Blog posts tagged with 'automatic transfer switches'

When it comes to safeguarding your business operations against an unpredictable grid, finding the best emergency power source in the UK is only half the battle. The real challenge begins when you look at the technical spec sheets of industrial plant machinery. Many property managers mistakenly assume that if their facility draws 80 kW of power during peak operations, they simply need to buy an 80 kW generator.

At Blades Power Generation, we see this exact sizing error all the time, and it frequently leads to overloaded systems, tripped switchgear, or damaged electronics. To keep your business running smoothly, you must understand the vital difference between Kilowatts (kW) and Kilovolt-Amperes (kVA).

Understanding the 0.8 Power Factor

The easiest way to understand the difference is that kVA represents total apparent power, while kW is the actual working power that performs physical tasks.

In standard UK commercial electrical engineering, three-phase generators are designed based on an assumed power factor of 0.8. This decimal represents the efficiency of your building's electrical system.

The mathematical relationship is straightforward:

kW=kVA×0.8

kVA=0.8kW​

Therefore, if your data logs show your facility requires a true working load of 80 kW, your backup plant actually needs to be rated for at least 100 kVA. If you buy a unit rated at 80 kVA, you will only have 64 kW of actual working power available, meaning your system will immediately overload when the mains power drops.

Account for Large Starting Inrush Loads

Another crucial factor we always remind our clients about is the inductive load spike. Equipment with heavy electric motors, such as commercial air conditioning, industrial water pumps, and large passenger lifts, requires up to three times more current to start up than they do to run continuously.

If your backup system isn’t sized in kVA to absorb these temporary startup spikes, your emergency supply will instantly stall out the moment it takes on the building’s load.

The Blades Rule of Thumb: Always calculate your peak concurrent kW demand, convert it to kVA, and add a 20% safety margin to handle future business expansion and motor starting currents.

Once you have sized your engine correctly, you need a smart way to bridge the gap during a blackout. An automatic changeover switch is the ideal solution here, monitoring the grid line-by-line and seamlessly transferring your critical kVA load to the generator within seconds of a failure.

Don't leave your site's operational resilience to guesswork or risky shortcuts. View our latest technical range at Blades Power Generation or contact our Gloucestershire engineering team today for an accurate, bespoke load evaluation.

A correctly functioning automatic transfer switch responds swiftly in case the main source of power gets cut off, automatically shifting the electrical load from the main to the generator. In case the system functions perfectly, there won’t be any problems, but faulty systems mean that everything will fail at the most critical times.

At Blades Power Generation, we often find that many ATS problems come down to maintenance, environmental conditions, or incorrect installation rather than the switch itself.

Contact Wear and Burnt Connections

The most frequent fault encountered is that the contactors within the switchgear are worn. This situation can be caused by:

●      Excessive heat

●      Accumulation of carbon

●      Erosion of contacts

Failure to address this issue can result in delayed switching or even total switching failure. In the business environment where generators undergo periodic testing, wear develops more quickly.

Battery and Starting Issues

In such instances, the fault may be attributed to the transfer switch, while actually it lies with the generator starting system.

Flat battery, faulty charger, or starter connections could prevent the generator from spinning at its rated speed and, hence, the ATS would recognise an unstable source and not transfer the load.

This issue is especially common with older or poorly maintained used generators that may spend long periods sitting idle between outages.

Moisture and Condensation

The UK climate can be unforgiving on electrical equipment. The formation of condensation within enclosures can lead to:

●      Corrosion

●      Relay malfunctions

●      Faulty sensors

●      Inaccurate voltage measurement

In open systems lacking IP-compliant enclosures, winter and coastal climates pose an increased risk of such issues.

At Blades Power Generation, we always recommend checking enclosure condition and ventilation as part of routine inspections.

Incorrect Voltage Sensing

An ATS relies on voltage monitoring to know when to transfer between mains and generator power.

Incorrect setting up of the sensing parameters can result in the following:

1. Premature switching
2. Delayed switching
3. Failure to identify good generator input

That is why it is essential to commission an installation properly. Even top-of-the-range switches can work improperly due to incorrect settings.

Lack of Routine Testing

Perhaps the biggest problem of all is simply neglect.

Many systems are installed and forgotten about until a real power cut happens. By then, seized mechanisms, weak batteries, or damaged components may already be waiting to cause trouble.

Regular testing helps identify small problems before they turn into complete failures.

At Blades Power Generation, we believe reliable backup power starts with proper maintenance, sensible installation, and equipment designed for real operating conditions. A well-maintained ATS should provide dependable service for many years without unnecessary complexity.

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.