Fleetwood Motorhome Association, Inc. - Surge Guard Auto Trfr Switch Mdl 40450ATC

08/11/2024 7:54 PM

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Message # 13392716

Andy Galloway

My friend just brought home a new-to-him 2023 Fleetwood Discovery 38K diesel pusher. It's hot here in West Texas and I suggested he run his generator so he could operate two or all three of his AC's. The Genny starts, the AC's start, the Genny drops to what sounds like a very low speed idle and the AC's quit. Waiting a few minutes to restart the Genny and AC's just repeats the process.

His coach is connected to 20 amp shore power. When disconnected, nothing changes re the above issue.

Aldo, his Auto Trfr Switch is showing 2 red liights. My Fleetwood Bounder 35K is parked two spaces from his, is connected to a 20amp shore power outlet. I can run 1 AC and the 2nd on fan. If I need both I leave shore power connected and start the Genny. All is well and I can operate whatever I want. And, I do NOT have red lights on my Auto Trfr Switch.

Relevant comments suggestions appreciated.

Andy

08/12/2024 6:36 AM

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Reply # 13392814 on 13392716

Stephen & Susan Mills

I am unsure what is happening with your friends MH but it certainly sounds like an issue with the transfer switch. What I can tell you is that on your Bounder, the generator takes priority over your shore power. The transfer switch makes that happen. When the gen shuts down the transfer switch will revert back to your shore power. The process typically takes a couple of minutes. Having it plugged in makes no difference on where the power is coming from as the transfer switch choses one over the other. It does not draw from both. Hope this helps.

08/12/2024 12:14 PM

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Reply # 13392939 on 13392716

Andy Galloway

Thank you Stephen.

With the two red lights that's where our thoughts are leaning. The transfer switch on his Discovery should work the same as on my Bounder.

Thanks, again.

Andy

Last modified: 08/12/2024 12:15 PM | Andy Galloway

08/12/2024 7:07 PM

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Reply # 13393114 on 13392716

James Hillenmayer

If you have a Southwire surge protector/transfer switch like I do in my 2020 Pace Arrow 38K those two red lights are on when the system is operating normally. I'm more suspicious of the fact that the AC units come on and then turn off shortly thereafter. That's odd behavior. Like the thermostat or the power control module have decided that the ACs don't need to be on, so it removes the HVAC demand signal, which sends the generator back to idle. I'd try a couple of things:

1. Plug in your 20-amp shore power with the generator off and the AC units all off.

2. Turn the generator on. After a few seconds, you should hear the relay in the transfer switch click as it switches from shore to generator. Not sure about your rig, but in mine I can check on my multiplexer display and see where the rig is getting power. I think the Discovery has the same multiplexer.

3. Let the generator run a minimum of two minutes at idle, then turn on one of the AC units. After five minutes, turn on a 2nd AC unit and let them both run for five minutes. Then turn on the third.

Let me know what happens and we'll take it from there.

08/13/2024 2:46 PM

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Reply # 13393429 on 13392716

Andy Galloway

Thanks for the information, James. We've done that several times. Shore power only, then bring the generator on and wait 4 or 5 minutes. As soon as we turn an AC on, doesn't matter which of the three, the generator drops to a very low idle and the AC shuts off. Last night we even used a different cord to the 20 am outlet. No change.

My friend got an extended service contract and spent 2 hours on the phone yesterday with their Tech Support. He concluded that the coach can not be connected to short power in order for the generator to function properly. Makes no sense.

I have a 2024 Fleetwood Bounder 35K and I am two spaces from him in the storage facility. My coach is plugged into a 20 amp outlet all the time, and when I'm there I'll run the front AC on low fan, and the rear unit on low fan only. But when it's really hot, I start the generator with the coach still plugged in, wait for the big click, and set the rear AC to cool with low fan. I have no problems at all.

Thanks again.

Andy

08/14/2024 9:40 AM

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Reply # 13393690 on 13392716

James Hillenmayer

Agree that the generator should pick up the load even if shore power is connected. That technician doesn't know what he's talking about. But in your original description, you mentioned that, even when shore power is not connected, the same thing happens. The AC units don't run. So we're back to maybe the transfer switch is not functioning correctly. Or the generator is not functioning correctly. In my rig, the multiplexer has a page that shows me what the electrical source is and how much power it is producing. I would start there. Plug in the 20-amp shore power and go to that page. It should show you that it sees shore power and give you the option to select 15/20/30 amp power. Then start the generator. The page should change to show two circuits and the power available on each circuit. Also check the "wiring" page to see if there is a fault message there.

08/14/2024 7:52 PM

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Reply # 13393985 on 13392716

Andy Galloway

This issue has been resolved.

1) We found that the breaker on the generator itself was tripped. Resetting and running the generator alone resolved the AC issues. Should have checked that first, but was focused on the AC.

2) With the coach connected to 20 amp shore power the generator simply would not pull any load. Traced to a bad 50 to 20 amp adapter dog bone by letting him use mine. With mine, the generator and shore power coexisted like they are supposed to as did the transfer switch.

3) Learned that the model transfer switch he has, the red lights will remain on unless there is a problem. I have a different model and my lights remain off unless there is a problem.

Thanks for the input!!

Andy