Uses of a Transfer Switch on a Portable Generator

Portable generators are rapidly becoming more commonplace in homes as the average homeowner experiences more frequent, longer power outages in the residence. While these generators offer continued heat and electricity in the event of a power outage, they also have the potential to be dangerous to the inhabitants of the house. There is a lot of care that needs to go into owning a portable generator. One of those safeguards is ensuring that your portable generator has a properly installed and maintained transfer switch.

The transfer switch is what properly attaches the emergency power source, your generator, to your home. A very important thing to remember when attaching the generator is that you should make every effort to ensure that the power being produced by your generator is not being pumped out into your utility lines. If this happens, the utility company personnel who comes out to work on your utility lines could be severely injured. A proper transfer switch that complies with UL standards for either automatic or non-automatic transfer switches should meet this standard.

There are many uses for the transfer switch. The first thing that this switch accomplishes is attaching the generator to your home. The second is ensuring that even though the power is off, both the utility and generated power being produced are being directed through the same power or circuit box. This is very important because the transfer switch should firmly cutoff any power from the utility company, reducing the fire hazard to your home.

If your transfer switch fails to only allow one type of energy into your home, this can result in the total loss of the generator as well as personal injury and the high possibility of your home catching fire. Your transfer switch should also prevent arcing of the electricity. If arcing continues through the electrical currents, anyone operating the generator risks severe electrical shock as well as injury to yourself and home by fire.

A little known fact is that all transfer switches are not created equal. Also, just because a transfer switch lists that it is UL approved does not mean that it is either the best transfer switch for your purposes, nor that it is completely safe for use in your home. There are varying degrees by which the effectiveness of a transfer switch is measured, just like a light bulb. Where a twenty watt bulb might work in a small bedside table lamp, a sixty watt bulb will be much more effective when you need a greater amount of light. Transfer switches operate in basically the same way.

There are some lower ranked transfer switches that are UL approved and designed for lower voltage generators or generators hooked to something other than your house. When searching for a transfer switch for your home, a good rule of thumb is to look for a transfer switch that has at least a UL 1800 rating. Also make sure that the UL label identifies the switch as either automatic or non-automatic as this lets the purchaser know precisely how the switch will work.

Transfer switches are extremely important to your personal safety and the safety of your home when operating a portable generator.

 

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