Winter weather in northern New Jersey is often unpredictable. Before the next nor’easter or heavy snowfall rolls in, it’s wise to consider your home’s backup power options. Downed power lines and an overwhelmed electrical grid can leave homeowners in Maplewood and throughout Essex, Passaic and Bergen Counties without power — sometimes for days at a time.
Many people turn to gas-powered generators as a reliable power source during an outage. A key component for safely using this backup power is a changeover switch. In this article, we’ll explain what these devices are and how they work with different types of generators.
A generator changeover switch, also known as a transfer switch, is a device that safely switches your home’s electrical supply from the utility grid to your generator. Think of it as a small circuit breaker panel that draws power from your generator instead of the electric company.
When the power goes out, a changeover switch disconnects your home from the main grid before connecting it to the generator. This crucial step prevents “back-feeding,” a dangerous situation where electricity from your generator flows back into the utility lines.
An electrician typically installs the switch alongside your main breaker panel. For portable generators, you plug the unit into an outdoor outlet that is wired to the indoor transfer switch. These switches can be manual, requiring you to flip a switch to activate the generator power, or automatic. For portable generators, a manual transfer switch is an essential safety device.
Yes, but one of the major selling points of a permanently installed standby generator is that the transfer switch is already built into the system. You don’t need to purchase or install a separate one.
These advanced, automatic transfer switches are designed to detect a loss of power from the grid. Within seconds of an outage, the switch automatically disconnects your home from the utility line and signals the standby generator to start. It then seamlessly transfers the electrical load to the generator, restoring power to your home without you having to do a thing. Once grid power is restored, the switch manages the transition back and shuts down the generator. This automated process provides convenience, safety and true peace of mind.
A whole-house standby generator from JW Pierson offers unparalleled comfort and security when the power goes out. These units are permanently installed and run on natural gas or propane, so you don’t need to worry about refueling.
Our team of professionals will help you choose the right generator for your home. We’ll assess your family’s power needs, whether you need to keep the lights on and refrigerator running, or you need to power home office equipment or essential medical devices. We offer expert installation and ongoing maintenance to ensure your generator runs reliably for years.
Weather the next storm in comfort. Contact JW Pierson today to receive a consultation and FREE estimate for a standby generator installation.