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1985 Southwind Transfer Switch

Home > Discussion Forum > Mechanic's Corner - Transmissions

Email Author email Ken Martin  Reply to Message reply to message  Post New Message post new message      search forums
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1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Ken Martin 1-11-03  
I recently purchased a 1985 Southwind 27ft. motorhome. The Onan 4.0 GenSet did not work. I fixed the generator by replacing the coil and points. When the generator is running and the AC power is not plugged in, I do not get AC power to my outlets. Is this an automatic switch or manual? If manual where is the activation switch located and where is the transfer switch located.

Ken
Re: Vibration in 1985 SouthWind Jerry Mulder 5-10-06  
We bought a 1985 SouthWind 27' motorhome. When driving at about 50 MPH it viberates and it increases when applying brakes.
Work done to now, replaced steering damper, new tires, overhauled brakes and replaced U joints in drive shaft.
Problem still exists.
Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Jerry.
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Joe 1-11-03  
There are three ways to get power from a generator on a motorhome. Your motorhome should have an automatic change over switch. Usually it is located behind the breaker panel. If by chance you have a manual change over system, it will change over with the circut breakers. There is a lock out device so you can be on generator or plugged in, but not both at the same time. In some motorhomes, you have to plug the power cord into an outlet to get power from the generator. Have you checked to see if the generator is making power?
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Jerry Mulder 5-10-06  
We bought a 1985 Southwind and I have vibration problems driving around 50 MPH, specialy when brakes are applied. work done to date: new tires, brakes all overhauld, driveshaft has new U joints, new steering damper.
I would greatly appriciate any help and suggestion.

Thanks, Jerry.
Re: Vibration in 1985 SouthWind Jerry Mulder 5-10-06  
We bought a 1985 SouthWind 27' motorhome. When driving at about 50 MPH it viberates and it increases when applying brakes.
Work done to now, replaced steering damper, new tires, overhauled brakes and replaced U joints in drive shaft.
Problem still exists.
Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Jerry.
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Ken Martin 1-13-03  
I think I have the solution. I asked another owner how theirs worked. It is a manual operation. There is a female receptacle inside the compartment where the AC power cord is stored. When the generator is used you have to plug the AC power cord into this receptacle. When shoreline AC is used, you unplug the cable, add an adapter and plug into AC power. Thanks to all who responded to my question.
Ken
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Ken Martin 1-13-03  
Thanks Joe,
I measured about 230 volts at the output of the generator. I don't have any documentation but I tore the RV apart this weekend and traced the wire from the generator. The wire routes from the generator and appears to terminate under my furnace which is about the same place that the AC shoreline power enters on the drivers side. I had the generator running and plugged a device into an outlet but got no power. The AC shoreline power works OK. I have checked the breakers and fuses, etc. I have been doing some internet research and they discuss a "transfer switch". I figure something has to convert the 230 volts down to 115 volts and also isolate the AC from the generator from the shoreline AC. I must either have a manual switch and have not located the switch or it is an automatic switch that is failing. I welcome any suggestions.
Thanks, Ken
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Bob 1-13-03  
Ken- I had a similar problem on my '85 Coachmen, which is on a P30 chassis. I think I may have inadvertently caused the problem by having the shore line plugged in and cranking up the generator at the same time. The result was no AC power to the house part. What the tech told me was that I had blown the transfer switch, which was located separately under the kitchen sink, mounted on the back wall. His advice, since I wasn't too excited about spending $300 on a new switch and who knows how much on the labor to install it, was to simply bypass the switch, which I did. I installed a plug-in in the shore line compartment, disconnected the feed wire from the generator where it entered the transfer switch, and ran it over to the new plug-in. Now, when I want generator power, I plug the shore line into my new plug-in and fire up the generator. A plus is that it is impossible to make the same mistake that I made before to blow the transfer switch. PS. I still get Generator power to the converter so the house battery gets a charge too. Hope this helps.
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Gary CC NV. 1-13-03  
Got a GFI? Check that. Check in the closets for any light type switches, there used for switching over from the Gen. to, or, 110 outside power source.
Re: 1985 Southwind Transfer Switch Jack 11-19-07  
Jerry,

Sorry didn't see your post about already replacing tires. Maybe there is a slight bent rim or tire balance.
Re: Vibration in 1985 SouthWind Jack 11-19-07  
Jerry,

One thing you may want to check is your tires for tread separation.

Regards,
Jack
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