ATS Panels

What are ATS Panels, and what role do they play in a standby power system?

Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) panels – often referred to as Automatic Mains Failure (AMF) panels – automatically facilitate the change over from one power supply to another power supply. This could be switching between 2 mains power supplies or a mains power supply and a generator power supply. Without an ATS / AMF panel in place, this changeover would have to be manually operated via a manual changeover panel which relies on human intervention to operate. This could therefore result in a longer break in power if no one is available to operate the manual switch resulting in a loss of data, damage to electrical equipment, disruptions to communications, manufacturing and everyday activities. To completely remove the risk of any break in power a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system can be installed downstream of the ATS panel and this bridges the gap between the ATS panel switching between 2 mains power supplies or a mains power supply and a generator power supply and your backup generator.

How does an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS panel) work?

An ATS panel is constantly monitoring the incoming AC mains supply and will activate the standby generator if/when the mains power fails by sending it a start signal. The generator will start up and once up to speed will send a signal to the ATS panel to let it know that it is ready to take the load. This process usually takes around 10 – 15 seconds). At this points the ATS panel will automatically transfer the load from the mains power supply to the generating set. When the mains supply returns, the ATS panel controls a return to the mains supply and shuts down the generator after a suitable cooling down run. This process is the same when you have 2 mains power supplies, the only difference being is that the ATS panel does not need to wait for the second mains supply to come up to speed and therefore the changeover can happen much faster

We design and manufacture our own ATS panels, often as part of a turnkey standby power solution that links an automatic transfer switch, UPS and standby generators with remote monitoring and associated security and safety features.

With many years’ experience providing AMF panel solutions, our latest ATS offering, Phoenix2 is a fully automatic transfer panel that can be used for either mains to generator or mains to mains applications.

It includes all mains and generator power monitoring and protection systems with a Motorised four pole changeover switch conforming to BS EN 60947-6-1, operated by a digital programable ATS controller, which can be programmed for either dual mains or mains to generator applications. This purpose-built ATS panel is a single unit that does not contain contactors and circuit breakers, reducing the likelihood of component malfunction and allowing flexibility if the power or control design changes.

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