Install standby generator transfer switch

Very few homeowners can afford or consider it necessary to supply power to all of the homes electrical devices, fixtures and appliances in the event of a power failure. Because the generator chosen can only supply power to a limited number of items, it is necessary to decide which circuits will be powered by the standby generator in the event of a utility power outage. In each case, manual or automatic transfer, the circuitry is the same.

In the case of the manual transfer switch, it requires that someone recognizes that the utility power has failed and must intervene to start the generator and then transfer the desired circuits to the generators power output. A manual transfer switch does not operate if there is no one at home. In the case of an automatic transfer switch ATS , the switch has the intelligence to sense when the utility is no longer delivering power and automatically starting the generator and then transferring the circuits to the generator.

The automatic transfer switch also recognizes when the utility power is back online, transfers the circuits back to the utility and turns the generator off.

A basic home electrical service looks like this grounding circuits and wires have been left out in order to make the drawings less cluttered :. The meter is fed from the utility via an overhead or underground conduit as shown in Figure 2. The electrical service main disconnect and electrical distribution panel are shown as 2 separate items, however newer circuit breaker load centers distribution panels have the main disconnect located at the top of the electrical distribution panel high amperage circuit breaker.

The circuits that you want to be powered by both the electrical utility and the standby generator are transferred to the generator electrical distribution panel. The generators electrical distribution panel should be fed from a double 2-pole breaker in the main load center distribution panel.

Simplified inner workings of the transfer switch are shown in Figures 4 and 5. For clarity they have been shown with a manual lever. Join the wires to the transfer switch referring to the labels created previously. Attach the miscellaneous black wires to the Utility 2-pole breaker in the transfer switch. Join the white wire to the neutral area located in the middle of the transfer switch.

Join the green wire to the grounding bar on the left side of the lower portion of the switch. Confirm that the power supply is cut off at the main load center. Detach the assigned wires for each appliance from the circuit breaker box. Attach to the transfer switch using wire connectors and again referring to the labels. Detach the 2 individual pole breakers from where each assigned appliance wire was removed. Join the green wire to the ground bar.

Put the cover back on the main circuit breaker, and restore the power supply. Convert to generator power and return to utility power as per manufacturer's instructions. There are two black wires on some of the breakers, so how do I find out which is the positive and which is the negative?

My transfer switch kit has red and black wires. If this is a standard circuit breaker, there is no possibility of it having more than one wire of different definitions any wire directly attached to a circuit breaker terminal is considered "hot".

A single-pole breaker will have one wire, a double-pole breaker is actually two breakers ganged together and will have two wires one on each terminal. It's possible a double-pole breaker could have two wires of different colors, but they are still "hot" wires at volts each. It's also possible that a single-pole breaker will have two wires in its one terminal - which means someone wired two different circuits to the same breaker.

Yes No. Not Helpful 7 Helpful 6. Can I wire from an outlet directly to a circuit on the transfer switch? This is a hunting cabin and there is no fuse box currently. I don't know where you are, but in Ontario, Canada, not having a fuse panel or circuit breaker panel wouldn't be allowed. So here, an outlet cannot be attached to a transfer switch.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 1. I live in Ontario, Canada. Here, you are only allowed one hot wire attached to the screw on a circuit breaker. You can run that one hot wire to a utility box and then make a connection that goes in two directions. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2. It will for a little while, but is not recommended. If the demand is greater than 15 amps, it will trip the breaker. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. How far do you want it to be? I would suggest that the generator be about 20 feet from the house so that it is far enough away that carbon monoxide from the generator doesn't find its way back into the house and possibly kill your family.

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. The wires referred to in these instructions may differ in various transfer switch models. Helpful 5 Not Helpful 7. You may need to refer to building codes regarding the wiring specifications in your home.

Always be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for tips for successful installation. Helpful 5 Not Helpful 8. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. You Might Also Like How to. How to. Co-authors: 8.