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2 pole transfer switch to isolate AIO/Hybrid all seem so expensive..... (200A)

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cdherman

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Looking at the EG4 15kw, but applies to just about any AIO system or generator input etc. Why are 2 or 3 pole generator transfer switches so damned expensive?

I mean, looking at the GE TC10324R -- looks like Home Depot has best price of around $650. But its a nice heavy box with three sets of lugs and a spring loaded blade set to prevent arcing. Compared to the $200 I paid for a 40 slot GE 225A rated, copper bus load center, this is crazy....

I suppose its supply and demand. I got a deal on the load center, because it was closing out. Maybe there is just less volume in transfer switches.

Ideas?
 
cdherman said:
Looking at the EG4 15kw, but applies to just about any AIO system or generator input etc. Why are 2 or 3 pole generator transfer switches so damned expensive?

I mean, looking at the GE TC10324R -- looks like Home Depot has best price of around $650. But its a nice heavy box with three sets of lugs and a spring loaded blade set to prevent arcing. Compared to the $200 I paid for a 40 slot GE 225A rated, copper bus load center, this is crazy....

I suppose its supply and demand. I got a deal on the load center, because it was closing out. Maybe there is just less volume in transfer switches.

Ideas?
Click to expand...
I have wondered about the crazy pricing as well. The same crazy pricing is seen in the big 200A AC Disconnects.

* I am sure part of it is from the supply vs demand.
* Another part is that the UL listing is expensive and difficult. That keeps a lot of people out of the market. As an example, I would bet a Chinese manufacturer could sell one in the US for less than half the price, but since they typically don't deal with certification they don't even bother. Note: The Chinese could easily build an xFer switch that meets UL requirements but for whatever reason they don't seem to do it... Instead, they build them for companies like SqureD..... I am not sure why.
* The last reason gets a bit into conspiracy theory..... I suspect that the big 3 or 4 companies that sell the gear all understand that if any of them lower the price they all will.... so none of them do it.

We are about to see an explosion of battery-based residential systems and that is going to greatly expand the market switch gear. It is at these types of inflection points that disrupters often enter the market..... I hope we see a disrupter take on the high price of this type of gear.
 
FilterGuy said:
I have wondered about the crazy pricing as well. The same crazy pricing is seen in the big 200A AC Disconnects.

* I am sure part of it is from the supply vs demand.
* Another part is that the UL listing is expensive and difficult. That keeps a lot of people out of the market. As an example, I would bet a Chinese manufacturer could sell one in the US for less than half the price, but since they typically don't deal with certification they don't even bother. Note: The Chinese could easily build an xFer switch that meets UL requirements but for whatever reason they don't seem to do it... Instead, they build them for companies like SqureD..... I am not sure why.
* The last reason gets a bit into conspiracy theory..... I suspect that the big 3 or 4 companies that sell the gear all understand that if any of them lower the price they all will.... so none of them do it.

We are about to see an explosion of battery-based residential systems and that is going to greatly expand the market switch gear. It is at these types of inflection points that disrupters often enter the market..... I hope we see a disrupter take on the high price of this type of gear.
Click to expand...
One more reason the prices are so high:

90% of the time this type of equipment is being purchased by an electrition to install in someone else's property. They go to their favorite (trusted) electrical supply house and buy everything they need. They can't afford the time to shop around. Whatever the cost is gets passed on to the customer (with a markup). Consequently, the pressure for anyone along the supply chain to reduce prices is limited.
 
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