GenTran KIT3026 Prewired Manual Transfer Switch Kit for 6-10 Circuits and Generators up to 7500-Watt
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of GenTran KIT3026 Prewired Manual Transfer Switch Kit for 6-10 Circuits and Generators up to 7500-Watt
Customer Review: Which transfer switch to get?
Summary: 2 Stars
Well, I needed one of these and checked out both this and Reliance products as a KIT.
My conclusions:
If you're a not so experienced DIY (and even if you are), I think I'd get the Reliance. If you have more experience, you *MIGHT* want the Gentran if your really careful.
Here is why:
The Reliance unit has all 10 circuits PRE-WIRED and clearly marked, fool proof. No need to add circuit wires for more circuits. The Gentran comes with 6 prewired clearly marked circuits, BUT if you want 10, you need to add your own wiring. Believe me, people could mess this up.
In my reading, the majority of folks use or wish they had 10 circuits available from go, GET a 10 circuit model unless you are only doing a really small cabin or something.
Now the GenTran KIT has an advantage in that you can "customize" the circuit breaker selections to suit your needs. For example, you can choose how many extra 15 or 20 amp circuits you want in any combination. And if you really needed to run a 30 amp load, you could put a standard 30 amp breaker in this and run it (I would not do the 30 Amp due to load balancing issues but it could be done).
You can't do this with the Reliance KIT as it has its own special breakers in it. People claim that having standard breakers is the only way to go. I say this is nice, but it's likely over rated in this situation. First, how often do breakers go bad? It does happen, but it's not likely to happen on a Gen unit that you use only on occasion in most cases. Can the Reliance breakers be changed? I don't know but I would think so but you would have to order them I guess to have on hand.
Reliance DOES offer a non-KIT unit that uses standard breakers if you are up for that.
Now the main reason I'd go Reliance and NOT GenTran here is because of a safety concern I have noted.
The GenTran install instructions show that you are ABONDONING the breakers that will go into the transfer panel. Well, this my friends could kill somebody!!!!
Here's how: The circuits you move to the transfer panel are abandoned in the main panel. This means that to shut them off, you now need to shut them off from the transfer panel. If people LEAVE THE ABONDONED breakers in the main panel, even a qualified electrician might overlook the transfer panel, go to work on a circuit labeled in the main panel by shutting off that abandoned breaker, only to find that the circuit is still live maybe after their heart already stopped!
Yes, really safe people would shut off the main breaker, but many people could miss this little tid bit and if you're not in the habit of testing wires even after you popped a breaker, you could kill yourself with a zap of 120!
You MUST know that the transfer circuits are now only controlled from the Transfer panel breaker and NOT the main panel!!!
NOT GOOD! The reliance kit does not have this problem. All breakers are still controlled from the MAIN panel.
Next, the GenTran "operation" is not the easiest thing to remember. First shut off all breakers in the transfer panel, then start & plug in generator, then turn on main, then turn on circuits, Oh, if you had some trans circuits off while on Gen, you need to turn those back on when utility power comes back, after shutting off the Transfer main...err what? I'm confused.
Reliance is goof-proof. Start your generator, plug in, switch on your circuits from LINE to GEN, DONE. Utility power comes back, switch them back. YOU CAN'T mess it up.
For me, Reliance wins for these reasons, it's GOOF PROOF. And, if I want standard breakers, you can get a reliance unit that takes them. (but not as a kit, so it will cost more for all items)
Cost wise, the GenTran is like $30 cheaper, not worth the possible safty problem to me.
Thanks,
MP
Customer Review: can create problems at state electrical inspection
Summary: 1 Stars
The new code requires circuits or breakers that share a neutral be paired together and the handles on those breakers be tied together. With the use of ½ size breakers this makes that task almost imposable. And because of the pairing thing you now have to bring circuits into the generator panel that you don't want. (cutting down on the number "needed" gen circuits) Before the code change this panel rocked now the time on the install side has tripled and the usable spaces reduced! I just can't suggest them any more.
Its the battle of UL verses State Electrical they both view it differently and as a Electrical Contractor I cannot afford to get in the middle. Time is money!
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