Manufacturing Representative Groups (MRGs) have become an increasingly important resource for businesses looking to enhance their customer service and sales support. At ESL, we recognize the value of MRGs and have made it our mission to find the most experienced and capable partners to help serve our customers across the country.
Our MRGs act as a liaison between our customers and our internal customer experience team, providing an expert level of knowledge and support to address any concerns or issues that may arise. By working with MRGs, we aim to increase customer satisfaction and enhance our sales support capabilities, ultimately improving the overall customer experience.
ESL is pleased to announce the latest addition to our expanding ensemble of Manufacturing Representative Groups, Critical Facilities Technologies (CFT). Based in the Midwest, CFT offers a range of services, including design, equipment procurement, project management, and more, to customers in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas. Their team of seasoned professionals possess a wide range of expertise and an impressive wealth of knowledge across diverse industries. This equips them to effectively guide and support projects of any scale, industry, or facility maturity level. Teaming up with CFT empowers ESL to now provide our customers with exceptional levels of support and expertise in these newly covered states. CFT’s extensive regional knowledge is especially valuable when it comes to designing and executing new projects.
ESL proudly provides manufacturer representatives throughout the United States to provide technical and customer service support for our Emergency Power and Entertainment Power Solutions products. To find the right representative for your state, check out or rep map here!
Generators and emergency power systems are essential to enabling hospitals and health care facilities to effectively serve their communities
Learning Objectives
Gain a basic understanding of the generators and major components of an emergency power system for hospitals.
Understand the regulatory requirements for an emergency power system for hospitals.
Provide an approach to the design of these systems that accounts for key client and project needs.
Due to constant changes in medical standards of care, technologies and building systems, hospitals have become more reliant on electrical systems to function properly. As such, the reliability of the hospital building’s electrical system is more important than ever.
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code requires every hospital to have two independent power sources that provide a minimum level of reliability: a normal source (i.e., utility) and an alternate source (i.e., generator, fuel cell system or battery system).
Because most health care facilities have traditionally used generators as their alternate source due to runtime and maintenance advantages, this article will focus on generators and essential electrical system (i.e., “emergency power”) design.
For the purposes of this article, the NEC Article 517 term “essential electrical system” and Article 700 term “emergency power system” are synonymous because emergency systems are defined in NEC Article 700, which is applied specifically to hospitals in NEC Article 517.
An emergency system is defined by the NEC as “those systems legally required and classed as emergency by municipal, state, federal and other codes.”
The EPS is the alternate power source, which in this case is the generator(s). The EPSS consists of the conductors, distribution equipment, overcurrent protective devices, transfer switches and all control, supervisory and support equipment needed for the system to operate between the generator and the transfer switch. Conductors, distribution equipment and overcurrent protective devices on the load side of the transfer switches are not considered part of the EPSS per NFPA 110, but are considered part of the overall emergency power system (see Figure 1).
Figure 1
A generator consists of two major components: the engine that provides the mechanical power via a rotating drive shaft and an alternator, which converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy. A transfer switch is an electrical piece of equipment that is configured to connect two incoming power sources (typically the utility source and the generator source) and one outgoing connection to the load(s) using a switching mechanism to select which of the two incoming sources is connected to the load (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Typical generator set configuration with major components identified (this example is an indoor installation).
There are other regulatory bodies, codes and organizations that need to be considered depending on where the project is located:
NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code establishes criteria for levels of health care services to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion and electricity to patients, staffs and visitors.
Reviewing the requirements of these regulatory bodies, codes and publications is recommended at the onset of a new project to determine any project specific impacts as the adopted codes vary by state and local jurisdictions.
Emergency power design considerations
Generators are manufactured with two ratings: prime and standby. A prime rated generator is designed to be operated continuously as the primary source of power for the system, typically used where utility power is not available such as extremely rural locations. A standby rated generator is designed to operate intermittently when the main source of power fails or during generator testing. Emergency power systems for hospitals use generators rated for standby use because the generator is functioning as the alternate source of power.
NFPA 110 requires generators and the EPSS to have a Classification, Type and Level. The “Class” defines the minimum run time in hours. The “Type” defines the maximum time, in seconds, to transfer to the alternate source after power loss. The “Level” defines the risk to human life due to the failure of the system.
