When you think about Manual Transfer Switch emergency power options for your home or business, a backup generator probably comes to mind. This provides electricity independently from the grid when the power goes out.
All wired-in generators require a transfer switch to begin delivering electricity to your lights, appliances and electronics. You have two main transfer switch options: an automatic transfer switch and a manual transfer switch. Which one you choose depends on your electrical demands, your budget and what type of business you operate.
Purpose of a Transfer Switch
The transfer switch is responsible for trading your home or business’s energy supply from the utility company to the backup generator. It isolates the generator from municipal power lines to protect utility repairmen from power surges caused by backfeeding. This essential piece of safety equipment is required with all wired-in backup generator installations in all 50 states.
How Does a Manual Transfer Switch Work?
When the power goes out, everything will go dark if you have a manual transfer switch. You’ll need to grab your flashlight and go out to the generator to start it manually and connect it to the transfer switch. Then you’ll need to switch your home or business over to receive power from the generator. When utility power comes back on, you need to manually switch the power back to the utility company and turn off the generator.
How Does an Automatic Transfer Switch Work?
As the name implies, everything is automatic with this type of transfer switch. The power may go out for a second or two, but the transfer switch senses this and automatically signals your generator to start up. Then the transfer switch connects your home or business to the generator. When utility power comes back on, the transfer switch disconnects the power supply from the generator and shuts the generator back off until the next power outage occurs.
Which Transfer Switch is Right for Me?
The primary advantage of a manual transfer switch is the lower cost to design, fabricate and install it. It’s also smaller in size, faster to fabricate, and easier to install and maintain than an automatic transfer switch.
The Importance of Professional Installation
Electricity is dangerous, and any electrical-related installation should be handled by a licensed electrician
Plus, electricians know how to properly size transfer switches to match the power capacity of a backup generator.
The professionals at Mr. Electric® know how to safely and accurately wire your generator into your home or business’s service panel.
Keep productivity and electricity flowing – install a backup generator today. Contact Mr. Electric to learn more about meeting your emergency power needs For example, learn more about Rainbow International’s 24/7 response services for fires or floods.
SOURCE:https://mrelectric.com/blog/automatic-vs-manual-transfer-switches