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Topic: Transfer Switch Problem? (Read 10 times) previous topic - next topic
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Transfer Switch Problem?
Yahoo Message Number: 23377
My Generator has always worked fine running the AC through the automatic transfer switch (the switch that chooses between shorepower and generator power).
 Recently, however, it has started up, begun generating current, then you can hear the automatic transfer switch kick in, then you start the Airconditioner and everything is fine.....for a few minutes.

Then the transfer switch lets go and air conditioning shuts down.
The generator is still running (and if it wasn't generating current then it would shut down) but the current can't get to the house circuits because the transfer switch isn't holding on the generator side.
 I confess that I may not have started my generator quite enough this winter but I put a meter on it and it's running fine.

Do I have to replace the transfer switch or are there contacts that need cleaning?  Anybody have this experience and get out of it?

Thanks
 
Re: Transfer Switch Problem?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23379
The transfer switch uses electromagnetics of the current flowing to make the switch "switch".  We had the opposite problem where ours failed on the shore-line side (we had 120V when the genset was running but not when plugged into shore).

It might be possible that yours is failing on the genset side, but is there a way for you to measure how much current your genset is pumping out initially (when the switch works) and then after it fails?  Perhaps it's generating enough current to keep running but not enough to engage the switch?