I recently discovered that there was no power to my 5th wheel. I currently am running it on its own circuit from my garage with a 50 amp plug and protected with a 50 amp breaker. There is power going into the switch but none coming out to the load center. I do not currently have a generator as I have always used power from a cord. My question is if I don’t need to use a generator, can I replace the switch with a junction box to get power to the RV or is there another use for the transfer switch?

quote:

Originally posted by wanabee:
I recently discovered that there was no power to my 5th wheel. I currently am running it on its own circuit from my garage with a 50 amp plug and protected with a 50 amp breaker. There is power going into the switch but none coming out to the load center. I do not currently have a generator as I have always used power from a cord. My question is if I don’t need to use a generator, can I replace the switch with a junction box to get power to the RV or is there another use for the transfer switch?

Hi WB ...
Are you saying the transfer switch in the trailer is not connecting the power from your garage utility power to the trailer's load center?

I see two possibilities...
1) you're connecting the power from the garage to the generator inlet.
2) the transfer switch is incorrectly set or failed.

Pls confirm where the garage power is connected to...

Sorry about the confusion, sometimes I write in shorthand. The power cord is connected to the correct outlet. It has been hooked up like this for the last year and has worked.

On the cover of the transfer switch is states "Automatic Generator - shoreline transfer switch”. I did take the cover off and test the power and there are two hot lines of 120V each and one neutral going into the switch. The same wiring configuration is coming out of the switch to the load center in the RV (no power coming out). The RV is pre-wired for a generator but I do not have one. The only power to the switch is coming from the shore power cord. I did call the dealer where I purchased the RV to see if there was a reset button on this switch but they were less than helpful and just wanted to sell me a new transfer switch for about $250. The manual I got with the unit was not model specific and does not even mention a transfer switch. My next step is to call coachmen and see if anyone there knows anything or get an electrician to take a look at it. It appears to me that the switch may be in the generator mode but I can’t test it for that. If it were, I would think that there should be a reset button but I have not be able to locate it. I hope this helps and does not confuse the issue more. Thanks for the help and being patient with a newbee.

Okay .. I understand now. The transfer switch is not connecting your garage power to the trailer. "Right"?

Again I see two possibilities.
1. Something is feeding power to the generator input. A computer UPS? or it's manually switched to generator. Changed anything lately?
2. (More likely) the contacts of the switch are dirty or pitted. Disconnect the power for your safety, then use a volt/ohm meter set to resistance to check each current path from the shore plug through the transfer switch. There will be two paths, "hot" and the neutral.

Put one meter lead on the wire to the switch, then trace the circuit with the other meter lead. When the resistance is high or circuit is broken, you've found the point of trouble.

WB ... I reread your OP. In my mind, cleaning the contacts is less trouble than a junction box installation. But "Yes" is the answer to your OP.

Thanks HP, I will check the contacts to look for any problems. If I can't find the problem I will just install the juction box just to get power to the unit and deal with the switch at a later date. I did put a call into technical support at Coachmen and they were looking for the electrical schematic to my model but have not heard back from them. Thanks again and I will let you know the outcome. ek