advanced search

Product of the Month

Sep 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Jaclyn Alcantara, Associate Editor

Load Center Boasts High IQ

Picture a living room full of eager football fans watching their team's season opener on television when suddenly the power goes out. For most of us, this would mean waiting for the electric utility to fix the problem or, more realistically, racing out to watch the rest of the game elsewhere. In a few households, the owner could turn to a portable standby generator. But for those with Schneider Electric's new Square D QO Intelligent Load Center connected to an onsite standby generator, power would transparently be restored in seconds — with no action required by the homeowner.

Introduced at the January 2006 International Builder Show in Orlando, Fla., the intelligent load center eliminates the need to install a subpanel with residential standby generators. Power is automatically transferred to the backup source when the utility source is lost.

“[They] don't even have to be at home for the generator to start up or the transfer operation to happen,” says Bill Unseld, manager of product marketing and residential products for Schneider Electric, Palatine, Ill.

A joint venture between the North American Operating Division of Schneider Electric and Kohler, Wis.-based generator manufacturer Kohler Power Systems, the load center is designed to work in combination with a Kohler residential generator system. The load center operates exclusively with a variety of Kohler generators up to as large as 30kW.

The combination load center and automatic transfer switch works using sensors to constantly monitor power coming from the utility. When the transfer switch logic senses abnormal voltage or frequency levels on the incoming feed, it signals the generator to start and makes the transfer of power to the backup source. “Typical transfer time is less than 10 seconds,” Unseld says.

During this transition, the transfer switch locks out utility connection to prevent back feeding power onto the utility line. Then the pre-determined electrical loads in the home are transferred to the generator. Once utility power is restored, the transfer switch automatically reverses the process, transferring the load back to the utility and shutting down the generator.

The intelligent load center and its automatic transfer switch are sold separately so that an electrical contractor can make new homes generator-ready or opt to install the transfer switch and generator at a later date. According to the manufacturer, contractors will benefit from reduced installation time and labor costs, as the combination panel eliminates the need to install a second distribution panel. Installing the load center is just like installing any other load center, maintains Unseld, explaining that the difference lies in the installation of the field-installable transfer switch kit.

Electrical contractor and owner of G.J. Richardson Electric Service in Selma, N.C., George Richardson installed these load centers in two North Carolina homes last winter and was impressed with the simplicity of installation. “I'd say it would save at least 20% to 30% on labor, and probably cost too,” he says. “When you use this Intelligent Load Center, everything is right there in one panel. All you have to do is go straight from the generator right to the panel.”

For one retrofit installation, Richardson says he removed the old 400A meter base, replaced it with a combo 400A Square D assembly on the outside of the house, and fed two 200A panels inside. Then he rerouted the circuits for all of the primary equipment that was essential for that homeowner, including the refrigerator, lights, and a well pump.

“If [the homeowner] lost power, he had a gas furnace he could actually run in the winter time, and he could run one of the heat pumps in this particular application on his generator,” he says.

Beyond the labor savings he receives, Richardson likes the benefits this product allows him to pass on to his customers. “It's a whole lot safer,” he says. “The average homeowner is not real familiar with transferring power, and this takes all that out of the equation. It does all the work for you.”

The Square D Intelligent Load Center is now available for new construction, and its transfer switch will be available in October. Combined, the load center and transfer switch will cost about $1,600.

For more information, visit www.squared.com.

Product Specs

• Transfer cycle typically less than 10 seconds
• Indoor and outdoor enclosures
• 120/240VAC single phase
• Indoor: 42 circuit maximum construction
• Outdoor: 28 circuit maximum construction
• 125A maximum branch feeder connection to an alternative energy source
• Service entrance rated
• Manual override capability

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue EC&M Magazine | April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters