This past spring, we published a blog, "Selecting The Right ATS for Your Needs" to help our clients identify which system was best suited for their operations. Indeed, there are many crucial factors to consider, and this follow up can help you further improve the quality and effectiveness of the ATS you choose.

Read the Rating Carefully

The right rating type is imperative, and you will want to select an ATS that can clear the fault in the shortest time frame possible. Moreover, it's important to consider your longer-term requirements. Remember, the transfer switch you choose today may not meet your needs down the road. Thus, we strongly recommend considering an ATS with a greater time-based rating than what you currently require. This will help ensure that your ATS remains capable of providing the protection you require as your needs evolve.

Improve Your Data Collection

The growing array of sensors you can attach to standby generator equipment means that there is an unprecedented amount of data you can collect from your genset. This information can be used to streamline operations, enhance performance, improve reliability, and reduce your long-term operating costs. The right ATS with the right sensors can allow you to monitor the temperature, current and voltage, harmonics, and so much more. The data you collect can give you advanced warning of problems brewing up that require maintenance or repairs.

Ideally, you should select an ATS that incorporates these sensors within the ATS enclosure. This is not only a far more simple design that requires less maintenance, but it is also less susceptible to damage and requires less space for installation. The more advanced the ATS, the easier it will be to set defined thresholds that can alert you when the generator is operating outside of acceptable parameters. In turn, this will allow you to shut the generator down before the fault damages the genset.

Communicate Better

Psychologists, customer service agents, phone techs, and EGSA certified technicians all agree that communication is key to solving problems. Modern ATS systems are equipped with a wide range of communications technologies that allow them to transmit data to the cloud, through intranets, into mobile networks, and more. The greater the flexibility of your ATS to communicate with your personnel, the better. Most will offer Modbus communication, but more advanced systems will provide multiple options that may include:

• Ethernet IP Modbus TCP


• DeviceNet


• Profibus


• Profinet

Ideally, you want a system that works within your existing communications network and aligns with the plans you have for the future.

It is our pleasure to help you identify the ideal ATS for your business. We invite you to contact Gen-Tech Power Generation Specialists to speak with our generator sales and support teams or our EGSA certified technicians.