Transfer Switch

[twinboat]

If your using any kind of surge protection device, or it has one built in, you may be encountering a floating neutral issue.

Most inverter generators are built with floating neutrals and a surge protecting device will not let the power pass thru them.

There is a pretty simple fix, its called a neutral/ground bonding plug, that gets plugged into an unused outlet on the generator.

https://www.campingworld.com/portabl...ug-118090.html

They are also easy to build.

[amosnandy]

Originally Posted by tigtig04

does anyone know where the transfer switch is on an 1989 holiday rambler aluma-lite FreeSpirit 30ft travel trailer? we can run on shore power but get nothing with our generator. have found converter but that's it

You need to explain a little more. Is the genset a built in? I would think not in a 1989 travel trailer. Are you plugging the shore power cord into an outlet on the genset? When you say it works on the brother in laws trailer but not yours? If your plugging the genset in to the shore power cord, that works on shore power but not when you plug the gen into it, the only answer is the genset is not energizing when you plug it in to yours, for some reason. Could be a bad neutral wire at the distribution panel? Some generators will not energize unless both sides and the ground wire are active.

[amosnandy]

Originally Posted by SKP Kirk

I would bet that this is the answer. Many motorhomes of that era didn't have any transfer switch but you just plugged the cord in to an outlet that was powered by the generator. I had one like that for 14 years, 12 years fulltime and it served me just fine.

Not just that era. Guy in our park has a 2015 class c Ford diesel with a built in Onan 4500 gas genny. Separate tank for the gen. And it has a little short 3' cord. Plugs in the same place the shorepower cord goes.

[CharlesinGA]

Does the generator have 15 amp receptacles on it? If so have you tried your trailer using the dogbone or adapter you use to plug into your house?

I would open up the power panel where the 120v circuit breakers are, and with it plugged into something that does power it (your house for instance) use a volt meter to probe between the neutral bar and the main circuit breaker input. If you don't know how to do this, find someone who does. Then do the same thing with the generator.

30 amp RV plugs have VERY limited engagement with the receptacle contacts, I do not know why, but 1/4 to 3/16 of an inch is the most you will normally see. Is the shore cord fully plugged into the generator? The design of some shore cord TT30 plugs do not lend themselves to fitting well in power panels where there are any obstructions, such as the two CB guards below the plug on this generator.

https://wenproducts.com/products/wen...-fuel-shut-off

A reasonably good unboxing of this generator.

https://youtu.be/2niu8guSZfQ

Charles