Going Without

• The most important piece of information involving a transfer switch is that you have to have one if you are using two sources of power. It is illegal to hook up to any source of power straight to the electrical wiring without a switch because it is extremely dangerous.
  
  Hooking up directly to the electrical wiring can cause backfeeding, which means that the electricity goes back out into the grid from your system. This causes overloading in your neighbor's system and back into yours again. Anyone who is not aware of this overload, whether it is you, your neighbor or an electrical worker can be electrocuted because of this overload.
  
  

About Transfer Switches

• There are many different types of switches but they are grouped into three different categories including the automatic, manual and the combination switch which contains each of the first two. The automatic senses the AC power source cutting off and automatically switches whereas the manual requires someone to change it over. With the combination switch you can choose either of them for what is most convenient in any particular situation. The number of amps provided by each one also varies. There are 30 amp, 50 amp, and 100 amp switches available from most brands as well. These switches not only change the sources from one to another but they also isolate from each other preventing power surges.
  
  When switching from sources of power there is generally a 20- to 30-second delay when there is no power available. This is to prepare the system for the energy change. This prevents damage to the system caused by unexpected electrical loads.
  
  

Installation

• Installing an AC transfer switch is not a small task and requires extensive knowledge in the electrical field. If you do not have this knowledge and experience, call a professional. Always check the local codes regarding these matters.
  
  The power must be switched off by the company to your home not just at the electrical box. Remove the meter from its location. Check the meter to ensure that there is no electricity running through the meter base unit. The switch should be about 18 inches from the middle of the circuit center. For AC transfer switches being connected to a generator, measure the distance from the home to the generator as it must be at least 12 feet away.