| A transfer switch prevents electricity from | | | | cause severe damage to equipment, as well as |
| flowing simultaneously between your portable | | | | death to those who might be working to restore |
| generator and the utility grid. It is mounted next | | | | power in your vicinity. |
| to your home circuit breaker box and can | | | | The transfer switch contains several circuits and |
| operate manually or automatically. | | | | the electrician can assign each circuit to a different |
| In the event of a blackout, you can power | | | | load. This provides efficient management of usage |
| several appliances to include the refrigerator, | | | | and extends the effectiveness of the portable |
| television, lights and even your sump pump. | | | | generator. When the utility power goes out, you |
| However, you must first position the generator | | | | simply plug your generator into the transfer |
| into place no less than 15 feet from your home | | | | switch, start it up, and flip the transfer switch |
| to prevent carbon monoxide consumption. | | | | from the Utility position to the Generator position. |
| One way to provide power is to run extension | | | | For convenience, you might wish to purchase a |
| cords from the generator to your lights and | | | | remote power inlet box to be installed in a location |
| appliances. This can be inconvenient and unwieldy | | | | away from the actual transfer switch unit itself. |
| while making it difficult to operate some critical | | | | This would permit plugging into a separate |
| circuits like the furnace fan or well pump. | | | | receptacle that is positioned closer to the |
| Another way is to connect the portable generator | | | | operating generator. You can then have a shorter |
| directly to your household wiring by installing a | | | | and less cumbersome master cord running from |
| manual transfer switch. This will permit the use of | | | | the generator all the way to the switch panel |
| only one cord to provide electricity to several or | | | | inside the house. |
| all of your most important household circuits, | | | | In summary, the procedure works like this: |
| including the furnace fan and well pump. Bear in | | | | When the utility company power goes out: |
| mind the National Electrical Code mandates that a | | | | |
| transfer switch be properly installed for safety | | | | 1. Plug the generator cord into the transfer switch |
| precautions. | | | | or optional power inlet box. |
| By way of comparison, permanently installed | | | | 2. Turn all circuit breakers in the transfer unit to |
| standby generators come with transfer switches | | | | the off position. |
| that automatically kick in when the utility power | | | | 3. Start the generator and give it time to warm |
| goes down. Conversely, the transfer switch for | | | | up. |
| portable generators is an additional cost item that | | | | 4. Flip the main breakers in the transfer unit to |
| can average $200 to $500 depending on the total | | | | the Generator position. |
| circuitry and wattage requirements. | | | | 5. Turn on the desired circuits individually to |
| It is highly recommended that you engage the | | | | prevent overloading the generator. |
| services of a licensed electrician to install the | | | | Once power is restored: |
| transfer switch and connect it with the main | | | | |
| breaker box. Although most transfer kits come | | | | 1. Turn the main breakers in the transfer unit |
| with excellent instructions for the do-it-yourself | | | | back to Utility Power. |
| person, you always run the risk of creating a | | | | 2. Turn on any other circuits that were turned off. |
| back-feed through the utility lines should you | | | | 3. Turn off the generator. |
| innocently make an error while wiring. This can | | | | 4. Disconnect the cords. |