We did it! (bought a 310)

[LaniKai]

We have our first repair to do. Shore power comes to this and then nothing... Some small sparks. Oh. This part is totally broken off. AC current works fine from the generator. Not sure if the exact name of this part but as you probably all know it is some kind of a time delay relay switch. Just have to order the right one online. I swear it was working in Tennessee, but all the plastic is 32 years old so I guess things will break.

We have cleaned out three bags of the PO's things and a few boxes of stuff to keep. Washed the curtains and will be buying new plastic slider clips for those. Paul washed more than half of the walls down with 409 because he handles those fumes better than I do. Finish washing the walls then one more time with a diluted citrasolve. Then we vacuum. It is already much better.

I guess one of these relay switch parts, and a service manual will be our first orders. We have started a list of tiny things to order and it is already getting pretty long, but I would rather get a bunch of the cosmetic stuff at the same time.

Anyone have any speciality tools you wish you had bought right at the beginning? I remember reading something about a power voltage investigation tool that could tell you all kinds of things but now I can not remember what thread that was on.

[Waipio Rim]

It's a digital multimeter, and it will become the first thing you reach for to figure out electrical stuff. Does the furnace (or light, or refrigerator, etc.) not work because it's broken, or because it isn't getting enough voltage? Get the multimeter for the answer.

[kstewart23]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

We have our first repair to do. Shore power comes to this and then nothing... Some small sparks. Oh. This part is totally broken off. AC current works fine from the generator. Not sure if the exact name of this part but as you probably all know it is some kind of a time delay relay switch. Just have to order the right one online. I swear it was working in Tennessee, but all the plastic is 32 years old so I guess things will break.

We have cleaned out three bags of the PO's things and a few boxes of stuff to keep. Washed the curtains and will be buying new plastic slider clips for those. Paul washed more than half of the walls down with 409 because he handles those fumes better than I do. Finish washing the walls then one more time with a diluted citrasolve. Then we vacuum. It is already much better.

I guess one of these relay switch parts, and a service manual will be our first orders. We have started a list of tiny things to order and it is already getting pretty long, but I would rather get a bunch of the cosmetic stuff at the same time.

Anyone have any speciality tools you wish you had bought right at the beginning? I remember reading something about a power voltage investigation tool that could tell you all kinds of things but now I can not remember what thread that was on.

Just FYI, for cleaning, a few drops of dawn dish soap in a bottle with water cleans better than anything out there. And the smell is not bad...works grat on windows too.

[LaniKai]

I have a multimeter, not digital. It seemed like this was a fancy one with more things it could tell me.

Also, I swear if it was me washing the walls I would use dish soap and a microfiber rag. But if he wants to do the work and agrees to wash it off when he is done he can use whatever he wants. I think the PO put wood oil on the wood and on the fake wood. The wood looks great and some of the fake wood was super sticky. But not all of it.
Went to the DMV today but we were too late to do an inspection. For some reason Tennessee had this as a gas engine so they have to do an inspection on that and the vin. At least I have 20 more days now.

Having someone look and service at the Onan on Tuesday. Decided to save ourselves from doing some things and hire a professional. This will be one of those things. It has a rough start and I just want it good to go even though we might not use it ever.

We are used to car camping or setting up a small solar system for our ten day desert excursions. Not used to having that such power, but having the blender ready to go might make us want the generator. We have a 1000 watt inverter and the rest of our solar stuff that might slowly get built into this rig. We plan on keeping it forever.

[Vycan]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

... We plan on keeping it forever.

Isn't it amazing how we all do this? Makes me wonder what is so special about the motorhomes or the people who pursue them that cause this kind of connection.

[LaniKai]

Do we? I'm glad.

I know for us we did not want a trailer to leave while we go explore or shop because we explore on foot or bike, and there is nowhere to shop. Right?

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

We have our first repair to do. Shore power comes to this and then nothing... Some small sparks. Oh. This part is totally broken off. AC current works fine from the generator. Not sure if the exact name of this part but as you probably all know it is some kind of a time delay relay switch. Just have to order the right one online. I swear it was working in Tennessee, but all the plastic is 32 years old so I guess things will break.

