Changeover switches · CoC
Generator Changeover Switch Repairs and Installation
We repair, replace and install generator changeover switches across Gauteng, from the manual switch a home or portable generator plugs into to the changeover on a standby set. We issue and sign the electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the changeover switch installations we carry out.
Callout fee waived when you accept our written quote. 1-year workmanship guarantee. See prices
- CoC signed for our installations
- Manual and automatic changeovers
- Board left closed for you
- Written quote first
- Onsite across Gauteng
What the switch is for
What a changeover switch does, and why it matters
A changeover switch connects your circuits to either the mains or the generator, never both. That separation is what stops the generator feeding power back into the street, where it can kill someone working on the lines, and stops the mains returning straight into your generator.
A manual changeover is moved by hand when the power fails and again when it returns. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) does the same job by itself, together with a generator that starts automatically. If your set already has an ATS that is not working, our ATS repairs page covers it.
Plugging a generator into a wall socket with a double-ended lead bypasses all of this. It back-feeds the mains, leaves exposed pins live and can start a fire. A properly installed changeover switch is the safe connection.
Changeover work is part of your fixed wiring, so it has to be compliant. We issue and sign the electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the changeover switch installations we carry out. Keep the certificate with your property records.
Faults
Changeover switch problems we repair
Leave the board closed and describe what happens. These faults involve live circuits, so we make the supply safe before we open anything.
Generator runs, the house stays dark
The set produces power but it does not reach your circuits. We test the generator output first, then follow the supply through the switch.
Only some circuits work on the generator
Usually a wiring choice made when the switch was fitted, or a failed pole. We check which circuits the changeover actually feeds.
Heat, buzzing or burn marks
Loose terminals or an undersized switch overheat under load. Switch the generator off and call us; this is a fire risk.
Earth leakage trips only on the generator
It can come from the generator, the changeover arrangement or the house wiring. We test each part separately to find where it starts.
Stiff, broken or loose handle
A worn mechanism can leave the switch between positions. We replace a switch that no longer changes over cleanly.
Improvised connections
Double-ended leads or a generator wired straight into the board are replaced with a proper changeover and connection point.
Installation
How a changeover switch is installed
01
Site check
We look at your board, the generator and how it will connect, and agree which circuits the generator should carry.
02
Size and type
The switch is rated for the generator and the load, single-phase or three-phase, manual or automatic.
03
Written quote
You get a written quote for the switch, the connection point and the wiring before any work starts.
04
Installation
The switch is fitted and labelled so anyone at home or on site can see which position is mains and which is generator.
05
Testing
We test both positions on the mains and on the generator, and prove the generator can never connect to the mains.
06
Certificate of Compliance
We issue and sign the electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the changeover switch installations we carry out.
Manual changeover or automatic transfer switch?
Both separate the generator from the mains. The difference is who moves the switch and how long you are without power.
| Manual changeover switch | Automatic transfer switch (ATS) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it switches | Someone moves the handle when the power fails and when it returns | It senses the mains failing and returning, and switches by itself |
| Generator needed | Any generator, including a portable one | A generator with automatic start and a controller that works with the ATS |
| Time without power | Until someone starts the generator and moves the switch | Usually seconds: the time the set takes to start and settle |
| Suits | Homes and small premises with a portable or manually started set | Standby sets at homes, businesses and sites that cannot wait |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher: the switch, its controls and a generator able to start itself |
Not sure which circuits a generator can carry? Our generator sizing guide explains starting loads, and the size calculator gives an estimate.
Common Questions
Changeover switch questions
Do you issue a Certificate of Compliance for changeover switches?
Yes. We issue and sign the electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the changeover switch installations we carry out.
Can I plug my generator into a wall socket instead?
No. A double-ended lead feeds power back into the mains, leaves exposed pins live and can start a fire. Use extension leads from the generator to individual appliances until a changeover switch is fitted.
Should I get a manual changeover or an ATS?
A manual switch suits a portable or manually started set where someone is home to switch over. An ATS suits a standby set that must take over by itself. The table above compares them.
Can a manual changeover be upgraded to automatic?
Often, if the generator can start automatically and its controller works with an ATS. We check the generator and the board first and quote what the upgrade needs.
Which circuits should be on the generator?
Usually lights, plugs, the fridge, the gate and alarm, and the router; heavy loads such as geysers and stoves only if the generator is big enough. We agree the circuits with you during the site check.
What does a changeover switch installation cost?
It depends on the switch type and rating, single- or three-phase, and how far the generator is from the board. You get a written quote after the site check, before any work starts.
My changeover is warm or smells of burning. What should I do?
Switch the generator off, keep the board closed and call us. Heat and burning smells point to loose terminals or an overloaded switch, which are fire risks.
Still unsure what the fault is? Call or WhatsApp 082 057 4605 for onsite diagnosis.
Related Pages
Related services and guides
- ATS Repairs Automatic transfer switch faults
- Generator Installation A new set with its changeover
- Not Auto Starting Mains fails and the set stays still
- Generator Sizes Which circuits a set can carry
- Petrol Generator Repairs Portable and home sets
- Changeover CoC Guide What the certificate covers
- Generator Callouts Book the site visit
Service Areas
Onsite visits across Gauteng
We come to your generator anywhere in Gauteng, 24/7. Choose your region for local suburbs, call-out details and the faults we see most there.
What to send before we attend
These details help us plan the visit and bring the right parts. Send what you can on WhatsApp; if you can’t find the model number, we still book the visit.
- Location
- The suburb or site, so the visit can be booked in the right area.
- Make and model
- The generator brand and model, if they are known.
- kVA
- The size printed on the data plate.
- Fuel type
- Diesel, petrol, LPG, natural gas, or dual-fuel.
- Controller model
- The module name on the panel, when it is visible.
- Fault or alarm
- What the set does, and any text on the screen.
- Photos
- The generator, the data plate, and the controller or alarm. Send these on WhatsApp.
Book a Visit
Tell us about the changeover
Say whether it is a new installation or a fault, single- or three-phase if you know, and what the generator is. Please keep the board closed.
- Call
- 082 057 4605
- Message us on WhatsApp
What happens next
- We reply with questions about the generator, or to book a visit.
- A technician comes to you. For a breakdown we arrive within 1 hour.
- The fault is diagnosed on site and you get a written quote. No work starts until you accept it.
Charlie, lead technician: Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Degree in Electrical Engineering, Diesel Plant Fitter. Generator specialists since 2000.