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Kraus & Naimer C43 manual transfer switch repair?
1984 Liberty Coach
My AC transfer switch is a manual rotary switch with OFF-SHORE-GENERATOR-INVERTER positions. One leg of the SHORE position has failed. The switch appears to be assembled as a “stack” of individual switches, and I am wondering if these individual switches can be swapped out? My searches have yielded nothing about repair, but I suspect it is possible. I see used C43 switches on eBay for $75 to $150 dollars, so I think I could cobble something together if it’s possible to repair the switch. I think I could even rearrange my components since the inverter only uses one of the two 120V legs.
Normally, I would just tear into it to satisfy my curiosity and frugal nature, but I need to keep my AC circuits working. It’s getting a little cold here in Missouri at night, so I moved the SHORE wires over to the GENERATOR terminals in order to keep the heat on. Here’s a photo of a similar switch. Mine is the C43 A281 series.
I think I found a direct replacement for $381 from Blue Sea Systems, so that is Plan B.
Blue Sea 9077 Switch, Ac 240vac 63a Off +3 Positions (hodgesmarine.com)
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
4 Replies
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Chad,
I like the idea of repairing the switch. If that cannot be done you may want to consider upgrading to an auto transfer switch. For the $380 price tag you could certainly buy a good ATS.
jeff
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Thanks, Jeff. I looked a bit at the ATS selection online, and I don’t even know where to begin! My 1984 bus wiring is very simple and robust, and is easy to troubleshoot and repair. I would also like to minimize the modifications to my cabinetry (not my strength), but I think changing to an ATS would be doable if I had to. There is even a small cabinet under this switch location (cabinet behind the driver seat) that looks like it once held a mobile phone the size of a shoebox. Jon probably has one he could give me, but then he’d have to upgrade.
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Chad, I cannot help you regarding where or if repair parts are available, but I vote for that option because our first Liberty was set up that way and the simplicity and robust nature of that switch was great. Option 2 would be to replace the entire switch as you mention.
An automatic transfer switch would just add a level of complexity that in my mind doesn’t get justified. As you are set up now nothing is simpler or as easy to use.
My first bus phone, permanently installed in my bus in 1990 was the “brick”. Keep in mind the folks here that pick on my lack of desire to have a smart phone were still playing with dolls and erector sets when I had a bus with a hard wired cell phone and a 5 foot satellite antenna on the roof.
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Well, I got tired of waiting for the “parts” switch I ordered from eBay, so I cracked it open last night. To keep the power on, I ordered a Power Distribution Block (Square D 9080LBA362101) for $30, shipped from Zoro, and just hardwired the panel to shore power.
Square D Power Distribution Block
I suspect the failure was a result of arcing due either to a loose wire, or to switching under load. You’ll see a plastic cam that has deformed due to heat. I made notes on the photos, so I won’t repeat everything. These switches are easily serviceable, and can also be reconfigured if you have enough of the components to create the new design.
I doubt many of you have one of these, but I was too pleased with the outcome to keep this to myself.
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