What is the best Automatic Transfer Switch on the market?
I'm getting a Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C surge protector unit installed on my motorhome. What is the best ATS? Thanks in advance.
Forum Discussion
HE ASK about transfer switches, You folks are talking about Surge guards, I'm not sure what he wants.
A transfer switch is a switch designed to select the SOURCE of power for your motor home.. There are 2x2 types.. I will cover,, NOTE: the second 2 can be made up from 2 of the first.
So I'll cover the second of the 2's first.
Shore/Generator or Shore/Generator/Inverter (2 or 3 way transfer)
Now, speaking only of shore/generator.
You have two types
Definition: RESTING state. If there is now power, what state are the contactors in. (Contactor is a high power relay, also known as solenoid)
Definition: Default state: If multiple power sources are present; WHO WINS the job.
Some, such as the intelletec model I have, the resting state is "Connected to shore"
Some others (And this would normally apply to the 3 way units) resting state is NO CONNECTION.
Default is always GENERATOR
Which is better? Now that is a good question.. in theory the resting-disconnected should be better because that means when you plug in, forgetting to turn off the breaker, there is only a very small load (The sense electronics in the switch) and the big loads do not kick in for at least a second or two.
HOWEVER, what happens when the sense electronics fail?
Or what happens if a relay sticks (I've seen inverters flame on because of a slow relay).
But as for which is best.. I'll leave that up to you.
A transfer switch is a switch designed to select the SOURCE of power for your motor home.. There are 2x2 types.. I will cover,, NOTE: the second 2 can be made up from 2 of the first.
So I'll cover the second of the 2's first.
Shore/Generator or Shore/Generator/Inverter (2 or 3 way transfer)
Now, speaking only of shore/generator.
You have two types
Definition: RESTING state. If there is now power, what state are the contactors in. (Contactor is a high power relay, also known as solenoid)
Definition: Default state: If multiple power sources are present; WHO WINS the job.
Some, such as the intelletec model I have, the resting state is "Connected to shore"
Some others (And this would normally apply to the 3 way units) resting state is NO CONNECTION.
Default is always GENERATOR
Which is better? Now that is a good question.. in theory the resting-disconnected should be better because that means when you plug in, forgetting to turn off the breaker, there is only a very small load (The sense electronics in the switch) and the big loads do not kick in for at least a second or two.
HOWEVER, what happens when the sense electronics fail?
Or what happens if a relay sticks (I've seen inverters flame on because of a slow relay).
But as for which is best.. I'll leave that up to you.
