Cost To Install Manual Transfer Switch
Reliance Controls 6 circuit Transfer Switch with 4 prong 30Amp Receptacle This article will give you a basic understanding of how a manual transfer switch is used with a portable generator. You’ll learn how a manual transfer switch differs from an automatic transfer switch. This explanation will be rather elementary for the more experienced. It is meant as education for someone with little or no knowledge of the process. Let’s say you experience a power outage and you want to use your portable generator to give you some of the comforts in your home. A transfer switch allows you to connect your generator via a suitable power cord from your generator to your selected circuits on your home’s power panel. You can then switch the power source from the power utility, which is down, to the power generated by your generator.
A typical transfer switch installation will take about 3-4 hours and cost around $200-$300. Download Lagu Taylor Swift 22 Original Version there. But it's an investment that you will truly appreciate the next time the power goes out.
A transfer switch like the pictured above, is an electrical switch that switches a load (electrical supply) between two sources. It’s for those who choose not to run generator cords throughout their home. But you must first decide where the power will be allocated within your home by selecting the appropriate circuits.
Your home requires more power than can be supplied by a portable generator. The size of the generator you have will determine how much power you can use in your home.
For example the mid-size popular 5000W models would no way be able to provide the 20,000W or so, supplied by many standby generators. So we must determine how best to use our available power. When you look at your home’s electrical panel, you see many circuit breakers labeled, for example, refrigerator, oven, kitchen outlets, bedrooms, living room, washroom, air conditioner, etc. Your transfer switch will tie into some of these and provide power to the circuits that you choose. For example, maybe you want your outlets of your kitchen, bedroom and living room to be supplied power, while leaving your AC or garage or guest rooms without power. The circuits in your transfer switch would then be connected to the circuits that you want to use. This is referred to as mapping.
This mapping of your needs up front will be time well spent before you do any hard-wiring. You’ll want to balance your proposed draw as equally as possible to the two sides of your transfer switch. Reliance Controls 10 circuit transfer switch with 4 prong 30Amp receptacle Typically you would choose between a 6-circuit model, suitable for up to a 5,000 Watt generator, or a 10-circuit switch ( pictured above) for the larger 8kW portable generators.
These are able to support 30Amp or 20Amp output from your generator and the 120volt or 240volt capability. There are all sorts of variations (8 or 12 circuits), or with higher capacity to accommodate 50Amp generators with 12kW outputs or more. Much larger than that and you’re approaching standby generator abilities which loses the versatility of the portable generator. Note: if you are the least bit confused by electrical terminology and wiring, have an electrician perform the installation. It will be a few hundred dollars well spent if even for the peace of mind knowing it was done right. The installation is, of course, governed by the. The Best Deal is a Kit When shopping for a transfer switch (Amazon), you can find the main brands Reliance and and some others.
You can get the individual pieces that you need, or you may choose to get a kit that includes the switch, inlet box for your generator cord, a 30Amp cord to connect your generator, and even a 20Amp replacement plug if your generator only has a 20Amp outlet. Again, unless you already have the smaller capacity 20Amp generator, I recommend getting one with the 30Amp L14-30 outlet if a transfer switch is in the cards for you. You will be glad that you have the extra available power and versatility at just a bit more cost. Although you can purchase a transfer switch for a 20Amp supply, I recommend that unless you have very little power needs, that you not consider using a generator that only supplies 20Amps. For a smaller generator like this, you may be better off just running cords to selective appliances.
If you don’t have a generator yet, and you are considering hooking into your home panel from time to time, get yourself at least a 5000W model with 120/240 capability with a 30Amp locking receptacle (type L14-30). Remember, the more power available, the more things you can run at the same time, or not have to worry about shutting things off to give you enough power to run something else. What Power Cord Should I Get? 30Amp 40 foot cord by Reliance Controls for connecting generator to transfer switch If it doesn’t come in the transfer switch kit, you’ll need a cord (30Amp) that you plug into your generator with the other end capable of plugging into your transfer switch receptacle box. This cord can be pricey. Download Aplikasi Twitter Untuk Pc Windows Xp more. The one included with a kit is usually only 10 feet long. If your generator must be further away from the switch, you’ll need to get a longer cord anyway.