Automatic Transfer Switches — types and redundancy
The ATS is the device that decides whether your building is fed by the grid or by your generator. It's the single most important piece of switchgear in a standby system — and the type you choose has a big impact on reliability, switching speed, and recovery options when something goes wrong.
Motor-operated MCCB / ACB ATS
MCCB ATS vs ACB ATS
Redundancy — why a lightning strike doesn't have to be a blackout
More from Generator School
kVA vs kW — explained (with a beer)
Understand the difference between kVA and kW the easiest possible way — with a pint of beer and its foam. The single most useful concept when sizing a generator.
How does a generator actually work?
The full chain — fuel to engine to alternator to electricity — explained without the marketing fluff. Once you understand this, every component on a spec sheet makes sense.
Diesel vs petrol — storage, life, safety
Above 8 kVA, diesel wins almost every battle. Below that, petrol is fine. Here's why — fuel stability, fire risk, service life, and the real-world differences.
Selecting a generator — what to account for
A simple 6-question framework that gets you to the right generator without overspending. Run, surge, fuel, duty, location, future-proofing.
What is a load bank — and why every standby unit needs one
A standby generator that has only ever run unloaded is a generator that may fail in an outage. Load-bank testing is the only way to prove it.
Importance of maintenance — monthly testing isn't optional
It's not about service life. It's about whether the unit starts on the day you actually need it. Monthly tests + scheduled servicing — what and why.