Hospital emergency power systems typically must be Class 96 (minimum 96 hours of runtime) or have an operational plan to supply 96 hours of fuel to the site, Type 10 (maximum 10 seconds to transfer) and Level 1 (failure of system could result in loss of human life or serious injuries).
The two common fuel types for hospital generators are No. 2 diesel and natural gas. Typically, hospitals opt to install diesel generators for two primary reasons.
Hospitals are required to either have 96 hours of fuel stored on-site or an agreement to have the additional fuel delivered to maintain 96 hours of continuous runtime (see the Joint Commission’s Emergency Management 96 Hour Plan for details). Natural gas is delivered to the hospital from the utility via underground distribution piping and cannot be stored on-site in the quantities required. Authorities having jurisdiction do not typically consider an off-site fuel source reliable enough to be the sole fuel source for generators (see NEC 700.12(D)(2)).
Emergency generators and the EPSS for hospitals are required to be NFPA 110 Type 10 systems. This requires the system to restore power to the loads in less than 10 seconds. Most natural gas generators are not able to meet this requirement due to the time it takes the generator engine to start.
Generators can be installed indoors or outdoors. Indoor installations have the advantage of being better protected from weather and vehicular traffic and provide ease of maintenance but are typically a higher first cost. The generator room needs to be designed to account for the substantial airflow required to both cool the generators and provide combustion air to the generator. Ideally the air intake is at the back of the room and air discharge is at the front to promote proper airflow over the engine block to facilitate engine cooling. Rooms with air intake or discharge from above or one side of the room may create cooling issues and should be avoided. Design also needs to consider the acoustical impact of the generators at both the air intake and discharge locations. Generators create a lot of noise and sound attenuation within the room may be required to meet local ordinances or hospital requirements (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: Example of an indoor (left) and outdoor (right) generator installation
Outdoor installations typically have a lower first cost but are not as accessible and may be susceptible to degradation of the equipment over time if not properly protected. Typically, a generator installed outdoors will have a weather-proof enclosure with dampers and heating elements to keep the environment within the enclosure controlled to an extent. The enclosure also may have a sub-base tank for fuel storage, sound attenuation or raised personnel platforms depending on the specific requirements of the project. The self-contained nature of an outdoor generator can be advantageous as the issues with ventilation and fuel oil delivery are simplified.
Emergency power distribution equipment
The complete essential electrical system, as defined by NEC Article 517, consists of the EPSS (i.e., everything between the transfer switch and the generator, including the transfer switch) and the switchboards, panels, transformers, feeders and overcurrent protective devices that are connected to the load side of the transfer switch.
In hospitals, the essential electrical system is divided into three separate branches per NEC Article 517: life safety, critical and equipment. Each branch has its own automatic transfer switch, or switches depending on the size of the system, to segregate power distribution in the hospital:
The life safety branch is limited to circuits essential to life safety and include illumination of means of egress, exit signs, select alarm and alerting systems, communication systems, generator set accessories, elevators and select automatic doors.
The critical branch is primary reserved for systems and equipment that are essential to patient care and safety and include, but is not limited to, task illumination and receptacles patient care spaces, nurse call systems, clinical information technology systems and select power circuits needed for effective hospital operation.
The equipment branch primarily consists of mechanical equipment required for effective hospital operation and typically includes air handling units, pumps, boilers, chillers, medical vacuum/compressed air equipment, kitchen equipment and any other optional loads the hospital considers necessary to maintain the facility when utility power is lost.
Transfer switches can be either automatic, nonautomatic or manual. Hospitals primarily use automatic transfer switches, which transfers to generator without personnel input. However, nonautomatic and manual transfer switches are used for optional loads when automatic transfer is not required or desired due to available generator capacity.
The difference between nonautomatic and manual is nonautomatic has an automatic transfer mechanism, but transfer requires personnel to initiate; manual requires personnel to physically move a mechanism by hand from one source to the other.
Automatic transfer switches have three transition types. Open transition is the most common in hospitals and disconnects from the primary source of power (utility) before connecting to the alternate source (generator), also known as “break before make.” Delayed transition is similar to open transition but has a built-in time delay where it is disconnected from both sources for an extended period and is most commonly used for mechanical equipment to allow time for motors to slow down before connecting to another source of power.
