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0:00
Owning a generator to provide backup electrical power for your home during an outage is one thing
0:06
but getting that generator power into your electrical panel safely and legally is another
0:12
There are different hardware options to make this happen, and in this Teaching and Product video, I'll show you one of the simplest
0:19
most flexible, and most economical generator connection possibilities going, something called a manual transfer switch, or MTS for short
0:29
Besides being far cheaper than the alternative of a standby home generator
0:34
a portable generator connecting to one of these manual switches offers distinct advantages
0:40
The system is more economical and easier to install than a stationary automatic standby generator
0:45
You don't need to have the utility power to your home disconnected during installation
0:50
as with meter-based connection systems, and you can easily upgrade to a larger portable generator in the future, if you need it
0:57
You can also use your portable generator in other locations when it's not supplying power during a blackout
1:03
and if your portable breaks down when you really need it, you can simply swap in another one until grid power returns
1:11
What is an MTS? It's not difficult to understand how manual transfer switches work
1:18
Even though the entire unit is called a switch, the actual switching mechanism is just one part of it
1:24
The switch itself is housed within a small metal panel box that includes circuit breakers
1:29
that are typically part of the package. So don't be confused by the term manual transfer switch
1:35
It applies to the entire unit that gets installed in your home. Planning an MTS Installation
1:41
The planning process for transfer switch installation begins by deciding which circuits you want powered by your generator during an outage, and which ones you can do without
1:51
Essential circuits typically include lighting, wall outlets, a furnace or air conditioner
1:57
a water pump if you're on a well, and perhaps internet equipment, a sump pump, or a sewage pump
2:03
Many of these items don't have plug outlets, so they can't be connected to a generator using an extension cord
2:10
Sidestepping this problem is the biggest advantage of a manual transfer switch
2:16
It allows you to deliver power to essential hard-wired items and outlets
2:20
that can only get their power through the electrical panel. It's important to understand that portable generators don't typically put out enough power to energize everything in most homes
2:31
so one way or the other, you'll need to choose which circuits to power
2:35
Installing a transfer switch just means you make this decision ahead of time
2:39
as circuits are rerouted into the manual transfer switch panel during installation
2:45
Why not just a simple outlet? It's dangerous and illegal to connect a generator directly to hard-wired circuits in your electrical panel
2:53
without the right kind of switch in place, because of the hazard this poses to electrical workers
2:59
I often cover generator-related topics on video, and I sometimes hear from people who brag about saving time and money
3:06
making a direct switch-less connection between generator and panel. Don't ever do this
3:13
Utility workers have died by electrocution from generator power that they didn't know
3:18
was back-feeding through the power lines they were working on. This is why various transfer switch options were developed
3:25
Ignore this advice, and it could lead to big trouble for you and others
3:29
How to install and use an MTS Installing a transfer switch is work for a licensed electrician, but the concept behind the product is simple
3:40
As a homeowner, you'd be wise to understand what's involved before hiring anyone
3:45
Wires connected to circuit breakers in your existing electrical panel get disconnected
3:51
and rerouted to different breakers within the transfer switch panel itself, typically located nearby
3:57
These new connections involve short lengths of cable extending to the transfer switch
4:03
with twist-on wire nuts securing the connections to existing household wiring within your electrical panel
4:10
A weatherproof outlet comes with most transfer switch kits, including the Champion unit I have at my place
4:16
and gets installed on the outside of an exterior wall to allow easy connection of the generator
4:22
When grid power goes down, you need to do two things. One, connect your generator to the weatherproof outlet using the special power cord provided with the unit
4:32
then get the generator running. Two, flip on the manual transfer switch inside your home to disconnect the panel from the grid
4:42
This simultaneously establishes a direct connection between your generator and those essential circuits you had rerouted into the transfer switch panel
4:51
all with a guaranteed disconnection from the grid. Both functions are handled by the same two-position toggle switch
4:59
For safety, fuel power generators must always be used outdoors, far from occupied buildings
5:05
with the exhaust pointed away from people, animals, and buildings. The Champion TS30 unit that I have at my place costs $599 Canadian, or about $499 US
5:17
and this is about as economical as it gets for this kind of thing
5:21
My model handles 30 amps at 240 volts, which translates to 7,200 watts of total power delivered
5:29
large enough to handle the output of most generators for household backup
5:33
The unit comes with a weatherproof outlet, a power cord to connect a generator to the port
5:39
five 120-volt 15-amp protected circuits, one 120-volt 20-amp protected circuit, and one 120-240-volt 30-amp protected circuit
5:52
As generator prices decline and reliability and efficiency increases, more and more homeowners are opting for the generator option
6:00
A manual transfer switch makes the most sense for many people, and maybe this means you too
6:06
Next time you have an outage, a few minutes' work connecting your generator to an MTS and firing it up
6:12
will get you up and running with the essential items working just like normal
#Electricity
#Industrial Materials & Equipment
#Home Improvement
#Generators