---
title: "What Is Transfer switch? Electrical Glossary | Daniel Electric"
description: "A transfer switch moves your home's circuits between utility power and a generator, and keeps the two sources apart."
url: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/transfer-switch
publisher: Daniel Electric
phone: +1-817-481-8606
quote: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact
---

Power and utility

# Transfer switch

A transfer switch moves your home's circuits between utility power and a generator, and keeps the two sources apart.

When a generator powers a house, the transfer switch makes sure the generator and the utility never feed the same wires at once. This protects line workers from [backfeed](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/backfeed). CoServ says standby generators shall not export power to its distribution system and shall use an open transition transfer switch.

CPSC explains that generator output can be connected to household branch circuit wiring using a professionally installed transfer switch. This is not a do-it-yourself job. A licensed electrician should size and install it. See [whole-house generator](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/whole-house-generator) and [emergency electrical help](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/guides/emergency-electrical-help).

[Daniel Electric can helpResidential electrician](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/electrician)

## Related terms

-   [Backfeed](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/backfeed)
-   [Whole-house generator](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/whole-house-generator)
-   [Standby generator](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/standby-generator)
-   [Portable generator](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/portable-generator)

## Sources

1.  [CoServ: Standby Generation](https://www.coserv.com/energy-solutions/standby-generation/)
2.  [U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Portable Generators](https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/foia_PortableGenerators.pdf)

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