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Old 11-21-2014, 12:01 PM   #1
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2022 25' Flying Cloud
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Sticky Main Power Contactor

I have 28ft 2012 FC and progressively over the past 2.5 years the power contactor has become more difficult to open, ie turn power off. I suspect the contactor was probably bad from the get go but now it is getting nearly unworkable and needs to be replaced. Does anyone know where I can buy this AS contactor online?
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Old 11-21-2014, 12:07 PM   #2
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What is a "contactor"?
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Old 11-21-2014, 12:08 PM   #3
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What are you talking about? The 120 volt circuit breaker (s)? The use/store relay? The switch which controls the use/store relay? The transfer switch which allows you to use the front or rear 120 volt input?

Power contractor does not tell us what you are concerned with. I hope you can clarify your issue so someone might help more.
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Old 11-21-2014, 12:08 PM   #4
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It's another word for 'relay'.


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Old 11-21-2014, 12:18 PM   #5
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I guess I show my age by using the word "contactor". It is essentially a relay. It is buried under my couch so...I have not seen it. I was just hoping someone knew a part number that I could order online?
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Old 11-21-2014, 01:18 PM   #6
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It's not a sign of age. Relays that switch high voltage or current are still referred to as contactors. Since the use/store relay is good for at least 50 amps at 12 volts you are actually correct calling it a contactors.

That said, I'd have to crawl under the bed to get to mine as well. I suspect any continuous duty 12 volt coil 50 amp contactor would work.


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Old 11-21-2014, 01:42 PM   #7
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Ah, the store/use relay. On my FC 20, it is under the front bed. I have not investigated it but think it is a double coil latching relay. That is power on one coil turns the thing on, on the other coil it is turned off. Thus it stays in either position you have switched to until the other side is activated.

No idea of where to get such a beastie, other than from Airstream.
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Old 11-21-2014, 02:24 PM   #8
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It's not a latching relay. The relay is electrically held closed with the electrical connection of the coil through another set of contacts.


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Old 11-21-2014, 03:45 PM   #9
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I just looked at the wiring diagram for the 2014 FC series (which is available at Airstream.com on line) and the relay in question has two 5 amp fuses and other things that make it look to be a two coil relay, not a spring loaded one electrically held on.

Unfortunately the diagram is not complete and is obscure in what is actually going on in the relay. It only shows a box with terminals, not what it does internally, that is what happens electrically when it is activated. There also is no part number listed for the relay itself.
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Old 11-21-2014, 09:50 PM   #10
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I'll get to my AS this weekend and verify how it works. If it's held electrically, pulling a battery cable then hooking it back up will tell the tale....if it drops out and stays out its held electrically. If it stays on when I hook back up, it's latching.

I'll report sometime tomorrow. I'm betting it's not latching, based on what the contactor looks like...


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