Home standby shutdown switch locations

The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires a method to shut down a generator’s engine so it cannot restart without a manual or mechanical reset of the start circuits. In an emergency, pressing the shutdown button immediately stops the generator and triggers error code 2800. To resolve this code, see What Does It Mean When My Generator Displays an Error Code: Auxiliary Shutdown, Error Code 2800?.

Environment 

This article applies to air-cooled standby generators from 2018 to the present.

Generators with one shutdown switch

• Next Generation series (10–28 kW)

• 7.5 kW PowerPact

• 9–11 kW units

Note: Generators with only one shutdown switch always have it located on the exterior.

Next Generation air-cooled standby generators

Next Generation generators have a single emergency shutdown switch rather than a traditional auxiliary shutdown switch. Unlike previous models, these units do not require a mechanical reset. The switch can be cleared remotely by resetting the error.

Note: Some local codes may require a secondary emergency shut-off switch (G0073620) near the transfer switch. If installed, this secondary switch triggers error code 2801.

Switch location:

• Standard: exterior switch

• Optional (if required by code): secondary switch near the transfer switch if required by local code

 

PowerPact

• Single external auxiliary shutdown switch on the back of the generator's enclosure.
  

9kW - 11kW

• Single external auxiliary shutdown switch on the back of the generator's enclosure.

 

Generators with two auxiliary shutdown switch 

Generators with two auxiliary shutdown switches include all Guardian series air-cooled home standby generators 13kW-26kW 2018 to present. 

Note: These units always have one internal and one external auxiliary shutdown switch. 

13kW - 26kW Guardian series

• Internal switch: located on the dividing panel to the left of the controller

• External switch: located on the back of the generator enclosure 

Additional information 

• Standard on all 7.5–26 kW units from 2018 and newer

• 7.5–11 kW units: single auxiliary shutdown switch on the back of the enclosure

• Next Generation 10–28 kW units: single emergency shutdown switch, with optional secondary emergency switch if required by local code

• Guardian 13–26 kW units: both internal and external auxiliary shutdown switches included

• PowerPact units: turning the switch to OFF triggers a high temp alarm

• Error code 2800: occurs if one or both shutdown switches are in the OFF position