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Topic: Surge Guard or Transfer Switch? (Read 443 times) previous topic - next topic
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Surge Guard or Transfer Switch?

Yahoo Message Number: 56229
Several nights ago, my wife and I were awakened in the middle of the night by what we thought was someone knocking on the door or side of the coach. With it being 2 o'clock or so in the morning, it took a few minutes to awaken. As we were in a very nice resort that we have visited before, I then begin to think that someone knocking was unlikely. About that time, the same knocking repeated. I knew then that the sound was in fact coming from the surge protector/transfer switch area behind the electrical panel in the bedroom. The only problem was that the knocking stopped before I could get to the area because of its location. As one would expect, it did not repeat itself until we were back in the bed just about asleep. Then it started again and I was able to put my hand on both the transfer switch box and the surge protector itself. While I could feel the percussions in the transfer switch box, it was noticeably stronger on the surge protector. With it now being almost 3 o'clock in the morning, I was in no mood for this! Out of desperation for a quick fix, I remembered the keyed bypass switch on the surge protector. I turned it to bypass and the knocking has not reoccurred now in three days. We are on the road for another week and a half, and I don't want to do anything that might cripple our electrical system before we arrive safely at home. With the resorts that we are visiting, I am not particularly concerned about low or high voltages. I do want to procure parts now for the repair that must be made once I return home.
My questions to the group are: Has anyone experienced this before? If so, was the problem in fact the surge protector or the transfer switch? My gut feeling is that since I bypassed the low or high voltage protection of the surge protector, that I have in effect eliminated the culprit. I plan on using the Progressive Industries EMS unit EMS-HW50C with the remote readout mounted below the electrical panel inside the cabinet if the surge protector is in fact the problem. If there is reason to suspect the transfer switch, how does one trouble shoot it? If that switch is bad, what manufacturer and model transfer switch should I use?
Once I figure out which component has to be replaced, it looks like work access is a biggy. I believe it will be helpful to remove the TV to gain access from the top of these components as well as working through the access hole in the closet. Anyone having other ideas, I am all ears! My hands and fingers are so fat that this will be interesting. Now I wish my arms were about a foot longer with perhaps another elbow for flexibility! As always, THANKS in advance for your help and suggestions.

Rick Breedlove aka Lfsatrp

2003 Intrigue Suite Sensation w/2 slides 400ISL Coach 11518

Re: Surge Guard or Transfer Switch?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56231
Happened to me last summer. Putting the SurgeGuard into bypass mode with the key isolated the problem. When the SurgeGuard malfunctions, it cuts off shore power so the Transfer Switch relays will click. Replaced with the Progressive EMS and no problems since.

Al

2006 Allure #31440

Hoping that CC rises from the ashes!