Does a non-service rated ATS require a readily accessible manual means to operate?

M

marmathsen

Senior Member
Location
Seattle, Washington ...ish
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I recently looked at a residential job someone else setup and they installed a Kohler RXT-JFNA-011B ATS. I was surprised that it didn't have a means to operate it manually with the dead front on. With the cover off it appears there is a tiny nub that functions as a manual switch (I circled it).

Is a manual switch required for an ATS? I wasn't able to find anything in the 2020 NEC
If it's required does it need to be readily accessible or can it be under the dead front?

*This is a ATS and generator panel combination but they are only using the ATS to feed another subpanel around the corner.

Thanks!

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Can’t see it in the picture, but that tab should have a hole in it. There should be a small metal rod with a red plastic cover, that inserts into that hole.
 
Most switches do not have a manual override accessible with the cover on. The reason is, they only want qualified personnel to operate it. If the switch is operational, and you try to override it, it will snap back to the position the controller is calling for. Watch your fingers! (You have to disconnect the controller harness before doing it)
 
hillbilly1 said:
Can’t see it in the picture, but that tab should have a hole in it. There should be a small metal rod with a red plastic cover, that inserts into that hole.
Click to expand...
That's what I've seen before. I'm pretty sure there isn't a hole on the handle and there definitely isn't one in the cover.

Here's another picture of the handle with the brightness bumped up. Guess I should have used a flash.
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No, there will not be one in the cover, but should be one in the small handle. The extension is usually in a clip somewhere in the enclosure if it hasn’t got lost. I have one on a shelf in the shop, but it’s too late to go take a picture of it. I got a two drive to Atlanta in the morning for a job.
 
Those switches are only to be operated by hand when all power is removed. They can be damaged, arc, etc. by messing with them powered.

Therefore you can feel free to stick your fingers in them if they need to be operated by hand.

Some of that model come with a little piece of channel for a handle. Ones with a round hole sometimes come with a rod. The newest version has no handle provided at all, but appears to fit a medium Phillips screwdriver shank pretty well.
 
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