When that storm knocked out everyone’s power, your standby generator sprung into action instantly, and ran smoothly and quietly in the background while you went about daily life.  Eventually the storm cleared, power was restored for everyone, and your backup power was no longer needed.  Perfect, right?

That’s exactly how it’s supposed to work, unless your generator didn’t shut off after the utility power was restored.  A whole-home generator that doesn’t shut off automatically is a problem.  Not only does it waste energy and money and subject your unit to unnecessary wear and tear, but it’s also dangerous.  At this point, your generator is (fixably) damaged.

If your standby generator didn’t shut off automatically once power was restored, OR if it did shut off but hydro power never came back on, the problem was that the transfer switch failed.  Typically, lightning strikes introduced surges of current into the main line, which damaged the primary utility coil and the control board in your transfer switch.  What you see at your panel may look something like this:

This burst of current can damage what’s in your home, too.  Lightning strikes and utility switching can cause voltage transients and power surges in the electrical grid. These surges travel through distribution lines and into homes and businesses, damaging sensitive appliances and devices and shortening their life. Many transients go undetected, but over time contribute to sudden and inexplicable failures of electrical equipment. Products susceptible to damage include mobile phones, computers, TVs, appliances, smart home devices, and lighting fixtures.

Repairing a failed transfer switch involves replacing the control board, wiring harness, and utility coil of your generator.

Preventing transfer-switch failure in the future involves installing what’s called a surge protector.

Powers Servicing installs generator transfer switch surge protectors throughout the Ottawa Valley area.  You can buy a surge protector from us and we’ll install it. If you already have one, our generator servicing / maintenance program will ensure that it continues to work.

We are available on the weekends, after-hours (often on short notice), and in the winter.  To power up and power down reliably, contact Powers Servicing any time.