Transfer Switch Installation in Lincoln

An automatic transfer switch sits next to your main breaker panel and watches the utility power. When the power drops, it signals the generator to start, disconnects your house from the utility lines and connects it to the generator. When LES power returns and holds steady, it switches back and lets the generator cool down and shut off.

That disconnect is the important part. Lincoln Electric System's customer-owned generation rules say emergency and backup generators are generally only allowed to run in parallel with the LES system for periodic testing. A proper transfer switch keeps your generator's power in your house and off the street's lines.

Choosing which circuits the generator carries

Some switches carry the whole panel. Others feed a smaller panel with only the circuits you pick: furnace, fridge, sump pump, well pump, some lights and outlets. Which one fits depends on the size of the generator and how the house is heated. Generac's sizing guide also describes load managers, which pause a big appliance like the air conditioner or an electric range for a moment when the generator nears its limit, so a mid-size unit can still run the whole house. See generator sizing for how we work that out.

Older switches wear, and some homes have a manual switch for a portable generator that the owner now wants to upgrade. We repair or replace switches on existing Generac systems and test the whole handoff before we leave.

Ranges are from Angi's generator cost guide. On a new standby install, the switch is part of the system price on the cost page.