Automatic Transfer Switches
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) detects a utility power failure and switches the electrical load to a standby generator without manual intervention, then switches back once utility power is stable. NLS sources ATS panels from 100A to 4000A for hospital, commercial, and industrial projects across Saudi Arabia, built to IEC 60947-6-1 and sized to NFPA 110 transfer-time requirements where emergency power applies.
An automatic transfer switch sits between the utility feed, the standby generator, and the load it protects, monitoring voltage and frequency on the utility side. When utility power drops outside a set tolerance, the ATS signals the generator to start, waits for the generator output to stabilize, then switches the load over, all without anyone touching a breaker. Once utility power returns and holds steady for a set delay period (to avoid switching on a brief, unstable restoration), the ATS transfers the load back and signals the generator to cool down and stop.
NLS sources ATS panels from 100A up to 4000A, in open-transition (brief break before making the new connection), closed-transition (momentary parallel for a bump-less transfer), and delayed-transition configurations, built to IEC 60947-6-1 and, where a project specifies it, UL 1008. Panel enclosures run from indoor IP42 to outdoor IP65, with controller options from a local LED status display up to full remote monitoring and BMS integration.
NFPA 110 governs ATS transfer time on hospital and life-safety emergency systems in Saudi healthcare projects: a Level 1, Type 10 system needs restored power within 10 seconds of a utility failure, which sets the maximum acceptable delay across the generator start, warm-up, and transfer sequence, taking in more than the switch itself. Outside hospitals, ATS panels handle the same basic function on data centers, industrial plants, and commercial buildings with standby generators, though the transfer-time requirement there is a project or insurance specification rather than a fixed code minimum.
Sourcing runs the same way as NLS's other electrical categories: send amperage, voltage, number of poles, and transition type (open, closed, or delayed), plus the code or standard the project specifies, and NLS returns a priced quote in USD with a lead time based on panel size and controller options. Standard panels in common amperage sizes typically source faster than custom-built switchgear with non-standard bus configurations.
Specifications
- ✓Amperage range: approximately 100A to 4000A, 2, 3, or 4 pole configurations
- ✓Built to IEC 60947-6-1; UL 1008 available where a project specifies it
- ✓Transition types: open, closed (momentary parallel), and time-delay neutral
- ✓Sized to NFPA 110 transfer-time requirements for Level 1 / Type 10 hospital emergency systems where applicable
- ✓Enclosure ratings from IP42 indoor to IP65 outdoor
- ✓Controller options from local LED status to remote monitoring and BMS integration
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does an automatic transfer switch need to work for a hospital in Saudi Arabia?+
For a Level 1, Type 10 emergency system under NFPA 110, power needs to be restored within 10 seconds of a utility failure, covering the full sequence of generator start, warm-up, and load transfer, not the switch alone. NLS sizes ATS and generator packages together against that 10-second window rather than quoting the switch in isolation.
Who supplies automatic transfer switches for commercial buildings in Saudi Arabia?+
NLS sources and supplies ATS panels from 100A to 4000A for hospital, commercial, and industrial projects across Saudi Arabia, built to IEC 60947-6-1 and matched to the generator and load the project already has.
What's the difference between open-transition and closed-transition ATS?+
An open-transition switch briefly breaks the connection before making the new one, so there's a short interruption during transfer. A closed-transition switch runs both sources in parallel for a fraction of a second, giving a bump-less transfer, but it needs a synchronizing function and a utility that permits momentary paralleling.