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Saturday, May 6, 2023

How to Wire Auto & Manual Changeover & Transfer Switch


 Manual and Automatic Transfer and Change over Switch Wiring & Connection

In our step by step electrical wiring installation tutorials series, We will show how to wire and connect single phase and three phase automatic and manual changeover and transfer switches to the home distribution board and main panel to use the backup power supply such us batteries power with UPS and inverters or generator power in case of emergency breakdown and power outage. The wiring diagrams show both the 120V/240V NEC and 230V/400V IEC system voltages (single phase and three phase supply) for manual and auto transfer and changeover switches. Now let's start as follows.

How to Wire Single Phase Manual Transfer / Changeover Switch?

Wiring 230V, 1-Phase Changeover Switch - IEC

In fig-2, different connection and wiring diagrams are shown for a two pole, single phase manual changeover switch. The upper portion of the changeover switch is directly connected to the main power supply while the lower first and right connections slots are connected to the backup power supply like generator or inverter. The left side of lower slots are connected to the main board as loaded.


In case of power failure, the manual change over switch can be changed to the generator / inverter position. This way, power supply will continue to the load points through the inverter or generator. When power supply restores from the power house, simply switch back the changeover switch position to the "Main Power Supply".

Wiring 120V & 240V, 1-Phase Manual Transfer Switch - NEC

The following wiring diagram in fig-3 shows the Reliance manual transfer switch connected to the main 120/240 V panel and a portable generator. Step by step guide is posted before in the post under the title Wiring a Portable Generator Using Manual Transfer Switch for 120 & 240V.

The related wiring diagram in fig-4 shows the 2 pole manual transfer switch (GE TC10323R / GE TC35322) connected to the main 120/240 V panel and a portable generator to 240V subpanel installed for emergency power. Step by step guide is posted before in the post under the title Wiring a Generator Using Manual Transfer Switch for 240V.


How to Connect Single Phase Automatic Changeover / Transfer Switch (ATS)

If you are tired of manual operation of changing over switches, ATS is the best alternative to use then. In the following fig-5, the backup power of batteries is connected to the main distribution board through 2-Pole, single phase automatic changeover or transfer switch (ATS) and UPS / Inverter.


The working and operation of this circuit is the same as above except the automatic changeover switch (ATS) will detect the utility power when restored from the power house and automatically transfer from the Generator / Inverter to the Main Power supply. In case when utility power is not available, the ATS will transfer the switching position to the Inverter, hence electrical appliances will still be in operation mode without interruption through the stored power in the batteries.

How to Wire Three Phase Manual Changeover/Transfer Switch

Fig-6 shows how to wire a four pole, three phase manual changeover switch to the main distribution board. This is the same connection as we discussed above for single phase wiring except that there are three phase wires instead of line and neutral.


The three phase utility power (L1, L2, L3 & N) are directly connected to the upper side of the manual change over switch, while the backup power of the three phase generator is connected to the first four (right) slots of the lower side . The left side four slots connection points are connected to the load then.

Since the operation is manual, you have to change the changeover lever to the appropriate position manually to restore the power i.e. Change the lever position to the “Generator Supply” when main power is not available and then back to the “Main Power” when utility power is restored.


 Manual and Automatic Transfer and Change over Switch Wiring & Connection

In our step by step electrical wiring installation tutorials series, We will show how to wire and connect single phase and three phase automatic and manual changeover and transfer switches to the home distribution board and main panel to use the backup power supply such us batteries power with UPS and inverters or generator power in case of emergency breakdown and power outage. The wiring diagrams show both the 120V/240V NEC and 230V/400V IEC system voltages (single phase and three phase supply) for manual and auto transfer and changeover switches. Now let's start as follows.

How to Wire Single Phase Manual Transfer / Changeover Switch?

Wiring 230V, 1-Phase Changeover Switch - IEC

In fig-2, different connection and wiring diagrams are shown for a two pole, single phase manual changeover switch. The upper portion of the changeover switch is directly connected to the main power supply while the lower first and right connections slots are connected to the backup power supply like generator or inverter. The left side of lower slots are connected to the main board as loaded.


In case of power failure, the manual change over switch can be changed to the generator / inverter position. This way, power supply will continue to the load points through the inverter or generator. When power supply restores from the power house, simply switch back the changeover switch position to the "Main Power Supply".

Wiring 120V & 240V, 1-Phase Manual Transfer Switch - NEC

The following wiring diagram in fig-3 shows the Reliance manual transfer switch connected to the main 120/240 V panel and a portable generator. Step by step guide is posted before in the post under the title Wiring a Portable Generator Using Manual Transfer Switch for 120 & 240V.

The related wiring diagram in fig-4 shows the 2 pole manual transfer switch (GE TC10323R / GE TC35322) connected to the main 120/240 V panel and a portable generator to 240V subpanel installed for emergency power. Step by step guide is posted before in the post under the title Wiring a Generator Using Manual Transfer Switch for 240V.


How to Connect Single Phase Automatic Changeover / Transfer Switch (ATS)

If you are tired of manual operation of changing over switches, ATS is the best alternative to use then. In the following fig-5, the backup power of batteries is connected to the main distribution board through 2-Pole, single phase automatic changeover or transfer switch (ATS) and UPS / Inverter.


The working and operation of this circuit is the same as above except the automatic changeover switch (ATS) will detect the utility power when restored from the power house and automatically transfer from the Generator / Inverter to the Main Power supply. In case when utility power is not available, the ATS will transfer the switching position to the Inverter, hence electrical appliances will still be in operation mode without interruption through the stored power in the batteries.

How to Wire Three Phase Manual Changeover/Transfer Switch

Fig-6 shows how to wire a four pole, three phase manual changeover switch to the main distribution board. This is the same connection as we discussed above for single phase wiring except that there are three phase wires instead of line and neutral.


The three phase utility power (L1, L2, L3 & N) are directly connected to the upper side of the manual change over switch, while the backup power of the three phase generator is connected to the first four (right) slots of the lower side . The left side four slots connection points are connected to the load then.

Since the operation is manual, you have to change the changeover lever to the appropriate position manually to restore the power i.e. Change the lever position to the “Generator Supply” when main power is not available and then back to the “Main Power” when utility power is restored.

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