Closed transition is less common due to utility company approval needed before installation because closed transition briefly parallels utility with the generator(s). Closed transition will briefly connect to both sources before disconnecting from one source or “make before break.” The advantage is the facility does not experience a brief “blip” in power during monthly generator tests or when transferring from generator back to utility power.
Pictured: 3-Way Manual Transfer Switch includes three breakers which allow the permanent generator to be simultaneously connected to both a load bank (permanent generator testing) and the ATS
Many hospitals require automatic transfer switches to have bypass isolation. Bypass isolation is a switch provided with two switching mechanisms configured so that one switch can be removed and worked on in a safe manner while the other switching mechanism provides power to the loads. The design needs to consider the increased footprint and cost for bypass isolation switches over transfer switches with a single switching mechanism.
Common emergency power system configurations
There are two common system configurations that most hospitals use: standalone and paralleled systems. A standalone system consists of a single generator with transfer switches separating life safety, critical and equipment branch loads. The generator starts when a start signal is received from any of the transfer switches and each transfer switch will transfer to generator power once the switch senses the generator source has reached system voltage and frequency.
The advantage of a standalone system is typically lower first cost in comparison to a similarly sized multi-generator configuration as well as less complicated controls. The disadvantage is failure of the singular generator results in the facility having no backup power to essential loads during the utility outage. In addition, the standalone system has no ability to shed less critical loads if the generator is unable to keep up with the demand load of the facility during the utility outage unless a building automation system interface is provided to monitor real-time load on the generator and shutdown select equipment when it senses the generator is reaching peak capacity. This additional feature will add cost to the project if implemented, which needs to be considered during design.
A paralleled configuration consists of two or more generators connected in parallel to a common bus with multiple transfer switches. Once a start signal is sent by a transfer switch, the first generator to reach rated voltage and frequency will close to the bus. Transfer switches will start transferring to the generator source and subsequent generators will close to the common bus once they reach voltage/frequency and are synchronized with the first generator.
The advantage of paralleled configuration is it provides equipment redundancy in the event a generator fails to start or is offline for repairs. Additionally, the system is able to load shed lower priority transfer switches (i.e., disconnect them from the generator source) if the generators are unable to keep up with the demand load. This prevents a complete outage to the facility and ensures the most critical loads remain operational.
Electrical system redundancy
Hospitals are constantly preparing for the worst-case scenario to ensure they deliver the highest level of care to their patients. Equipment and system redundancy is a priority. It is recommended that designers discuss equipment and system configurations that provide inherent redundancy with the client to ensure the design meets the client’s redundancy requirements and project budget.
For generators, a common configuration is to provide the quantity of generators that provide N+1 redundancy in the event one of the generators fails to start or is offline for repair. For example, if a facility has a peak demand load of 900 kilowatts and the hospital wants N+1 redundancy, providing three 500-kilowatt generators in a paralleled configuration would meet the redundancy goal.
Another strategy to improve the resiliency of the essential electrical system is to separate critical or equipment branches of emergency power into “Critical A” and “Critical B,” each having its own automatic transfer switch. This limits the potential outage to the facility due to a catastrophic failure to a transfer switch or other distribution equipment on that branch of power. It also allows for critical care areas of the hospital to be connected entirely to emergency power while maintaining two separate sources of power which is required by code.
Generator fuel
As previously noted, No. 2 fuel oil is the most common fuel source for hospital emergency generators. Typically, a hospital will have a minimum of 96 hours of fuel on-site, and may have less if complying with the Joint Commission’s Emergency Management 96 Hour Plan or in a local jurisdiction that has a less stringent requirement.
Depending on the utility’s reliability, the generators may only run 15 to 20 hours a year to meet the monthly/yearly testing requirements for each generator. This results in fuel that may sit for extended periods before being used. To avoid degradation of the quality of fuel, most hospitals will install a fuel polishing system to remove water and other particulates from the fuel oil. If a centralized tank is installed to serve multiple generators, a fuel oil pumping system will supply and return fuel to the generator day tanks that are located at each generator.
Modifications, upgrades to existing electrical systems
When designing a generator or emergency power system upgrade for an existing hospital, phasing and outages need to be considered at the outset of the design as they can have a huge impact on hospital operations. Hospitals cannot afford to shut down critical services at any time.
