ceiling and placed the relay inside. On the relay I used, the wire from front of coach gets connected to terminal numbers 3 & 9. The wire from the Surge Guard gets connected to the two terminals that are not marked on the relay.

What I did was to interrupt the signal from the coach's Comfort Control thermostat to the AGS module. Now, with shore power present, the relay is open or not calling for heat or cooling. When power is lost the relay closes and if the coach is calling for heat or cooling the generator will start, after a one or two minute delay.


5X838

Square Base General Purpose Relay, Number of Pins 8, Contact Form DPDT, Contact Current Rating @ 28VDC 12 Amps, @ 120VAC 13 Amps, @ 240VAC 18 Amps DAYTON
5X838-M $11.10

www.grainger.com

5X853
Relay Socket, Number of Pins 11, Mounting DIN/Screw, Length 3.00 Inches, Depth 1.03 Inches, Width 1.70 Inches, Current Rating 15 Amps DAYTON
5X853-M 8.89

Good luck,
Bob Brown
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Old 06-12-2007, 07:56 AM   #3
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Bob,
A timely posting. I was just reading up on the AGS last night and was a little disappointed that it only kicked in when the battery level dropped. I wanted it to do just what you've accomplished. I assume as I have a 2005 also (and a self-installed Surge Guard), that all your directions will work perfectly. Thanks!!
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Old 06-12-2007, 09:07 AM   #4
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Wow--do I understand correctly that you are running 110V AC current thru "speaker wire"? or is it just 110V thru UL-approved wire from the Surge Guard to the new relay and then 12V from there?
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Old 06-12-2007, 09:33 AM   #5
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Nope...It's low amp 24 volt dc
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Old 06-12-2007, 09:34 AM   #6
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12 volt...the relay is rated for 24 volts.
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Old 06-12-2007, 09:41 AM   #7
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Bob,

Now that you have rewired your AGS to start when you lose shore power, does it still work as it's supposed to when you are dry camping. That is, will it still start the gen when your batteries drop below a certain level?

Since we have a dog, I really like the idea of having the AGS kick on if shore power is lost and cooling is needed. We don't dry camp a lot, but we do on occasion, so I want to be sure it still works then, too.

Thanks for a great posting!
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Old 06-12-2007, 10:55 AM   #8
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Bob,

Great info. Thanks for taking the time to provide this info. It is appreciated. Looks like we have the same year coach as well.

Questions:

1. I assume when the shore power returns, the relay opens and the generator stops allowing shore power to support heating or cooling again?

2. What happens when the set temperature is obtained and the a/c unit stops running? Will the generator stop and then start again when appropriate or does it continue to run until shore power is available?

Jim McIntosh
2005 Alpine Limited 40' FDTS
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Old 06-12-2007, 03:19 PM   #9
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Bob, Who'd you get to shorten your coach like that, or did you do it yourself? I'll bet it turns on a dime! Can you post photos?
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Old 06-13-2007, 05:33 AM   #10
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Mike, you are toooooo funny!
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Old 06-14-2007, 02:36 AM   #11
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Gail & John,
The AGS will shut down the generator when shore power returns or the coach is not calling for heating or cooling...after delays that are adjustable from the Zantrex control panel.
The AGS works as set so it will start to charge batteries if it is set to.
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Old 06-14-2007, 02:39 AM   #12
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EngineerMike,
Guess I'll have to figure out how to change the coach back to it's original size...
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