Transfer Switch or Main Breaker in Panel

[Ruff]

I am on grid while I relocate my panels to their forever home north of the building. Last week we lost power from the grid and I needed to switch over to the batteries and inverters for a few hours. Since the system was cold and dark, it took some time to run through the start up sequence with batteries and inverters. In doing so I threw the 200 amp breaker in the main breaker panel to off before throwing the manual transfer switch from gid to solar, then threw it back to on to get power back on.

This got me thinking... Which would be better to use as a switch load wise? as in - less likely to cause an arc or fire. The main panel is a standard 200 amp Eaton panel and the manual transfer switch is a Siemens 200 amp 600 volt 3 wire double throw switch.

Seems to me that the transfer switch would be the less likely to wear out or cause any arcing?

Jeff

 

[DPC]

I wouldn't worry about it.
As long as your running within the ratings of the switches and breakers they are designed to last a long time.

 

[Ruff]

Thanks. I was just thinking that a switch would last longer than a normal breaker when thrown a few dozen times a month.

I was hoping to just be able to throw a few less switches to change over. I need to make an instruction card for this process, so I guess this was a good wake up for me.

Again Thanks.
Jeff

 

[DPC]

Am I understanding you have to do this several times a month because of utility failures?

I would not even bother shutting of the 200.
What I might do is shut off as many lights and loads that were on before change over.
Then turn on things individually, but even that might be overly cautious and unnecessary.

Once a year you should cycle all your switches and breakers on and off no matter just to keep them free and clean.

 

[DPC]

These are pretty old now.
Heart Arrow no longer exists...
( larger ones were made too )

Electricaly operated mechanically interlocked and latching...
Very nice.
But over priced....

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[zanydroid]

Not sure the main breaker is switch duty rated. That said, I don’t know how many cycles a non switch duty rated breaker is meant to take

Usually these things have way more cycles of lifespan if switched with load off

 

[k490]

I use a transfer switch Reliance controls protran 2. I've never seen any arcing flipping from generator to line there is a off position in the middle. I suppose could turn off the heavy loads before flipping it. I don't see the advantage of turning the main grid breaker when power returns no load on it until you move the transfer switch back could do the same thing turn off heavy loads. My neighbor he has a total house ATS Generac 24 kw all automatic he just leaves everything on. He has laptop computers so they don't shut down it flips over.

I think most appliances they have logic to delay restart like HVAC, Refrigerators. My old 1970's 4ton HVAC roof top unit we get power bumps in the summer thunderstorms that old compressor didn't seem to care go on and off didn't have any logic all relays. Probably just pulled more amps starting back up I had a hard start kit on it.

 

[DPC]

I use a transfer switch Reliance controls protran 2. I've never seen any arcing flipping from generator to line there is a off position in the middle. I suppose could turn off the heavy loads before flipping it. I don't see the advantage of turning the main grid breaker when power returns no load on it until you move the transfer switch back could do the same thing turn off heavy loads. My neighbor he has a total house ATS Generac 24 kw all automatic he just leaves everything on. He has laptop computers so they don't shut down it flips over.

I think most appliances they have logic to delay restart like HVAC, Refrigerators. My old 1970's 4ton HVAC roof top unit we get power bumps in the summer thunderstorms that old compressor didn't seem to care go on and off didn't have any logic all relays. Probably just pulled more amps starting back up I had a hard start kit on it.

Way back in 70s before energy efficiency became a concern product engineers tended to be a lot more liberal with the amount of power they threw at a problem.
Compressors for AC units and fridges were larger, because people wanted faster cooling, more cooling and of course larger motors and compressors were more tolerant of bad power.

So I would say ya it probably did not matter as much

 

[k490]

The compressor was loud it's a roof top unit like a semi-trunk engine old school piston style compressor. One year the cap failed we were on vacation for 2 weeks. When I got home heard it humming like 230KVA transformer. I went up there the thing was so hot like standing over a hot camp fire looking down into through the fan. I'm not sure the thermal cut off even worked. Cut the power called HVAC tech showed up later replaced the cap it was chugging along again. 2007 we replaced it by then it was in service from 1976-2007 figured went long enough. New one lasted until 2022 compressor died. Shows you how in those days your right most things were overbuilt to higher standards. Now they are replacing them every 7-10 years.

 

[DPC]

Shows you how in those days your right most things were overbuilt to higher standards.

They were just bigger cruder and simpler but not better....

In 1959 Chrysler developed the slant 6 170 engine and designed it to be cast in Aluminum.
They did sell some valiants with Aluminum engines but over all it never panned.
So they made a lot of cast iron engine and stroked it for use in light trucks and heavier cars.
It was built very conservatively and it was over built ( used the same main bearings as a 426 hemi or max wedge )
The intention was never to build an engine that out lasted the cars it was put in but that happened because they were conservative in design.

Today an engine in a Korean car like mine cant even be rebuilt.
Its built at the edge.
Uses the thinnest oil lightest parts in the smallest compact package todays technology can muster
And its all done to very fine tolerances the Slant 6 could never come close too.

Some of these changes in things like engine are because manufactures can now better predict how long things will last so why build and engine that outlasts the car.
And things are built to deliver the maximum fuel economy.

Everything is like that.....
But is that better?
Have you ever driven a car like a 1960 Valiant
Handles like a drunk on roller skates and the brakes suck
It can do 65 on the highway but you are driving it.
I can drive 75 in my 15 year old korean car and its still a better driver.

Everything is like that now.
Built to last as long as required as efficiently and cheaply as possible.
That's life.