A home generator manual transfer switch is an essential part of any backup power solution. It allows you to connect your generator to a number of circuits within your house and send backup power directly into the appliances that are most needed during an outage.
Transfer switches are permanently hard-wired to your home’s electrical panel and installed near the breaker box. This helps to prevent backfeeding of electricity from the generator to your utility line, which could be dangerous to service crews.
How It Works
When the power goes out, a home backup generator senses the loss and switches on automatically. It will run until utility power is restored.
When utility power is restored, the transfer switch disconnects the generator and reconnects your house to the utility grid. This helps prevent backfeeding of generated electricity onto the utility line, which could spark a fire or harm utility workers.
Manual transfer switches are less expensive than automatic transfer switches and ideally suited to manual-start generators. They also save you the hassle of running extension cords from your appliances to a portable generator, which can cause damage to your generator.
Both automatic and manual transfer switches have their own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to find the right one for your needs. You can consult a generator professional to help you decide which type is best for your home and budget.
Installation
If you own a home generator, you may want to install a manual transfer switch to protect your house in case of a power outage. A manual transfer switch connects the generator’s cord to selected essential circuits in your home, allowing you to power lights, refrigerators, and furnace blowers.
This type of switch is typically installed on the exterior of your house. It consists of a circuit panel and an inlet box.
A generator manual transfer switch consists of a number of circuits that you can assign to different loads. Larger generators can restore power to up to 10 circuits, while smaller ones are capable of providing only a few.
This type of switch enables you to manage your electricity more efficiently by setting power priorities. You can choose which circuits to turn off and on, which will save you money in the long run.
Safety
A home generator manual transfer switch is a crucial safety device for all homes that use a backup generator. It prevents voltage from traveling backwards out of the generator and through the utility power line. This condition, known as back-feeding, can cause electrical fires and electrocution to utility workers working on power lines.
A manual transfer switch looks like a circuit breaker panel with up to 10 toggle switches under the cover. Each circuit controls a different load such as a refrigerator, water pump or lights.
During a power outage, you manually trigger the transfer switch to connect all the circuits to the backup generator. This saves you from running extension cords from your electrical appliances to the generator.
Maintenance
A manual transfer switch is a safety device that connects your generator with the circuits of your home. It helps prevent a surge from feeding your home’s power line during a power outage.
Most modern generators include an automatic transfer switch built-in, but if your home does not have one, a qualified technician can install one for you. Both manual and automatic transfers help keep your home powered up while you wait for power to return from the grid.
Maintenance
Inspect and clean the transfer switch regularly to avoid a buildup of moisture, dirt, or dust. Then vacuum or wipe it with a soft brush or cloth.
Check dc millivolt and microhm drop resistance values to ensure that they match the manufacturer’s published data. If a dc millivolt and microhm test value exceeds the normal range for your model of switch, it may be time to replace parts.