Although outages are unavoidable with a major system upgrade, discussions with hospital administration and key personnel early in the design is crucial as it may require a different design approach to meet the project goals and maintain the facility during construction.
Generators and emergency power systems are an essential system in hospitals to ensure the operational impact of a utility outage is minimal. As health care facilities and staff continue to adapt to the latest standards of care, the need for more robust and reliable emergency power systems will be required.
When initiating the design of a new emergency power system or upgrade to an existing system, owners and design professionals need to be in constant communication to ensure the design aligns with the project goals, budget and hospital’s operational priorities.
Emergency generators and the design of power systems play a crucial role in ensuring reliable power is provided at each facility by providing an alternate source of power in the event the utility source is interrupted.
Announcing DualConnect™, ESL’s New Dual Purpose Docking Station
CORONA, California, October 22, 2021 – ESL Power Systems provides a number of solutions for the growing market to both load bank test, and provide temporary back up to a permanent generator.
For over 10 years, the ESL TripleSwitch® has provided the leading solution to perform both of these functions, and meets the required NEC codes for this application. ESL is now excited to announce the addition of yet another UL 1008 Listed Emergency Power Connection Solution, The DualConnect™ Dual Purpose Docking Station!
Available from 400 to 5,000 amps and rated up to 65kAIC@600VAC, ESL is now the only manufacturer that can provide a complete line of UL 1008 Listed Emergency Power Connection Solutions for all your design needs.
The TripleSwitch is the cost effective, most user-friendly solution for new construction design or adding a permanent generator to an existing facility. Utilizing the (3) circuit breakers necessary for this type of application, it provides the overcurrent protection and safety interlock between permanent and portable generator, without the need for key locks or breakers in separate locations.
The standard TripleSwitch is configured with an AUX Contact for the remote annunciator. It is also provided with -a shunt trip on the load bank breaker, to dump the power to the load bank, in case utility power is lost during a load bank test. This meets the requirements of NEC Code 2017 700.3 (F).
However, there are applications where multiple generators or existing generators need the ability to be load bank tested and also have provision for a connection of a back-up temporary, portable generator. For these projects ESL’s DualConnect – Dual Purpose Docking Station is the right solution for the application.
Where multiple generators are utilized, the design will typically include the necessary switchgear and controls to selectively perform your load bank test or temporary back-up of the permanent generator. In addition, many existing permanent generators need back-up and the capability to do lower cost portable load bank connection.
300A DualConnect™
Having a single unit to quickly connect a portable load bank or portable generator while using the existing switchgear overcurrent protection when possible minimizes the total project cost and redundant overcurrent devices.
The Dual Connect – Dual Purpose Docking Station provides the flexibility needed to meet your design criteria and is highly customizable with various optional features. Depending on the emergency back-up system design for multiple or existing generators, the DualConnect is available in three different versions.
No Breaker: Where all the controls and/or breakers are currently in the emergency power system. The interlock between the permanent generator and temporary back-up generator is accomplished by a key interlock between an appropriate designated breaker and the DualConnect portable generator cable access door.
One Breaker: Provides overcurrent protection to the unit and functions as the disconnect for both the load bank and portable generator cams. The interlock between the permanent generator and temporary back-up generator is accomplished by a key interlock between an appropriate designated breaker and the DualConnect portable generator cable access door.
Two Breakers: Provides overcurrent protection to the unit and functions as the disconnects for both the load bank and portable generator cams. The interlock between the permanent generator and temporary back-up generator is accomplished by a key interlock between an appropriate designated breaker and the portable generator breaker in the DualConnect. All of ESL’s DualConnect units with 2 breakers can be configured to meet NEC700.3(F) if required.
A 100% employee owned company, ESL Power Systems, Inc. is an innovative global leader in the design and manufacturing of cord-connected electrical equipment for industrial and commercial applications and is also the premier custom control panel builder in Southern California.
Media Contact: Erika Thorson ESL Power Systems, Inc. 2800 Palisades Dr. Corona, CA 92878 +1 (951) 739-7000 ethorson@eslpwr.com https://eslpwr.com
Natural events have become a common occurrence in many parts of the US with a growing number of devastating natural disasters occurring in recent years. Preparing your business for emergency back-up power in the midst of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, hurricane, ice storm or flood is crucial for business continuity.
