Blog posts tagged with 'automatic transfer switches'

A generator manual transfer switch in the UK connects your standby generator to the mains supply safely and securely. Blades Power Generation supplies these switches with precision engineering.

Why Choose a Manual Transfer Switch Over Basic Options

Manual switches demand user intervention. You flip the switch when the grid fails. This control prevents backfeeding. Our models feature interlocks that block simultaneous connections.

Installation fits most UK properties. Electricians wire them into consumer units. Panels handle currents ranging from 63 amps to 200 amps. Sub-main feeds integrate seamlessly. Generators up to 50 kVA pair perfectly.

Durability stands out. Enclosures rate IP65 for outdoor use. Blades sources components from European manufacturers.

Transition to Automatic Systems for Seamless Operation

Manual control works for occasional use. Frequent outages need more. Buy an Automatic Transfer Switch in the UK from Blades for zero downtime. These units detect mains failure in milliseconds. They start the generator and transfer the load automatically.

Controllers use microprocessor technology. Voltage sensing covers 180-270V ranges. Frequency monitoring ensures stability at 50Hz. Transfer time stays under 10 seconds. Return to mains happens without manual input.

Key Features in Our Automatic Transfer Switches

Advanced models include programmable delays. Start delay avoids nuisance trips. Cool-down periods protect engines. Load shedding prioritises critical circuits.

Integration with BMS systems is standard. Modbus protocols allow remote monitoring. Enclosures match manual counterparts in robustness. Fire-rated options meet building codes.

Generator compatibility spans diesel, gas, and hybrid units. Synchronisation modules handle parallel operation. This suits larger installations such as data centres.

Compliance and Safety Standards Specific to UK Installations

Every switch carries a UKCA marking. Third-party testing verifies performance. Overload protection trips at 110% rating. Short-circuit withstand reaches 10kA.

Earthing systems follow TN-S and TN-C-S configurations. Neutral switching prevents floating neutrals. Phase rotation checks stop reverse feeding.

Cost Benefits Over the Switch Lifecycle

Initial outlay recovers quickly. Preventing downtime saves thousands. Insurance premiums drop with proper installation. Energy efficiency rises as generators run optimally.

Generator manual transfer switches in the UK switches start at competitive prices. Automatic versions scale with features. Volume orders reduce unit costs for contractors.

Future-Proofing Your Power Infrastructure

Smart grid developments evolve rapidly. Our switches support AMI protocols. Load management prepares for demand response schemes.

Electric vehicle charging integrates via dedicated circuits. Transfer switches isolate EVSE during outages. This maintains mobility.

We manufacture in the UK. Lead times stay under four weeks. Custom enclosures match exact requirements. Technical drawings accompany every order.

Training courses certify installers. Online portals access wiring diagrams. Software tools simulate transfer scenarios.

Buy an Automatic Transfer Switch in the UK directly through our portal. Configure specifications online. Receive CAD files instantly. Streamline your backup power project today.

If you are installing a standby generator on-premises with a mains power supply, it is a legal requirement to have a transfer switch. This can be either manual or automatic. This avoids the mains power burning out the generator which would be almost certain to happen if the mains power came back on while the generator was running, and it avoids the generator back-feeding the mains which would endanger the safety of the electricity utility workers.

Both types of switches perform the same function, but the automatic transfer switch obviously does it automatically, saving time and restoring power almost immediately. Furthermore, if you have a manual switch, it means that you have to be on the premises in order to start the generator, so if you are away there will be no power until you return and switch over.

There are two types of automatic transfer switches, or ATS, panels. One has mains detection built-in and monitors the mains supply. When it detects a mains failure it will send a signal to the generator to start. When the generator has started it then sends a signal back to the ATS saying that it is available, and the ATS will then switch to the generator.

If the ATS does not have mains detection built-in, this will have to be part of the generator and it will monitor the mains supply. When it detects the mains failure it will send a signal to the ATS to disconnect from the mains and start itself automatically. As soon as it is up and running it then sends a signal to the ATS telling it to switch to the generator.

There are a number of different designs of ATS panels, but usually, a mains failure relay is fitted with two contactors in an enclosure. The contactors are mechanically and electrically interlocked, and a mechanical device called an interlock ensures that the two contactors cannot be closed at the same time. If you have two contactors, A and B, the circuit to close contactor A is wired through the auxiliary of B, therefore when B is closed, it is not possible to energize A. The same is true for B which is wired through the auxiliary of A. This provides the electrical interlock.

When the mains fails and the generator starts, the ATS opens the mains contactor and closes the generator contactor. When mains power is restored, the reverse happens. Since the two contactors can never be closed together, there is always a short break in the supply as the contactors change over.