Generator Transfer Switch Installation and Repair
The Generator Guys install, replace, and repair generator transfer switches for homeowners running standby and portable units. The switch is what connects a generator to your home's wiring. Without one, a generator only powers what you plug straight into it.
We wire every switch to break the connection to the utility line first, then feed generator power into your electrical panel. That order matters. Backfeed onto a utility line puts line workers at risk and can damage the generator when grid power returns, which is why the work gets permitted and inspected. Our electricians are licensed under EC13005590. Which switch fits your home comes down to two things: the amperage at your main panel, and the generator feeding it.
Automatic Transfer Switch Installation
A standby generator pairs with an automatic transfer switch tied into the utility feed, so the changeover happens with nobody home. It reads incoming voltage, signals the generator to start when the feed drops, waits for the engine to reach speed, then moves your circuits across. When utility power steadies, it transfers back and runs the generator through its cooldown.
There are two ways to wire an automatic transfer switch for a generator. Service rated, carrying the full panel, which calls for a generator sized to match. Or into a subpanel feeding essential circuits only: well pump, air handler or furnace, refrigerator, and a lighting circuit.
Manual Transfer Switch and Inlet Box Installation for Portable Generators
A portable generator needs a manual transfer switch mounted beside your electrical panel, an inlet box on an exterior wall, and a feeder run between them. Start the generator, plug it into the inlet, throw the handle, and your selected circuits come up. No cords through a window and no backfeed risk. Circuit selection is the part we work out with you. A manual transfer switch usually covers six to twelve breakers, so we go through the panel together and decide what earns a slot. Well pump, furnace, refrigerator, and an outlet circuit tend to go in first. Sizing runs off startup draw on motor loads, not running watts.
Tell Us Your Panel Size and What Generator You Own
The fastest way to get a real answer is to tell us what you are working with. Two things matter most: the amperage of your main panel and whether you have a standby generator, a portable one, or are still deciding. If you already have a switch and it is not transferring, tell us what it does when the power goes out. Fill out the form with those details or give us a call. We will tell you which type of switch fits your panel and your generator, what wiring the job takes, and what to expect from the install. If a repair makes more sense than a replacement, we will say that too. No pressure either way.