type SE Manual transfer switch

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Cleveland Apprentice

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Cleveland, Oh
Hello,

I purchased a manual transfer switch from Home Depot online and just received it this morning. It is a GE, SE rated, non-fused, single phase, type 3R, 100 amp rated. I plan on installing it between the meter and panel like you should. There's a problem already I've noticed with the neutral/ground bar inside the enclosure. There are 3 lug terminals. Now this is considered the disconnect switch and I believe there should be a total of 6 if I'm not mistaken. I believe I'm required to relocate and terminate both gec's from the panel (1 from grd rod, 1 from h20 line) to the neutral/ground bar of the transfer switch, now that leaves us with 4 open lugs. Now I have to connect the utility neutral, gen neutral, and neutral to panel, leaving 1 open lug where I would land my egc to the panel because now I would have to separate the egc and neutral. Another electrician told me to leave the gec's in the panel and keep the neutral/egc bonded there, but from past experience, I was told by AHJ that the gec's are always required to be terminated in the disconnect. Also, this transfer switch looks like a disconnect with a handle and has 3 handle positions; off, utility, gen. I was wondering how you guys would attack this? Thanks.
 
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One method of resolving the issue would be to size your ground electrode conductor to your ground rod per 250.66 (full size) and tap off that conductor to other grounding electrodes. Your equipment grounds can be attached to the bonded service enclosure.
 
Thanks Augie, yes I guess I can buy a single lug and bolt it to the underside of the frame and land my egc there. I may even consider purchasing a larger grounding bar with at least 6 lugs and mounting it to the bottom of the enclosure and be done with it.
 
Since you say it is service rated, I'm suprised it is un-fused. Be sure that it has an adequate short circuit withstand rating. Often it is only 5kA which might not be enough for your application.
 
ok my mistake, I don't see a SE listing, so my assumption it is not SE rated. Also, I am not sure what the SS rating is. I will have to find out. I'm hoping it would be 10K.

Now that this appears to be non-SE rated, I guess I will leave the gec's in the panel and only hook-up the neutrals and use the bonding screw in the neutral bar.

Thanks for the replies. I don't encounter many transfer switches.
 
Cleveland Apprentice said:
I would have to check again. I thought it was SE rated, I could be wrong.
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It likely is. It should say "suitable for use as service equipment" or "suitable for use ONLY as service equipment" (which means the neutral is permantly bonded). Either way this should be fine for your application if you are going to install it between the POCO meter and the existing main disconnect. You don't need to relocate the GES system to the new manual switch as the existing main disconnect is your service disconnect. You just bond the new switch (with the screw provided) to the neutral as you would any other metallic equipment on the line side of a service diconnect.
 
texie said:
It likely is. It should say "suitable for use as service equipment" or "suitable for use ONLY as service equipment" (which means the neutral is permantly bonded). Either way this should be fine for your application if you are going to install it between the POCO meter and the existing main disconnect. You don't need to relocate the GES system to the new manual switch as the existing main disconnect is your service disconnect. You just bond the new switch (with the screw provided) to the neutral as you would any other metallic equipment on the line side of a service diconnect.
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I read OP to say he is going to install MTS bettween meter and existing panel. Meaning there is no service disconnect except for the main in the panel.
Unless he is going to install the MTS right beside the panel and not on the outside wall he will need a service disconnect bettween the meter and MTS then from the MTS to the panel.
That's my take on it anyway......
 
ron said:
Since you say it is service rated, I'm suprised it is un-fused. Be sure that it has an adequate short circuit withstand rating. Often it is only 5kA which might not be enough for your application.
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I have an MTS that is suitable for service equipment if I use the neutral bar that is available for the switch. I stll think Overcurrent and short circuit protection is required in front of it unless the MTS is right beside the panel that has a main breaker.
 
qcroanoke said:
I have an MTS that is suitable for service equipment if I use the neutral bar that is available for the switch. I stll think Overcurrent and short circuit protection is required in front of it unless the MTS is right beside the panel that has a main breaker.
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While I have to admit, the ones I've done like this the MOCP has been right next to the manual SUSE rated switch. But, I don't think this is actually required as in 230.91. I believe that 230.82(5) makes this not a requirement.
Ronk Electrical Industries is one of the most popular manufacturers of these SUSE rated switches. As I recall, this was their take on it as well.
 
texie said:
While I have to admit, the ones I've done like this the MOCP has been right next to the manual SUSE rated switch. But, I don't think this is actually required as in 230.91. I believe that 230.82(5) makes this not a requirement.
Ronk Electrical Industries is one of the most popular manufacturers of these SUSE rated switches. As I recall, this was their take on it as well.
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230-82- (5) Taps used only to SUPPLY laod management devices, circuits for standby power systems, fire pump equipment, etc, etc,

To me 230-82 is about what we are allowed to hook in front of the main not where the overcurrent and disconnecting means are located.
 
qcroanoke said:
230-82- (5) Taps used only to SUPPLY laod management devices, circuits for standby power systems, fire pump equipment, etc, etc,

To me 230-82 is about what we are allowed to hook in front of the main not where the overcurrent and disconnecting means are located.
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That is sort of my point-the manual xfer switch is for the connection of the optional standby system, not the service disconnect. I've sent an email to Ronk to get their view on this.
 
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