Transfer Switch not working

[Puppy Raiser]

Transfer switch does not transfer from shore power to RV. Generator powers up the batteries fine.
Our RV is a 2014 Newmar Ventana 3436. Worked just fine up till today.
Any suggestions before we purchase a new transfer switch?
Thanks for your help!

[Ljwt330]

Originally Posted by Puppy Raiser

Transfer switch does not transfer from shore power to RV. Generator powers up the batteries fine.
Our RV is a 2014 Newmar Ventana 3436. Worked just fine up till today.
Any suggestions before we purchase a new transfer switch?
Thanks for your help!

Before throwing money at a new TS, try the following.

First, be sure there is power coming from the outlet you were connected to. Then, disconnect from shore and be sure generator is off. Open up transfer switch cover and inspect all the lugs for incoming shore power for tightness.

Then, using a voltmeter, reconnect the shore power and see if you have voltage on the incoming wires. If no voltage, then the issue is between the shore power and the transfer switch--shore power outlet, plug on the end of your cord, or connections from the cord reel, if you have one.

If there is voltage at the transfer switch lugs from shore power, then the issue is with the transfer switch contacts. Without knowing your particular transfer switch make and model, that's as far as I will suggest. Some switch contacts are serviceable, others it's easier to simply replace the entire transfer switch.

[Puppy Raiser]

Will move RV to access TS on Monday. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Puppy Raiser

Transfer switch does not transfer from shore power to RV. Generator powers up the batteries fine.
Our RV is a 2014 Newmar Ventana 3436. Worked just fine up till today.
Any suggestions before we purchase a new transfer switch?
Thanks for your help!

The generator , doesn't charge the batteries with 12 volt power ; it provides 120 volt power , to the same system to charge the batteries the shore power does . So testing required because it does sound like only one leg of 50 amp power is coming through from the gen set .
Have you reset the breaker on the gen set ?

[AnotherMike]

Quote trimmed for brevity...

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

Without knowing your particular transfer switch make and model, that's as far as I will suggest. Some switch contacts are serviceable, others it's easier to simply replace the entire transfer switch.

Please post the make and model of transfer switch, then take the cover off and post a photo of the interior.

Mike

[Biljol]

Also disconnect the house battery’s when working on a transfer switch I have seen power fed to the transfer switch from the inverter.

[Jon_C]

I know my Progressive Industries protector is powered by L1 of the 2 incoming 50a circuits, maybe the TS is same but if both feeds from shore are present, id suspect the TS to be bad.

I found out about the protector power in a park where the breaker was intermittently dropping L1 and id lose all power in the MH because the protector wouldn’t power up. I was able to use the adjacent 30a connector that was powered by L2 as the 30a to 50a adapter ties both circuits together.

[CC38EL]

Notwithstanding all the good troubleshooting tips above, sometimes a good whack with a 2x4 or rubber mallet will convince the switch to move to the desired location.

Should that fail....see above.

[Dutch Star Don]

Newmar had a recall for loose wires in the transfer switch. As others stated, open the box and take a heavy duty screwdriver and really crank on the set screws holding the wires.

[SuperGewl]

OP if I understand correctly, you say your Generator will turn on, correct? But the ATS will not switch to the generator, correct?
If all of this is true, then you need to check and reset the output breakers on the generator.
What everyone else has stated is all true and yes you should perform annual ATS maintenance on the ATS by looking inside for melted and or burnt wires and tighten all of the connections. Of course with NO power applied.
Do all of the things the others have said but first understand, the generator does NOT directly charge the batteries. The batteries get charged the same way shore power does it. The generator creates AC and sends it thru the coach thru the ATS just like shore power.
Good luck and keep us updated on your findings.

[twinboat]

If the generator charges up the batteries but not the outlets, check for a popped circuit breaker on the Inverter/charger, down in the compartment.

[Ljwt330]

Originally Posted by SuperGewl

OP if I understand correctly, you say your Generator will turn on, correct? But the ATS will not switch to the generator, correct?
If all of this is true, then you need to check and reset the output breakers on the generator.
What everyone else has stated is all true and yes you should perform annual ATS maintenance on the ATS by looking inside for melted and or burnt wires and tighten all of the connections. Of course with NO power applied.
Do all of the things the others have said but first understand, the generator does NOT directly charge the batteries. The batteries get charged the same way shore power does it. The generator creates AC and sends it thru the coach thru the ATS just like shore power.
Good luck and keep us updated on your findings.

Originally Posted by twinboat

If the generator charges up the batteries but not the outlets, check for a popped circuit breaker on the Inverter/charger, down in the compartment.

I could have misunderstood the OP, but from what I took away was:

Shore power does not enter the RV through the transfer switch.

The problem is not that the TS fails to switch to generator, it fails to switch to shore power.

The statement about the generator charging the batteries is throwing things off a bit and doesn't make clear if the generator is powering the AC outlets, but that is irrelevant to the main concern so we need to stay on track. The generator works, to some degree, if the batteries are charging, and the TS is connecting the generator to the RV.

The main issue from the OP is, no shore power coming into the RV.

[rpaldrich]

Just had this same thing happen. Gen would only power one leg of the circuit, and when I turned off gen the shore power wasn’t working.

Turns out excess heat caused by pitted terminals on one of the two TS’s had caused plastic to melt and stop making the connection when it tried to switch back to shore power. It even blued the metal.

Ordered a new 45 dollar transfer switch from Amazon and back in action.

[Puppy Raiser]

Thanks for all your help.Turned out to be just a loose wire in the power cord plug. We had replaced that male end a couple years ago. Somehow one of the wires worked itself loose.