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Transfer switch problem

Yahoo Message Number: 5320
I have a '98 Intrigue with a Todd automatic transfer switch. I have experienced a transfer switch failure twice over a 1 year period.
Anyone have a similiar experience? Fix? Has anyone tried cleaning the relay contacts? How do you get the cover off? Anyone replaced one. Cost?

Any info appreciated
Steve

Intrigue # 10673

Re: Transfer switch problem

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 5323
I just had a transfer switch replaced under warranty.
A country coach tech. helped me diagnose the problem using a meter. They then overnighted the new transfer switch to Reno, where it was replaced by All in one RV. The people at All in one RV said that tranfer switches never go bad. Go figure.
Bob Magna #6238

--- rheavn ssfarms1@...> wrote:

Quote
I have a '98 Intrigue with a Todd automatic transfer > switch. I have

experienced a transfer switch failure twice over a 1 > year period.

Anyone have a similiar experience? Fix? Has anyone > tried cleaning

the relay contacts? How do you get the cover off? > Anyone replaced
one. Cost?

Any info appreciated
Steve

Intrigue # 10673
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

Re: Transfer switch problem

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6187
My Todd PTS just fried itself while we were away from the motorhome for a few hours. We were the only ones in the park to have trouble so I am assuming it is a PTS failure and not bad power from park. Now, how do I get a new Todd switch. I think they delcared bankruptcy a couple of years ago....so much for the lifetime warranty on the switch. Anyone have any experience with any RV maintenance folks in east Tn. Hoping to get the switch fedexed in and installed soon.

Thanks

Quote from: robert heaps\[br\
]

Re: Transfer switch problem

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6190
travman,

I have been having a very intermittent problem with mine too. I spoke with CC about a week ago and was told another company purchased all the Todd stuff & is making the switches & parts. I forget the name of the company, but CC can assist you. I was told that CC is again using the switches that were formally Todd.
Not sure what problems you're having but would be interested in the symptoms that make you believe it fried. I have found that these coaches begin acting very strangely if the park voltage goes low. I don't plug in if voltage is below about 112 volts.

Hope this helps
Steve

Intrigue #10673

Quote from: travman100
My Todd PTS just fried itself while we were away from the motorhome > for a few hours. We were the only ones in the park to have trouble

so

Helping your Transfer Switch live longer

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6208
A few tips on helping your transfer switch live longer...

To those folks who have had problems with your transfer switch, let me say that I'm not accusing anyone of abusing their transfer switch. These switches can and do fail and even if you've been doing everything perfectly, you can still experience switch failure. With that said, I've been given some good advice on how to make the transfer switch have the longest possible life with the fewest problems. Here they are...
1. ALWAYS turn OFF the 50 amp main breaker on your main 120v power panel before connecting to ANY power source (either generator or campground power)
2. After starting the generator, wait about 5 minutes for it to warm up and come to a normal operating temperature and stable voltage before turning the 50 amp main breaker on.
3. When connecting to an external campground power source, always check your power first at the pedestal using a Good Governor or other quality power tester before plugging in the coach.
4. When connecting to an external campground power source, always start with the 50 amp breaker turned OFF, then plug in your coach electrical service cable and wait about 3 minutes to hear the "thump" of the surge protector. If you don't hear the "thump", check the lights on the front of the surge protector to see if they indicate a problem with the power source. After you hear the thump, then turn on the 50 amp breaker.
5. When switching from one power source to another (generator to
campgound power or vice-versa) always turn OFF all power consuming devices (A/C, etc.), then turn OFF the 50 amp main breaker, then switch power sources following the above tips.

Hope this helps.

Robert

Re: Helping your Transfer Switch live longer

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6210
rvrobert,

My Intrigue has a surge protector hardwired into the system from the factory. Where are the lights you refer?

