A power outage is something that every facility dreads. A power outage can severely affect the productivity of your industrial facility. It can lead to damage to electrical equipment, financial stress, anxiety, and even injuries as your facility will be confined to darkness.
What can you do to avoid power outages or minimize the damage caused by them? A simple solution is to install a backup generator. However, deciding on whether an automatic transfer switch should be employed or not can be a wee bit challenging. Below are some advantages and disadvantages of the above-mentioned solutions.
Are you considering installing a quality generator for your commercial or industrial facility? Our team of experts at Spike Electric will be happy to assist you and guide you in getting one. Get in touch with us for more information on various industrial products like generator tap boxes, manual transfer switches, automatic transfer switches, and more. Request a quote today!
The Advantages of Installing an Automatic Transfer Switch
Automatic transfer switches are designed to help your industrial facility during a power outage. How? In an event of a power outage, an automatic transfer switch disconnects the facility from the utility grid and then connects it to a generator. The generator will provide backup power to your facility with fewer disruptions. This will help your facility to continue its operations during a power blackout and at the same time will protect industry personnel from the dangerous consequences of back-feeding the utility grid using the generator’s power. An automatic transfer switch can function without human intervention and operation. Some models of automatic transfer switches are designed to function quickly and hence offer prompt switching so that crucial equipment like data servers or medical devices can operate with zero interruptions.
We have curated some advantages of setting up an automatic transfer switch for your industrial facility. Read on to know them.
Automatic Operation
These transfer switches are automated. Hence, in the event of a blackout, you need not hunt for flashlights to manually start the transfer switch. The entire process is automated and the transition from utility power to backup power happens in a matter of seconds. Your operations and productivity will not at all be affected.
Zero Accessibility Problems
Manual operations of transfer switches will be time consuming because generators and transfer switches are located in areas of a facility that are not easily accessible, especially during a blackout. Employing a manual transfer switch means that your facility and personnel will be left in the dark for a long time, whereas an automatic transfer switch will save your time.
Reduced Risk of Injury
Since the facility and personnel will be in the dark only for a short time, there will be a reduced risk of accidents or serious injuries. The safety quotient will be upheld even during a blackout if you get an automated transfer switch installed.
Ensure Uninterrupted Supply
Several industrial facilities and commercial spaces consist of equipment that requires constant, uninterrupted power. For example, devices like data servers, communications systems, medical equipment or other life-saving devices need a continuous power supply. An automatic transfer switch will ensure that such devices receive a continuous inflow of power even in case of a power outage.
Some Disadvantages of Automatic Transfer Switches
Automatic transfer switches come in designs and models that are more complex than manual transfer switch models. What does that mean? Automatic transfer switches require regular maintenance, repairs and servicing. These switches are expensive compared to the manual transfer switches. Additionally, there are rare instances of automatic transfer switches being unnecessarily triggered by circumstances like momentary brownouts or surges.
Installation. Regular servicing by a trained and skilled professional will help you to overcome technical concerns regarding an automatic transfer switch. The additional features that these switches offer make their price worthy. With an automatic transfer switch, you can enhance the overall safety of your industrial or commercial plant and also ensure significant protection to your plant personnel during a power outage.
Design Custom Automatic Transfer Switches
Spike Electric is your one-stop destination for the engineering and design of automatic transfer switches for custom switchboards, switchgear, custom safety switches, standard automatic transfer switches, generator tap boxes and docking stations. Get in touch with Spike Electric today. We provide unique solutions for power distribution, power monitoring, and a variety of industrial processes and operations. Our collaborations with several clients hailing from Texas and across the U.S. and Canada prove that we are a trusted and reliable partner for all industrial and commercial products. Our vast experience and exclusive range of quality products along with certification, warranties, affordable pricing, prompt delivery, and incredible service make us an ideal destination for industrial solutions.
Contact us online for installing an automatic transfer switch today for your plant!
Written by: Cole Attaway
Cole Attaway is the founder and CEO of Spike Electric Controls. Spike's mission is to improve the accessibility and delivery of industrial electrical gear for clients nationwide. Spike solutions result in reduced unplanned downtime, less overtime, and greater operational efficiencies.
