| Automatic Transfer Switch for Your New Airstream | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 7 2012, 07:19 AM (17 Views) | |
| redwoodguy | Jul 7 2012, 07:19 AM Post #1 |
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WHAT IS IT? The Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is a part of your power supply, which also includes a converter and and distribution and fuse box. The ATS transfers the power load (electricity used inside the trailer) to one of two outside sources of power - the shore power, or a generator. New Airstreams have two 120V power sockets on the outside. One is on the street side for connecting to shore power at a camp site, the other is on the front of the trailer and is used to plug into a generator. Since the load can ONLY be connected to one or the other source, a switch is needed. The switch could be a mechanical one, or an automatic one. Airstream chose to supply an automatic one, hence "Automatic Transfer Switch." THE PROBLEM These switches are failing often and prematurely. When they fail, you often can't get any power to the inside of your trailer. You can be stuck at a campsite with no 120V power at all. Some people have reported failures within weeks of buying a new trailer. Some have had two failures already in as many months. When the switch fails, owners are asked to take the trailer to a dealer for repairs. This might take days or weeks. The unit being used in the Airstream is one of the lowest cost units available. It is a Parallax ATS 301 model, with a retail price of about $70. Since "ATS" is a standard function in many large RVs, there are many brands and models of ATS made. The ATS is a stand alone metal box located along side your power supply system. It can easily be replaced. THE SOLUTION There are three possible solutions to this very annoying reliability problem. 1. Remove the ATS and don't use this switching feature. This means if you want to use a generator, you simply walk outside your trailer and move your power cord from the shore power to the generator. Nothing could be more reliable than this "manual operation." If you go this manual route, you should disable the front power connector on the trailer so that no mistake will ever be made of having two power sources connected to your load. 2. Install a manual switch. This is also a highly reliable because it doesn't depend on any relays inside. A proper manual switch rarely fails. Using a manual switch, all of your functions of two power sockets are retained. But the system becomes more reliable. 3. Install a higher quality, and higher rated ATS switch. The stock ATS is rated for 30A. That is the same as your breaker panel. An improved ATS, would be one with a higher rating than needed, so that you have a more robust switch. For example, a 50A switch can be installed. This doesn't mean you can now run 50A of current in your trailer of course! It just means the switch is stronger and less prone to fail when it has your allowable 30A running in it. There are makers of higher quality ATS, and these can be obtained and installed. In the next post, I will review models of switches that can be used to replace the failing Parallax ATS301. |
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5:19 PM Jul 10