Steve

Intrigue #10673

Quote from: rvrobert2003
> A few tips on helping your transfer switch live longer...
> To those folks who have had problems with your transfer switch, let > me say that I'm not accusing anyone of abusing their transfer > switch. These switches can and do fail and even if you've been

doing

Quote
everything perfectly, you can still experience switch failure. With > that said, I've been given some good advice on how to make the > transfer switch have the longest possible life with the fewest > problems. Here they are...
> 1. ALWAYS turn OFF the 50 amp main breaker on your main 120v power > panel before connecting to ANY power source (either generator or > campground power)

2. After starting the generator, wait about 5 minutes for it to

warm

Quote
up and come to a normal operating temperature and stable voltage > before turning the 50 amp main breaker on.
3. When connecting to an external campground power source, always > check your power first at the pedestal using a Good Governor or

other

Quote
quality power tester before plugging in the coach.
4. When connecting to an external campground power source, always > start with the 50 amp breaker turned OFF, then plug in your coach > electrical service cable and wait about 3 minutes to hear the

"thump"

Re: Helping your Transfer Switch live longer

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6211
Steve;

My surge protector is also hardwired into the system at the factory on my 2003 Intrigue. In my coach, the surge protector is behind the main 120v breaker box in the bedroom. To see the lights on the surge protector, I have to stick my head in the clothes closet and look through a small plexiglass window that lets me see behind the main breaker panel. I also know that some people have purchased an optional extension accessory box from Camping World that lets them see the same lights from a more easily accessible location. It plugs into the existing surge protector and then has a small wire that goes to the extension box with the same lights displayed.

Regards,

Robert

Quote from: rheavn

rvrobert,

My Intrigue has a surge protector hardwired into the system from > the factory. Where are the lights you refer? >

Steve

Intrigue #10673

[quote author=rvrobert2003"

> A few tips on helping your transfer switch live longer...
>

> To those folks who have had problems with your transfer switch,

let

Quote
me say that I'm not accusing anyone of abusing their transfer > > switch. These switches can and do fail and even if you've been > doing

> everything perfectly, you can still experience switch failure.

With

Quote
that said, I've been given some good advice on how to make the > > transfer switch have the longest possible life with the fewest > > problems. Here they are...
>

> 1. ALWAYS turn OFF the 50 amp main breaker on your main 120v

power

Quote
panel before connecting to ANY power source (either generator or > > campground power)

> 2. After starting the generator, wait about 5 minutes for it to > warm

> up and come to a normal operating temperature and stable voltage > > before turning the 50 amp main breaker on.
> 3. When connecting to an external campground power source,

always

Quote
check your power first at the pedestal using a Good Governor or > other

> quality power tester before plugging in the coach.
> 4. When connecting to an external campground power source,

always

Quote
start with the 50 amp breaker turned OFF, then plug in your coach > > electrical service cable and wait about 3 minutes to hear the > "thump"

> of the surge protector. If you don't hear the "thump", check the > > lights on the front of the surge protector to see if they

indicate a

Quote
problem with the power source. After you hear the thump, then

turn

Quote
on the 50 amp breaker.
> 5. When switching from one power source to another (generator to > > campgound power or vice-versa) always turn OFF all power

consuming

Re: Transfer switch problem

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6212
Well, mine isn't intermittant! It actually fried the wires leading from the transfer switch to the surge suppressor, burned one of the wires off and cooked off the insulation on others and the switch case is melted on one end, guess we are lucky there was no fire. Talked with CC this morning, they are shipping me the replacement version made by Iota since Todd is no longer in business. Tech there also told me that one should periodically retighted the screws holding the wires to the transfer switch as they tend to loosen over time. I had never had a problem with mine til it failed. Now shopping for a dealer to install it, hard to get in on short notice, Buddy Gregg said to come in and he would work me in but couldn't promise how long I would have to wait but it could be several days. Will see what the alternatives are if any, I actually prefer a CC dealer do the install since I think they will have the appropriate experience.

Quote from: rheavn

travman,

I have been having a very intermittent problem with mine too. I > spoke with CC about a week ago and was told another company

purchased

Quote
all the Todd stuff & is making the switches & parts. I forget the > name of the company, but CC can assist you. I was told that CC is > again using the switches that were formally Todd.
 Not sure what problems you're having but would be interested in

the

Quote
symptoms that make you believe it fried. I have found that these > coaches begin acting very strangely if the park voltage goes low.

I

Quote
don't plug in if voltage is below about 112 volts.

Hope this helps
Steve

Intrigue #10673

[quote author=travman100"

> My Todd PTS just fried itself while we were away from the

motorhome

Quote
for a few hours. We were the only ones in the park to have

trouble

Quote
so

> I am assuming it is a PTS failure and not bad power from park.

Now,

Quote
how do I get a new Todd switch. I think they delcared bankruptcy

a

Quote
couple of years ago....so much for the lifetime warranty on the > > switch. Anyone have any experience with any RV maintenance folks

in