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The Vital Role of Electrical Disconnects
Jul
When everything is going as planned, electrical disconnects are easy to overlook. However, what if it’s time to install new electrical equipment, shut down your system during an emergency, or the power goes out? Then, your safety switch quickly becomesthemost important piece of equipment on site.
Electricity isn’t something you want to take chances with. Short circuits and overloads can escalate in seconds, but that’s where a disconnect comes in. They provide you with an easy way to instantly open and close circuits, so you can keep your team and downstream equipment safe. High-quality disconnects give you control during chaos. Once you need it, you’ll be glad it’s there.
We offer several types of disconnects that are engineered to tackle both planned and unplanned outages without compromising the safety of you and your team. We understand that choosing the right equipment can be tricky, so we’re here to make it easy for you. In this article, we’ll break down our disconnects to help you compare features and decide which option best fits your needs.
Exploring Electrical Disconnects
How do you choose the right electrical disconnect? In simple terms, your application will dictate what features and specifications you need. Whether you’re powering down your system for equipment repairs or dealing with a power outage, you need a disconnect that’s safe, efficient, and built to handle real-world demands. Each type of switch has its own strengths and special features. So, let’s take some time to break things down:
Quick Connection Switch
Looking for a fuss-free installation and straightforward switching capabilities? Then our single-throw Quick Connection Switch (QCS) is the way to go! It’s fitted with our Series 16 quick-connect Camlock Panel, which eliminates the need for complex wiring or expensive modifications. It has a built-in front rotary handle with an integrated ABB switching mechanism for easy power control. We even included a lockable door to keep out unauthorized personnel and prevent accidental exposure to live wires.
Key Features and Variations:
- Available up to 1200A
- Impressively low 0-3 week lead time
- Weather resistant NEMA 3R enclosure
- Offered in multiple voltage ratings, fusible or non-fused, and line or load cam wiring options
What Makes It Unique?
The QCS provides no-nonsense cable connections and on/off switching capabilities. While it’s a cost-effective and reliable safety switch, it’s not designed to switch between power sources (utility and generator) like other types of switches that we’ll discuss later in this article.
Company Switch
If you’re powering gear for a concert, trade show, or film shoot, our Company Switch is the high-performance electrical disconnect you’ve been looking for! Much like the QCS, our Company Switch offers a front-mounted rotary handle, a bottom-mounted Camlock Panel located inside of the unit with a lockable door. It’s available with a molded case breaker, 80% rated breaker, 100% rated breaker, or a fused switch to offer you a tailored solution depending on your site’s electrical needs.
Key Features and Variations:
- Available in 60A, 100A, 200A, and 400A
- UL 891 Listed for world-class performance
- Double neutral available for balancing heavy loads
- Double neutral and ground or single neutral and ground configurations are available
What Makes It Unique?
The bottom compartment has a lockable door with cable slots to keep your connections protected, and its LED indicators will light up when your Company Switch is energized. It’s also available with molded case breakers that can easily be reset after tripping for repeated use. The QCS, however, offers a non-fused or fusible disconnect switch, so if you require overcurrent protection and it trips, you’ll need to replace the fuses.
Camlock Connection Switch
Need an easy way to switch between power sources? Well, our double-throw switch makes it easy. With one quick pull of its lever, you can toggle between two power sources, such as utility and generator power. It also prevents backfeeding by cutting off one power source before switching to the other. This helps you to keep utility workers and your equipment safe. This double-throw switch is often referred to as a manual transfer switch.
Key Features and Variations:
- Bottom-mounted quick connecting Camlock Panel with clear snap back covers or cap and lanyard covers
- Available in 100A to 3000A configurations
- Choose between NEMA 3R (standard), NEMA 12, and NEMA 4X stainless steel enclosures
- Single-throw, fusible or non-fusible and switched, solid, or no neutral options are available
What Makes It Unique?
This double-throw manual transfer switch lets you safely switch between power sources during a blackout, which lets you stay in full control of when and how power is transferred. It’s a reliable and budget-friendly electrical disconnect that’s perfect for commercial, industrial, and temporary setups that need dependable backup power.
TruONE Automatic Transfer Switch
Our Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) comes equipped with built-in sensors that detect when your main power source fails and instantly switches your infrastructure to backup power. That quick response makes it a top choice for places like hospitals, airports, and data centers where even a moment without power isn’t an option. It also has dual voltage sensing capabilities, so it can operate at two different voltage levels to provide you with some extra flexibility while you’re out in the field.
Key Features and Variations:
- Available with a portable frame that has fork pockets and lifting eyes for easy transportation
- Includes a human-machine interface screen (HMI) that lets you safely operate this unit without having to open its enclosure
- Wall mount, floor mount, and skid mount options are available to meet your needs
What Makes It Unique?
Its all-in-one design really sets it apart. It can run at different voltage levels and gives you the option to switch between automatic and manual operating modes. You can also choose from a comprehensive range of configurations to fit your project’s unique needs. Plus, we designed it to be highly reliable and have a sleek design that saves space without cutting corners on performance.
While we’ve spent this article focusing on our standard configurations, all power solutions featured in this article can be customized to your exact plans and configurations by request!
Not sure where to start? Let our experts guide you to the best fit. Call (866)-825-8525 or email [email protected] to get in touch with our talented team today!