Generator Quick-Connect Double-Throw Safety …

1 Generator Quick-Connect Double-Throw Safety Switch Product Focus 2006 Eaton CorporationAll Rights ReservedPrinted in USAP ublication No. BR00801003E / Z3929 February 2006 Eaton Electrical Cherrington ParkwayMoon Township, PA 15108 United Statestel: is a registered trademark ofAppleton Electric. Crouse-Hinds, Posi-Lok andCam-Lok are federally registered trademarksof Cooper Industries. Cutler-Hammer is a federally registered trademark of EatonCorporation. Russellstoll is a registered trademark of Thomas & Betts s electrical business is a global leader in electricalcontrol, power distribution, and industrial automation productsand services. Through advanced product development, world-class manufacturing methods, and global engineering servicesand support, Eaton s electrical business provides customer-driven solutions under brand names such as Cutler-HammerT,PowerwareT, DurantT, HeinemannT, HolecTand MEMT, whichglobally serve the changing needs of the industrial, utility,light commercial, residential, and OEM markets.

2 For moreinformation, visit Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with2005 sales of $ billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systemsand components for power quality, distribution and control; fluidpower systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment;intelligent truck drivetrain systems for Safety and fuel economy; andautomotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions andspecialty controls for performance, fuel economy and Safety . Eaton has59,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 more information, visit PowerSolutions forCommercialFacilitiesThe Power is Out!Blackouts. Hurricanes.

3 Thunderstorms. Snow. Icestorms. Floods. High winds. Whether they are causedby a utility power interruption or weather disasters,power outages are frequent occurrences throughoutthe country. If you are responsible for maintainingcommercial facilities, power reliability is likely to be areal concern. Whether you want to maintain uptime,or are worried about losing perishable inventory,chances are the thought of power reliability hascrossed your mind recently maybe even causingyou a few sleepless the decision to providebackup power capability to yourfacilities is the first step, and hasprobably raised many questions:Do you need standby systemsthat automatically start whenthere is an outage, or will youuse portable units?

4 What sizegenerator is suitable for yourneeds? How do you safely connect a portable Generator to the store s electrical system?If you have decided to useportable units, will you own thegenerators, or rent them asneeded?These are just a few ofthe questions that need to beanswered in order to meet yourunique power the decision has been made to use portable generators ratherthan investing in permanentlyinstalled standby units, this product guide will assist you inthe critical step of preparing yourfacilities to be able to quicklyconnect the generators oncethey arrive at the site. Like the utility power lines thatenter the facility, the portablegenerator will need a point ofconnection.

5 The time to thinkabout how that connection willbe made is now before thepower is out. Also, a plan needsto be in place that considers yourcustomers and employees Safety , yet allows for a quickconnection of the Generator toyour facility to get the facilitypowered up with a minimalamount of downtime. Installing a Cutler-HammerTQuick- connect double -ThrowSwitch as your utility service disconnecting means up frontprovides both a quick means ofgenerator connection, and a safeway to transfer power from anormal power source to thebackup power 1 Determine therequirements for Main Service DisconnectA facility will generally have oneutility service disconnect.

6 Thisdisconnect may be inside or outside, but it will be the firstdevice after the utility double -ThrowSwitches are available up to 800 amperes. If the service foryour facility is larger than 800amperes, another solution fromEaton is required. Generally, afusible device is preferred first to provide overcurrent protection, and second becausefusible devices have a higherfault current rating than non-fused switches. Step 2 Determine the Generator size in kilowatts(kW) that will meet yourrequirements While some facility managersmay desire to run the entireoperation under generatorpower, it is not a requirement todo so. You may choose to runonly a critical portion of yourfacility during a power important component in thedecision is whether you want tokeep the whole facility operatingas it would with utility-suppliedpower.

7 The chart on page 3 is ananalysis of the output current ofvarious sizes of generators at different voltages. If the desire is to run the entire facility, thegenerator required is the onethat provides a current ratingequal to the ampacity of yourMain Service Disconnect at the facility s utilization example, a 600 ampere 208 volt three-phase buildingwould best be served by using a 175 kW 3 Determine whetherthe backup generators will beowned or rented If the units will be rented, it will be helpful to make contactwith a Generator rental companyto see what form of agreementis required to guarantee thedelivery of the Generator to the facility in a timely manner.

8 The rental company will helpdetermine the right size Generator to meet the neededrequirements, and may make a site visit to analyze the location and any potential connection issues. One point of discussion shouldbe which party will provide thecables to connect the generatorto the facility. If the rental company is going to provide the wires to connect , it is important to determine whattype of Quick-Connect devicethey can provide to plug into the facility s electrical system. Cutler-Hammer quick -ConnectDouble-Throw Switches areavailable with Cam-LokT, Posi-LokTand pin-and-sleeve devicesfrom various manufacturersincluding Crouse-HindsT,AppletonT, Meltric, RussellstollTand others.

9 Since these devicesare not generally interchange-able, it is important that the plugand receptacle are the generators will be purchased, Eaton can help guide you through the decisionof selecting the appropriate connector for your 4 Configure a Quick-Connect double - Throw Switch Call the Flex Center at Eaton sCleveland, Tennessee manufac-turing plant for assistance indesigning a suitable switch forthe application. A double -throwswitch is a manual device thatconsists of two interlockedswitches that cannot be "ON" at the same time. The switchesare vertically oriented with the upper switch being the"NORMAL" switch, and thelower switch being the "BACKUP POWER" switch.

10 For Quick-Connect Double-Throw Switches, Flex Centertechnicians connect wires fromthe line side of the "BACKUPPOWER" switch to a power inlet receptacle. This allows agenerator to be plugged into theswitch via a receptacle ratherthan opening the switch, andhard wiring cables directly to the lugs. The receptacle can be apin-and-sleeve device that con-nects all wires simultaneously, orit can be an individual receptaclesuch as a Cam-Lok or Posi-Lokthat connects each wire individually. There are benefitsand drawbacks to using each of these devices. Pin-and-sleeve devices ensurethat all cables are connectedsince they are inserted simulta-neously. However, since all ofthe cables are bundled together,the weight of the connectioncable can become unwieldy athigher amperages.