I purchased this transfer switch in the Fall from Home Depot (it would have been cheaper getting it through Amazon) along with an Elite Series 6200 generator from Sears. Even though we lost power several times this winter, I was putting off the installation because it involved running 100 feet of wire. Well, we lost power again and that prompted me to finally give it a whirl.
The first thing to note is the great installation videos, available on the DVD that comes with the kit and also online. I actually watched the videos online before I made the purchase, which is what made me feel comfortable about doing this on my own in the first place. I watched the videos several times and made notes for the section of the procedure where I wouldn't have power. These were:
(1) Label switches A, B, C&D, E, F
(2) Turn off main and remove cover.
(3) Tap out knockout and pull wires though (you also need to tighten the clamp ring, not mentioned in the video).
(4) Mount transfer switch (I had prepared the area ahead of time).
(5) Connect white wire to open position in neutral bar (explained in the video).
(6) Connect green wire to grounding (neutral) bar (all this is explained in the video).
(7) For wire A, turn off breaker and remove existing wire, cut red wire A, strip, and connect to breaker. Take black wire A, cut and strip, and attach to wire taken out of circuit with yellow wire nut.
(8) Repeat for the rest of the wires.
(9) Tuck wires in a bit and replace.
This procedure went very smoothly.
Similarly, installing the remote port and wiring it and the transfer switch was easy to do following the instructions. I did have to run out and get wire conduit clamps, but in the end I was feeling quite confident, fired up the generator, and started testing the circuits.
Circuits C&D (my well) and F (my boiler) received power. Unfortunately, circuits A (my fridge) and B and E (misc) were not working. I spent a while trying to troubleshoot this, checking to see if the generator was overloaded, etc., and realized that these circuits were failing even when they were the only ones the generator was powering. The amp meters read zero. It seemed to me that my wiring in the main panel must be OK because the appliances work in LINE mode, and turn off in the OFF setting. Finally, I called customer support.
I can't say enough about the customer support. The technician was patient and knowledgeable, and together we analyzed the problem. Because my well was working on circuits C&D, he said that the generator was probably not the problem, since it was sending power on both "legs" (another thing explained in the video). He had me check the switches by watching the fridge after switching to GEN, and then pushing on the switch (upward, checking for a loose connection). Still, no power. He suggested that it might be the circuit breakers, which could be accessed by removing the black ring and screw, and then two additional screws in the transfer panel at which point the upper assembly can tip forward and out. I told him I would try swapping the good F breaker with the failing A breaker and call him back with the results.
Well, when I had the switch apart and was swapping those circuit breakers (wiggling them free from their connectors) I noticed that one of the connectors on the A switch seemed loose, so I tightened it. Also, one of the two connectors on the B breaker was off, although that might have been caused by my efforts in swapping the two breakers.
Anyway, I button the thing back up and not only does the A circuit work, but all the other circuits as well.
I'm sure that my experience was unusual, but it's good to know that where I had problems they were readily resolved through good technical support. I will definitely recommend this product to my friends, and maybe for a beer I'll even help them install it.Get more detail about Reliance Controls Transfer Switch Kit - 6 Circuit, Model# 31406CRK.
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