Earthquakes
In the US alone, the National Earthquake Information Center locates about 12,000-14,000 earthquakes per year. Globally there are approximately 55 earthquakes per day averaging out to 20,000 a year!
During an earthquake, a building’s emergency equipment may inevitably experience vigorous shaking and movement depending on the magnitude. Acquiring back-up equipment that is OSHPD “OSP” Special Seismic Certified provides enormous value in knowing your equipment has been shaker-table tested and certified to endure major earthquakes without fail. However, earthquakes aren’t just about shaky buildings, earthquakes also have the power to cause damage to electrical grids and powerlines. When either of the two are down, electricity and power can go out resulting in a loss of power to your business. This ultimately results in loss revenues, product and production to name a few. Where critical facilities are concerned, this could mean life or death.
Wind and Storms
High winds from hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe storms affect emergency power every year and are one of the most common causes of power outages. In 2020, NOAA reported a record-breaking 30 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 13 became hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or greater), including six major hurricanes (top winds of 111 mph or greater). 2020 became the year with the most storms ever recorded in the continental United States. A report from Climate Central states that 44 percent of power outages are caused by storm events which negatively impact businesses and homes.
Strong winds tend to blow large debris resulting in broken power lines and utility poles. They can also cause lines to swing together which can result in short circuiting utility power. Strong winds are also traced to the cause of wildfires. Utility companies have begun to implement “Public Safety Power Shutoffs” in order to tackle the event of severe winds and prevent wildfires from occurring. With consistent power outages during severe winds, businesses are forced to find alternatives to utility power in order to keep the lights on during these long shutoffs.
Ice Storms
Ice storms fall into the “winter weather” category and occur in the U.S. primarily during the months of December and January. Also known as freezing rain, these storms occur when rain freezes and accumulates on surfaces such as trees, power lines, and the ground.
Severe damage to trees and power lines begins when ice accumulates between a quarter- and half-inch. When these ice droplets accumulate onto powerlines it can add up to 500 pounds of extra weight. With the amount of weight added by ice layers, trees and utility lines tend to fall and result in damage to roads, homes, and businesses. It can take quite a while for trees to be removed from roads and powerlines to be repaired, this can result in a loss of electricity and heat for many days. In January 2020, an Atlanta ice storm left half a million people without power, some for more than a week while utility companies tried to repair lines. Estimated total losses reported for this storm reached upwards of $48 million. In mid-December of 2020, an ice storm left more than 500,000 without power in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. At the time, it was called one of the most destructive ice storms seen to the electrical utility infrastructure in those areas. In February 2021 more than 700,000 people were without power due to ice storms in eight states including Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Knowing that ice storms can last up to a few days, preparing ahead of time is the best decision. Businesses with back-up power solutions are able to sustain these winter events and keep the lights and heat on when it is needed the most.
Floods
According to the department of agriculture, ninety percent of all natural disasters in the United States involve flooding. Additionally, high-risk flood areas are not the only ones at risk, about 25% of flood insurance claims come from moderate-to low-risk areas.
Floods are caused by spring thaw resulting in the overflow of rivers, waterways, dams, etc. They are also caused by coastal flooding due to hurricanes, tropical storms, and heavy rains. Flood surges that occurred in Hurricanes such as Sandy and Katrina severely affected emergency power. Flood damage poses one of the greatest risks to on-site power.
Considering the location of your emergency back-up equipment is paramount when planning for possible flood-damage. The lowest level of a building is the most likely to flood knocking out emergency power distribution equipment, such as transfer switches, rendering switches inoperable. Organizations such as Medical facilities and Universities have begun mounting back-up equipment on the second floor keeping all equipment dry and operational during a flood.
Natural disasters are in abundance. All the U.S. incurs some sort of natural disaster that knocks out power daily. Designing on-site emergency power back-up systems is crucial to business survival and recovery.
Many questions arise when beginning your first emergency power connection equipment project. ESL has put together some Frequently Asked Questions from customers throughout the years to assist as you move forward with choosing your back up power solution.
General
Q: How do I know what product will best work with my specific needs? A: ESL’s knowledgeable sales personnel will gladly assist with helping to identify the proper product for your application. The key factors will be the voltage system and the desired emergency load that is to be fed.
Q: What is UL 1008 and how does it affect me?
