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ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Yahoo Message Number: 115314
Hey gang! I do a yearly few days ritual of inspecting/preventative maintenance many items of our coach.

Have a question on ATS. All of the wiring & grounds that I can see and get to without being a gymnist I clean and tighten fittings on. This includes visual inspection and snugging of ATS too.

But I've read of a few weakening, or failed ATS's in the last few months. And I'm wondering a few things:

-Other then making sure connections and good. Are their other recommended maintenance items on the ATS? (Like digging into he innards, and cleaning contacts and such?)

-And what do most of you do. Wait until you detect erratic behavior of the ATS? Or, do you just go ahead and swap it out as preventative maintenance item? If so, when? By years, or if you do lots of moving around and needing the ATS to do it's auto thing, do you do it based upon say frequency of transfers? Or, do you just wait to the dang thing don't work?

I like to do 'preventative maintenance' type items in my area of comfort. At shops that I know. Vs say on the road and 'Go get this fixed now while at "Bob's & Cousin Bubba's" (And I like most Bob's that I know - and come on, who could not like Bubba's after Forrest Gump! So no disrespect to any or all Bob's or Bubba's, or combinations of both - service professional's...), in the swamp's of 'Any Town' USA!

The above, not so well expressed paragraph, was a question. Does anyone recommend swapping out ATS's preventatively. If so, input on when to do so?

And for those who made it this far in my post... What is the ATS manufacturer of choice you'd consider, if replacing your's today?

Best to you all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115317
Interesting question. Just wish I knew what an ATS is! Care to provide that one bit of data?

Don Hutchins
'08 Allure 470 #31613
Don Hutchins
'08 Allure 470 #31613
40' w/tag, Cat C-9 & Cat tranny

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115318
Sorry Don - So into the lingo, I forget other's may not be:)!

https://www.campingworld.com/trc-50-amp-automatic-transfer-switch?CAWELAID=120030630000003931&gclid=CjwKCAjwma3ZBRBwEiwA-CsblIX-lFzM85f3mkC-OGr7kt2XgLtTOvQo9enTLkneMtGmUxoBYaeUhhoCCOAQAvD_BwE

ATS, in this context, was for Automatic Transfer Switch. It does just that, it transfer's power over from say Shore Power and or Generator, depending upon which source is sending the electric juice power.

And note, not saying I'd use, or not use, the unit above - it's just one that popped up via a search with a picture of it.

Best, and thanks for having me clarify it,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115319
I did a bit more searching, and found that SOB owner's Paul and Nina had replaced their ATS awhile back. They do a good job of giving high-level info on lots of different items, this one too. Their pictures show the 'wire opportunities for loose fitting wires':)! So, more info sharing. They also list a few of the units they considered too. So, I've saved this as reference.

https://wheelingit.us/2017/01/19/rv-electrical-fire-almost-our-automatic-transfer-switch-failure-replacement/

Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115320
Smitty,

Good info. Thanks.

Tom
2007 Allure # 31570
'02 Silverado M&G Braking System

Tom
2007 Allure 430 Hood River Triple slide
#31570
'18 Silverado w/ M&G Braking system

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115321
Smitty

There are two relays in the box which are basic electrical relays and readily available. I can't imagine replacing the unit. When one side of mine went out I took the part number on the relay and ordered it online. As to maintenance I don't think there is much to maintain other that insuring the connections are tight.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Dan

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115323
Smitty

Follow up if yours is similar to the 2006 version. This unit is very substantial and durable.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Dan

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115324
Good info on being able to buy replacement relay parts. As it is the moving/contact parts of the ATS.

And I know it's in a metal box, but don't recall the manufacturer in the 04 Allure. Next time I can open the basement door (Parked too close to the garage side in storage, to open the basement doors, I'll get the make and model number. Perhaps just buying a spare relay to have with me, is all that will be needed.

Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115325
Smitty, my ATS is an ESCO and when I thought I had an issue with mine, they did tell me replacement parts were available.

Foolishly, I decided to replace the entire ATS due to chattering of the relay on the genset side. I figured at 10 years it had done enough. However, I still had the chattering with the new unit so I then discovered a loose neutral wire at the genset. My incomplete detective work was the cause of my now having two perfectly good 50 amp ATS'.

Gary
07 Allure 470, #31578

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115326
I did a bit more surfing on other boards about ATS problems in general. With the exceptions of problems caused by Power Surges (Including a few lightening strikes and bad generator power at some remote regions.), all most all other problems seemed to be related to loose wiring or grounds. And as mentioned, that is a yearly maintenance item I do, attempting to check and validate good and clean connections of as many wires as I can see:)!

And if my unit is one of the substantial/robust ATS's that Dan referred to - perhaps this is one of those items that I should just wait until I see a symptom, or have a failure... Still will probably research a spare relay to have for the unit.

Thanks again for the info sharing, and best to all,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)
 

Re: ATS Preventative Maintenance?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115426
A few weeks later then we'd plan, but have the coach out and being prepped for blast off next weekend.

Got back into the Plastic Man location access area for the EMS and ATS in our coach. Confirmed we have the Parallax ATS 5070 unit. Checked connections, and using a mirror and flashlight looked over the relays as best as I could see them. Still no signs of any loose wires, all loosen and tightened again. Could not read part numbers on the relays, or the time relays or bridge rectifier. And I firmly belong in the great school of life knowledge, that believes 'If it ain't broke, don't touch it!'. So, I elected to not remove the ATS to get a better look at the components now.

Found this good write up, that I'll add to the info chain, from Mike Baker:

http://www.mikebaker.com/RV/ATS5070.html

He has some part numbers noted, so while traveling I may make contact with the manufacture to see if they can confirm the part numbers for my specific unit. And pick up a few spares to have as insurance. (If I have spares, those specific parts seem to last forever. If I don't have spare parts, that specific part seems to go out in 10 degree, rain, volcanic activity, locusts, mosquitoes, and at 1:37AM... So, buying a few spare parts, seems to be cheap insurance!!)...

Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)