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What is a home generator standby system? A home generator standby system consists of a generator and a transfer switch. The transfer switch may be either a manual transfer switch (MTS) or an automatic transfer switch (ATS). The generator may be fueled by gasoline, or the natural gas or LP gas supplying the appliances in the home. How can I determine the size of generator required for my application? The generator must be sized to start and operate all the loads which it would be required to run. The total wattage or kilowatts (1000 watts = 1 kilowatt) of the appliances, lighting and equipment along with the surge starting requirements determine the generator sizing. Normal loads served by the generator would include refrigerator, freezer, heating system, water pump, sump pump, some cooking equipment, security alarm, phone system and some lighting. A typical size for a home generator would be between 8kw and 12kw. Homes which use heat pumps for heating, electric water heaters and electric cooking would require larger generators. What is a transfer switch? A transfer switch is an electrical/mechanical switch which can be located either indoors or outdoors. It connects the building circuit breaker panel to either the utility power source under normal conditions or to the generator under emergency conditions. This switch prevents a backfeed of voltage from one power source to the other. It is a National Electrical Code requirement for safety reasons. A transfer switch may be one of two types. A manual transfer switch requires the user to start the generator and manually switch from one power source to the other. The more convenient automatic transfer switch (ATS) will sense a loss of power or a low voltage condition from the utility, remotely start the generator and automatically switch to generator power within seconds of a utility problem. When utility power has been restored and stabilized, the ATS switches back from the generator source to the utility, allows the generator to run for a short cooldown period of time and shuts off. The automatic transfer switch is the more desirable since it offers unattended protection while the owner is away. It starts (exercises) the generator for 20 minutes once each week to promote optimum starting reliability in the event of a utility power outage. Where should my generator set be placed? The Kohler home standby generators are compact units enclosed in a sound-insulating aluminum weather housing with a key lock for safety and security to prevent tampering. They are designed to be installed outdoors and require a relatively small amount of space. They can be placed near the home or be discretely concealed with proper landscaping. Kohler's PowerBoost* generator and voltage regulation system provide superior motor starting, sustained short circuit capability and consistent voltage regulation for customer loads at all times. The electronic governor provides clean, precise frequency regulation. Safety shutdown protection is provided for low oil pressure, high temperature, overcrank, overvoltage and overspeed. Scholtens Electric can design and install a complete automatic standby power system for your application. Give us a call! |
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