Service entrance relays?

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shortcircuit1

Senior Member
Location
USA
This might be a stupid question but can we use relays instead of breakers in service entrance ATS's? If so are there any service rated relays?
 

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
Some ATS's use relays (called contactors in bigger sizes), but these must still incorporate a mechanism that physically prevents simultaneous energization, not merely by the electrical circuit arrangement.
 

Coppersmith

Senior Member
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
A service rated ATS will still require a main breaker. It becomes the service disconnect when placed ahead of the panel.

While small manual transfer switches use double-throw switches and a separate set of breakers to switch between utility and generator feed, an ATS will always use a contactor to perform this function. (At least, I have not seen any that don't.)
 

shortcircuit1

Senior Member
Location
USA
Thanks everyone for your input. Issue that i am having is i am trying to coordinate the breaker in the ATS with utility fuse and its really hard to do so. Thats why i was thinking why cant we use relays just like we do in medium voltage switch gear and make the coordination lot better?
 
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