A: Local building inspectors typically require all new electrical equipment installed in their jurisdiction to be “Listed” which means the equipment has been approved by Underwriter Laboratories or another recognized test lab. For standby systems that allow portable generator connection, UL 1008 is the proper standard to comply to. If the equipment is not Listed, it may not be acceptable to the inspector.
Q:Is it difficult to make the generator connection to the StormSwitch®, TripleSwitch® or TempTap® product line?
A: No, they utilize the industry standard 400A series 16 cam-style connectors. ESL’s StormSwitch, TripleSwitch and TempTap are color-coded to the voltage, e.g. 208Y/120 green, white, black, red, blue.
Q:Do the generators have the same color-coded plugs that the StormSwitch, TempTap, and TripleSwitch have? A: ESL cannot guarantee that. Industry standard is green for ground, white for neutral, and typically black for “A” phase, red for “B” phase and blue for “C” phase. When entering in an agreement for generator service, it is recommended that you request the aforementioned color-coding for the cams.
StormSwitch
Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a manual transfer switch with a portable generator versus an automatic transfer switch with a permanent generator? A: Advantages:
Significantly lower cost
No on-site fuel storage required
No maintenance or standard periodic testing
Easier installation – days instead of weeks
Smaller size
Portable generator can be rented or used at other facilities
Permanent generator requires multiple permits
Disadvantages:
Longer time before generator power is established
Q: Can the StormSwitch be Service Entrance Rated?
A: Yes, the StormSwitch has the option to be SUSE (Suitable for Use as Service Entrance in the USA). This option should only be used when the StormSwitch is installed at the building service entrance.
Q: What is the reason an additional circuit breaker is available with the purchase of a StormSwitch?
A: Circuit breakers provide over current protection; switches do not. If the supplied generator does not have built in over current protection, then it is recommended that the generator disconnect and the StormSwitch be equipped with a circuit breaker rather than a switch. Also depending on your specific application, you may or may not need over current protection on the utility side. Again, ESL’s knowledgeable Sales personnel will gladly help you in deciding what combination works best for your application.
Q: How does the StormSwitch compare to a standard “double-throw” or “double-key” transfer box?
A: The traditional “safety switch” and/or “double-throw” switches do not provide the over current protection option that is available in ESL’s StormSwitch. These “safety switch” and/or “double-throw” switches are intended for “hard wiring” and therefore would require a licensed electrician (difficult to find one available as they are in high demand during power outages) to connect and disconnect the generator.
Q: What is a TempTap? A; Also referred to as a docking station or tap box, ESL’s TempTap is a means for direct connection from the generator to the building’s switchgear.
Q: Is there any protection offered in a TempTap?
A: Locking doors and internal connection points to keep unauthorized persons from the device. The TempTap is designed to be a safe and simple pass-through box mounted to the outside of a building. It should be used in conjunction with a with a transfer switch or a utility disconnect.
TripleSwitch
Q: What is the TripleSwitch designed to do?
A: The UL 1008 Listed TripleSwitch was designed to simplify and reduce the cost of load bank testing procedures and to provide a backup for the permanent generator. This unique 3-way manual transfer switch system provides a quick and completely safe way with mechanically interlocked breakers to supply power to the facility from a portable emergency standby generator in the event the utility power is disrupted due to a power loss when the permanent generators are offline.
Q: I know it’s easy to show the ease of use and the safety aspects of the TripleSwitch, but are there other advantages as well? A: Yes, an added benefit is a reduction in down time when connecting and disconnecting for load bank testing. Having quick connect cam locks for connecting the portable load bank means set up time is reduced to minutes not hours.
Q: How difficult is this to install a TripleSwitch on a job site? A: Being UL1008 Listed means the TripleSwitch is built in an enclosure designed to provide the proper bend radius and space for the cable amperage being used. The TripleSwitch is an integrated unit with all necessary breakers and cam-lock connections. This means the contractor is installing one unit thus reducing conduit runs and cable lengths as opposed to alternative multiple unit and switchgear solutions that would require multiple conduit runs.
Q: Can I install the TripleSwitch with an existing permanent generator? A: Yes, very easily. Being an integrated unit, you typically do not need to design-in new breakers and interlock methods. It is a drop-in solution connecting into the existing connection between the ATS and permanent generator.
ESL’s knowledgeable sales personnel is here to answer any additional questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us! ESL is always here to help!
