Ensure safety and continuous emergency power in commercial applications

Automatic transfer switches serve to transfer electrical loads from a preferred power source to an alternate source when the preferred source's voltage and/or frequency varies from preset limits. The switches also retransfer loads when optimal voltage and frequency in the preferred source is restored. Long used in mission-critical, life safety applications like healthcare facilities to ensure continuous power supply, the switches can also provide an important function in commercial applications during outages. Commercial-duty switches understandably deliver fewer features than mission-critical ones; however, the commercial-duty switches are not always built to the same standards of quality and reliability. Russelectric, A Siemens Business, an industry leader in the design, manufacture, and support of mission-critical automatic transfer switches, has responded to this need within the industry by developing an ATS, the RTSCD, that offers the well-known and respected Russelectric quality and factory support in a simpler, easier to manufacture and maintain, and more affordable package.

Basics of automatic transfer switches

An ATS is put in place to sense for a loss of normal power from the usual power source, typically utility power supplied through power distribution equipment. When this loss of power is sensed, the ATS switches the building's electrical loads to secondary source, typically a generator. The ATS awaits the return of normal power, at which point it transitions the electrical loads back. All of this is done with little to no input from technicians, particularly in simpler commercial applications.

Although light industrial, commercial, and residential applications for automatic transfer switches, like multi-family housing units, schools, office buildings, universities, and other campus environments, do not require the same sophisticated features that are found in top-of-the-line ATS design, they must still be reliable, easy to operate, and supported by technical experts for maintenance and repair.

These applications also tend to require smaller footprints in electrical equipment, as the pressure to shrink electrical rooms in order to use space to drive revenue grows in a number of industries. The market for commercial automatic transfer switches is currently growing faster than that of mission-critical systems, and the widespread demand for a low up-front cost alternative to mission-critical equipment has driven lower quality engineering and design in the market.


Developing a commercial-grade option with mission-critical quality

Recognizing both the growing demand for commercial-duty ATS systems and the lack of reliability and support in a number of low-cost options on the market, market leader Russelectric decided to adapt their industry standard, mission-critical ATS technology to lower demand - and lower cost - applications. The resulting RTSCD ATS was designed with similar design features to existing mission critical ATS systems, ensuring consistency across the company's overall product offerings.

Rated for applications with current of 400 amps or less, the RTSCD delivers a lower price point than in the mission-critical space. The lower amperage applications require less complicated technology for automatic switching. The RTSCD features a smaller footprint, fewer individual part scripts within the product for simpler manufacturing and maintenance, and a simpler overall design with fewer features. Even so, it is available in open-transition and delayed-transition formats, and offers a manual transfer option with rapid arc interruption.

"Throughout the industry, we kept hearing from end users who wanted the same kind of quality of design that they have come to expect in mission-critical technology, but for lower amperages and at a lower cost," said [Insert Name], [Insert Official Title] at Russelectric. "Hearing that demand, we offer the RTSCD, with the same technology, design foundation, and quality that contractors, consultants, and technicians have come to expect and rely upon."

Safety and maintenance

Of course, there is some danger inherent to all automatic transfer switch applications and operation, regardless of in a commercial or mission-critical space, as in all power switching applications. The RTSCD, like other Russelectric ATS designs, features operation from the front of the system for increased safety, as well as contacts that are also easily accessible and inspectable from the front of the unit.

Even more so than other, heavier-duty and higher-amperage designs, the RTSCD is engineered for ease of startup and operation to avoid the possibility of operator errors. Unlike mission-critical ATS products, the RTSCD can be started up by users themselves without the need for an OEM technician. The simplified design also benefits end users in terms of maintenance; with fewer components and especially fewer moving parts than mission-critical ATS designs, there is a lower chance of failure and fewer parts that require preventative maintenance. Fewer requirements to maintain the unit also improves operator safety.

Conclusion

As the need for more commercial-duty automatic transfer switches continues to grow, and more commercial, residential, and light industrial buildings begin to incorporate these products for electrical switching in the case of interrupted power supply, it has become clear that the push for low costs has created an issue of unreliable and lower-quality products. Recognizing the need for low-amperage but high-quality ATS technology, Russelectric has developed its RTSCD switch to maintain the critical functioning and factory support of its industry-leading ATS designs, but with simpler design and manufacturing and lower costs. The RTSCD is also designed to maintain safety and reduce maintenance demands in these important but non-mission-critical applications.