We have cleaned out three bags of the PO's things and a few boxes of stuff to keep. Washed the curtains and will be buying new plastic slider clips for those. Paul washed more than half of the walls down with 409 because he handles those fumes better than I do. Finish washing the walls then one more time with a diluted citrasolve. Then we vacuum. It is already much better.

I guess one of these relay switch parts, and a service manual will be our first orders. We have started a list of tiny things to order and it is already getting pretty long, but I would rather get a bunch of the cosmetic stuff at the same time.

Anyone have any speciality tools you wish you had bought right at the beginning? I remember reading something about a power voltage investigation tool that could tell you all kinds of things but now I can not remember what thread that was on.

That's called an automatic transfer switch. It automatically switches from the power cord or generator to the coach 110 volt system. Here are some,
Transfer Switches, Cheater Boxes - PPL Motor Homes You need to determine if yours is 30 or 50 amps.
Good luck

[gunner]

The transfer switch is still available from Airstream, Jackson Center, that is where I purchased my replacement.

[cwf]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

We have our first repair to do. Shore power comes to this and then nothing... Some small sparks.

I guess one of these relay switch parts, and a service manu......
....voltage investigation tool that could tell you all kinds of things but now I can not remember what thread that was on.

The part appears to be the 'contact' that is broken. Don't touch that unless you are SURE there is no power.. always, always, always.... always... check with a meter or 'voltage detector'.. they look like the one in this link.. http://www.grainger.com/product/WESTWARD-DETECTOR-6JG67?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/6JG67_AS01?$smthumb$

Many designs of detectors.. and cost. But are handy and fairly safe once you practice with them a bit to understand what their limitations and purpose is.

Right off the bat, I would 'replace' that "transfer device".. it is designed to 'transfer' the power supply between 'city/rv park' to 'generator'.

Remember, unplug, test, have a sip of wine... test again... then proceed when safe to do so.

[Goin camping]

First off it is time to change currently looking to 310. Congrats!

It appears we are both desert boon dockers.

1. Remember all those breezeless nights in the tent just sweltering?

2. Remember all those hot days exploring and being baked and sweaty that evening?

3. Remember all the ice melting in the chest and facing warm beer at 100 degrees?

4. Remember chasing shade on a lazy summer day in the Mojave?

5. Remember those winter camps where it was 18 degrees?

1. A/C.
2. Shower and A/C
3. Fridge, ice maker, blender. Does it really get any better than those?
4. See answers 1 & 3.
5. Furnace baby. Crank it up and enjoy!

You will learn to love the genny.

After decades of criss crossing the desert in tents, vans and trucks. I can assure you our trailer and gennys have made desert boondocking soooo much better.

Enjoy your new MoHo as often as you can.

[LaniKai]

Originally Posted by gunner

The transfer switch is still available from Airstream, Jackson Center, that is where I purchased my replacement.

Airstream itself seems like a great source. I have been on their website but am not seeing those kinds of parts. I will call them in the morning.

I've been all over the web looking at power transfer switches. Mine is a 30 amp, but my generator is a 6.5 kw generator. All the ones I have seen that say how large of a generator they can handle say they can only handle up to a 4.5kw... or they don't say anything about that. I am not going to buy one that doesn't say it can handle the generator. I'm wondering if the one I had was even enough. I guess it lasted 32 years, but isn't the math 6500 watts / 115 volts = 57 amps or so? Or am I missing something.

I also am looking at the dimensions of some of them and I would like to fit it in the same box if I can, or replace the box with something a similar size. Not much more room right there because the air pump and pump control for the air suspension are in the same area.

I am amazed by how many helpful comments I'm getting. Too many to reply to them all.

[Smartstream]

The transfer switch is available through any RV supply. Airstream will sell the same thing but probably charge more for it. Your coach is set up for 30 amps as is your power cord but the generator is set up to run the second A/C unit separately as 30 amps won't run two A/C units at the same time. You could probably find a relay but chances are it wouldn't fit the same in your existing box. Things do change over the years. All the RV switches come mounted and pre wired in a box which will not be the same as yours but will be close enough to work. I spent quite a bit of time looking but finally gave up and bought a new Progressive Dynamics switch. The box is a little larger but I was able to squeeze it in.

