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Backup Generator transfer switch

In the past two issues of Stereophile, Michael Fremer has been discussing the disastrous results to the sound of his system after having a backup generator installed at his home. The system is not running on the generator, but he believes it has to do with the transfer switch that gets installed on the AC signal path.  He describes a pre-generator experience as "intense and emotionally elevating" afterwards "everything good was gone, two large ill-focused boomboxes had replaced absolute magic".  I recently moved and had been listening to my system prior to and after the installation of a Generac whole house generator, I did not notice any change in the sound, I can still sit and enjoy the music for hours with no sense of fatigue.  Perhaps my ears are shot or my equipment is not expensive enough.  Anyone here have any experiences with generator transfer switches?

Thanks
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jea48
4,256 posts
 
wolfie62158 posts

03-15-2021
10:35pm

The ATS was NEVER the problem!

The problem was the quality of power he was getting from his backup generator. It was electrically noisy with fluctuating frequency and voltage.
Not from his own words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2i86qEpC7A
Go to time marker, around 15:40 for where he talks about the ATS, as well showing of the ATS.
ATS was in the normal power position. Generator was off.
whart's avatar
whart
2,966 posts
 
@jea48 -thanks Jim.
The other thing I’m looking at is silencing the thing as much as possible. I’m aware of the Zombie Box, a third party silencer box with appropriate venting, but their soundproofing treatment info is a little sketchy. I’ve used melamine sheets with mass loaded vinyl as a sandwich with great success indoors. As long as the lining of the box is weatherproofed, I don’t see why that isn’t an option for this, other than expense- that stuff is pricey, at least from an acoustic supply house. More, once I get down to brass tacks with the electrician and actual ordering; I figured those Cummins things could power a hospital- I was planning on running from natural gas, assume Cummins is available that way too. Appreciate the info.
When I lived along the Hudson north of Manhattan, after Hurricane Sandy, a lot of neighbors bought whole house units. We held off only b/c we weren’t using the house all year, and started splitting time between NY and Texas. Never thought power would be an issue down here. It’s been good, quiet, relatively new infrastructure, etc. Oh well. Beats the hell out of freezing my *** off.
Best to all.
Bill
rel
221 posts
 
Man, that sounds so familiar. Could swear I have heard it all before somewhere. But, where? We only have one Director of Engineering around here. Who else could possibly have such advanced detailed knowledge of electricity and electrical circuits? 

Who knows?  Only some kind of Einstein could have such advanced knowledge—the kind that exists solely in your own mind!

assetmgrsc
57 posts
 
Guys and gals, it sounds like we all need to buy some Generac stock.   Actually, if you put an Oscilloscope on the power line during switch over, it will look like a squiggly worm for a couple of minutes, then it steadies out.  So, your primary problem is soon over, however such switches were not designed with hi purity in mind.  They were designed to transfer over from a failed house feed to their generator in order to keep your lights and HVAC on.  Your electrical power company supplies you a near infinite buss.  Your  house generator does not. Your generator company can do better, but you probably would not want to pay for it.
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