Read the manual thoroughly and understand all of the instructions, cautions, and warnings before using this equipment. If any section of the manual is not understood, contact your nearest authorized dealer, or contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722 (1-888-GENERAC), or www.generac.com with any questions or concerns. 

What are the differences between Service-Entrance Rated Switches and Non-Service Entrance Rated Switches? 

 

Environment

This article applies to all home standby Generac transfer switches.

 

What is the difference between Service Rated and Non-Service Rated?

Service-rated and non-service-rated transfer switches differ primarily in their intended application and not in their functionality or quality. Both are designed to meet safety and electrical requirements for their intended use. 

• Service-rated: These are approved to function as the main electrical panel and include the main electrical disconnect breaker to disconnect power from the whole home. 
• Non-service rated: These are approved for use as a subpanel or secondary panel and do not include a main electrical disconnect as they are connected downstream of the service disconnect. 

 

Which type of transfer switch is better?

• When comparing service and non-service switches, it's not about which is "better" than the other—it's about which best fits the specific needs of a home's electrical configuration and meets electrical code requirements. 
• Both are high-quality, functional solutions; neither is superior overall; they serve different purposes.

 

Will both types of switches function the same?

• Yes! Both service-entrance-rated and non-service-rated transfer switches automatically transfer power from utility power to home standby power during an outage event and back when the utility is restored. 

 

Which type of transfer switch do I need?

• The type of panel required for each home's unique electrical configuration will be influenced by several factors, such as the type of electrical service to the home, the presence of a stand-alone service disconnect, and the type of home backup system.
• Ultimately, the type of transfer switch required for your home will be determined by the local, state, and national electrical codes and requirements.
• For this reason, Generac strongly recommends consulting a Generac Dealer or licensed electrician to assess your home's unique requirements and application. 
  • How Can I Find a Generac Service Dealer in My Area?

 

Service-Entrance Rated Switches

A service-entrance-rated transfer switch sits between utility power and the wiring in the rest of a site. It will be the first disconnect device after the utility meter. This type of transfer switch effectively isolates utility from the site, allowing utility power to be disconnected using a service entrance disconnect switch. These transfer switches will often feature a fuse or circuit breaker that protects the site from over-current. 
 

Service-Entrance Rated Switches with SPD

Generac also offers automatic transfer switches with a built in Surge Protection Device (SPD). For more information on this product, see the article What is a Surge Protection Device?

Non-Service-Entrance Rated Switches

A transfer switch that is not service-entrance rated will not feature a service entrance disconnect switch. With this type of switch, disconnection from utility power occurs in a separate box or in the main panel at the site.