[Isuzusweet]

A great product to have around for cleaning as it's anti-bacterial is Spray-Nine. It will cut through dirt and grime very easily. My wife swears by the stuff.

Cheers
Tony

[mehes]

Your 6.5 kw generator has two 120v output circuits splitting the 57 amp output capacity. You will find the generator feeds two transfer switches, one for the rear air conditioner (it might be the front AC I forget) and the other for the rest of the coach. I have an 86 345. The transfer switch for the Air Conditioner circuit is under the forward dinette seat and the transfer switch for the rest of the coach is located in the bedroom closet. Yours may vary. Hope this helps.

[LaniKai]

Smartstream and Mehs, Thanks. It splits. Now I get it! It does go to the back ac somehow, but one thing at a time here. Sounds like I have lots of options for buying one. I am glad because I was starting to get worried. So many out there but none seemed right. This transfer switch is accessible right where we plug our shore power in behind the rear street side tire. I will look for the other one later.
I will also look for Spray-Nine because I am always looking for a product to get my husband off his 409 habit.

A couple phone calls and I am off to take my class at the same community college my some goes to, then work for the afternoon. You all are helping me get this taken care of in the other hours of the day. Thank you.

[mayco]

I dont think the 310 has two transfer switches like the 345. Two circuits from the genny yes, one to the transfer switch and one feeds the rear air. Unless they changed the set up from '82 to '83. The one going to the rear air is a direct feed. Should be a junction box mounted to the side of the genny compartment "inside" the coach. Both circuits enter that junction box. From there, one line goes up to the rear air the other to the transfer switch located in the rear compartment as youve located. I am pretty sure thats the case, at least thats how it is on my '82.

[LaniKai]

That would make sense because there is no other power for the rear ac. I like it.

[dljosephson]

Hello LaniKai, welcome back to Santa Cruz with your new addition. We also have an 83 310 diesel that has been causing a lot of frustration due to a brake issue, but I have finally found a mechanic here who understands the problem and is working on it. The coach is parked inside one of the garage condos on Shaffer Road and we are here on the west side. We also had to do some fence modifications but with one of us driving and the other one watching from the outside we can squeeze it by the side of the house with a couple inches to spare. I may be able to help with the generator transfer switch, it is a simple system but works fine once you have chased the bugs and dirt out. PM me if you would like to connect.

[LaniKai]

We replaced the switch yesterday and Paul has pictures to post. I am going to message you. I want your mechanic's number.

Generator guy will come tomorrow morning just to look and give a tune-up. After that then the whole coach goes to someone for the mechanical inspections. I was thinking the people on 17th, but have not called them yet. I know I should have done that before buying it and driving it across the county, but I didn't.

Our driveway seems to be just long enough to park the airstream inside the yet to be build gate and then park our van in front of the gate and not hang over the sidewalk. Just barely. Also just barely room to get our bikes out of the garage and down next to the airstream every day because we bike commute the few blocks to work. We live and work downtown near Ocean Street. So now we will drive our cars even less. Without the annual trip miles who knows how our cars will get any miles.

Those garages look sweet. We will check them out for when we have to store it.

So glad to have someone else close to ask questions of. When the switch was not working we thought we were missing a switch inside the coach because it was working in Tennessee and we did not know how it was supposed to transfer. We thought we did something and I thought I had just missed it when the PO had tried to show me. Eventually we just started tracing the wires and figured it out. Could have saved some time if we had known what to look for or how it worked. It is so hard to look for things you do not know the name of or what they do or if they exist. We really were looking for a switch like the AC/Mircowave switch. Now we know.

So much to learn.

[Pauli Lama]

OK, here are some pics of the transfer switch swap that we did...
The old one was finished, plastic and metal bits out of whack. Got a new one in short order. Made labels for the wires and worked methodically. It took quite a few hours, but I think we did OK! We have shore power!