ATS outside enclosure - Ziller Electric Inc

bigbadbobszoomzoom · July 6th, 2007

When installing a 15kw package system, the transfer switch comes as "indoor use only" which I think is a NEMA 1 rating. I need to place the transfer switch outdoors (NEMA 3) and have not been able to find an enclosure within size reason 30" x 14" x 7". Who or where can I purchase a compatible box from?

cosmicvoid · July 7th, 2007

I suspect that is an uncommon size. The boxes I see listed that are 30" high are 24" wide. You should expect to pay big bucks for the box. A 30x24x9 box costs $327 at http://www.mcmaster.com/ , search for "nema enclosure".

However, the specs for the Guardian transfer switches (without the breakers) show them to be in NEMA 3R rated boxes. So you must be referring to the ones with breakers.

bigbadbobszoomzoom · July 9th, 2007

Yes, the transfer switch is the one that comes as a package unit with the generator. What are the installers using? I visited a fellow a while back and he built a gawd awfull box using cedar fence pickets. Bet he burns his house down sooner or later. I want my install to be as professional and to code as possible so red cedar is out of the question.

bbbzz

dave · July 10th, 2007

What you are tying to do is a little different than usual. Not that it can't be done. Enclosures are available but as cosmicvoid pointed out expensive. Aestheticlly speaking, if it can be worked out and built, a raintight waterproof enclosure can be built around it. This might require a door etc. Like I say that may not be feasable. In the end that might be just as expensive as a gasketed nema 3 enclosure.
And we are assuming that it is impossible to install indoors. The panel must be right on the other side of the wall in a finished looking area.
Electrical supply houses are usually wholesale only. On line is your best bet. A little more info might help us figure it out better.

Kelly Myers · July 12th, 2007

The problem with your situation is how the guardian generator and transfer switch communicate. Most generators are slaves to the transfer switch. But in the case of guardian systems, the transfer switch is being controlled by the generator.

I do not know of any other systems on the market that use a dummy transfer switch like the guardian setups. We've installed over 1000 generators here in Michigan, and I've yet to across a house where there wasn't a good way to handle the situation.

if you can post digital photos, I can hopefully assist you in your placement, or help give you a fresh idea on how to go about doing it.

July 6th, 2007	#1
bigbadbobszoomzoom Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2	ATS outside enclosure When installing a 15kw package system, the transfer switch comes as "indoor use only" which I think is a NEMA 1 rating. I need to place the transfer switch outdoors (NEMA 3) and have not been able to find an enclosure within size reason 30" x 14" x 7". Who or where can I purchase a compatible box from?

July 7th, 2007	#2
cosmicvoid Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western WA, USA Posts: 83	I suspect that is an uncommon size. The boxes I see listed that are 30" high are 24" wide. You should expect to pay big bucks for the box. A 30x24x9 box costs $327 at http://www.mcmaster.com/ , search for "nema enclosure". However, the specs for the Guardian transfer switches (without the breakers) show them to be in NEMA 3R rated boxes. So you must be referring to the ones with breakers. Last edited by cosmicvoid : July 7th, 2007 at 08:14 PM.

July 12th, 2007	#5
Kelly Myers Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 720	The problem with your situation is how the guardian generator and transfer switch communicate. Most generators are slaves to the transfer switch. But in the case of guardian systems, the transfer switch is being controlled by the generator. I do not know of any other systems on the market that use a dummy transfer switch like the guardian setups. We've installed over 1000 generators here in Michigan, and I've yet to across a house where there wasn't a good way to handle the situation. if you can post digital photos, I can hopefully assist you in your placement, or help give you a fresh idea on how to go about doing it. __________________ Kelly Myers Ziller Electric Inc. http://zillerelectric.com 1-888-2-ZILLER

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July 9th, 2007	#3
bigbadbobszoomzoom Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2	Yes, the transfer switch is the one that comes as a package unit with the generator. What are the installers using? I visited a fellow a while back and he built a gawd awfull box using cedar fence pickets. Bet he burns his house down sooner or later. I want my install to be as professional and to code as possible so red cedar is out of the question. bbbzz

July 10th, 2007	#4
dave Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 75	What you are tying to do is a little different than usual. Not that it can't be done. Enclosures are available but as cosmicvoid pointed out expensive. Aestheticlly speaking, if it can be worked out and built, a raintight waterproof enclosure can be built around it. This might require a door etc. Like I say that may not be feasable. In the end that might be just as expensive as a gasketed nema 3 enclosure. And we are assuming that it is impossible to install indoors. The panel must be right on the other side of the wall in a finished looking area. Electrical supply houses are usually wholesale only. On line is your best bet. A little more info might help us figure it out better.