What Do You Do With An Auxiliary Shutdown Switch?

Auxiliary shutdown switches are safety features on whole home generators designed for emergency situations. However, while you may be aware that your generator has an auxiliary shutdown switch, you may not know what to do with it. Do you have to flip it whenever you need to turn your generator off? Or how do they work?

In short, auxiliary switches are only for emergency situations. Using them outside of an emergency can damage your generator. You generally leave them alone and let the generator power itself off, unless there is an emergency, like a fire. Here is some more general information about auxiliary shutdown switches. 

Bear in mind that this is quite general, and if you have specific questions about your specific model, you will want to consult your manual or ask someone here at Generator Supercenter for professional advice. They will be able to answer any questions you have in detail. 

What Is An Auxiliary Shutdown Switch?

Auxiliary switches are a secondary switch that work in tandem with your generator. They are safety features that stop the generator’s engine and prevent it from restarting without manual resets. As such, they are strategically placed to be easily accessible, and are often required in order to meet certain code requirements. 

Auxiliary shutdown switches enable you to shut down the generator immediately in the event of an emergency. When you use the auxiliary shutdown switch, it immediately shuts the generator off and puts it into an error state.

What Do You Do With An Auxiliary Shutdown Switch?

It’s important to note that auxiliary shutdown switches are not for normal use. They are not what you use in order to turn your generator off. They are for emergency use only, such as when there is a fire or another hazardous situation. 

This is because if you use the auxiliary shutdown switch could potentially damage the generator or connected equipment. If you need to shut down your generator in a normal situation, you follow the standard shutdown procedure outlined in your owner’s manual. 

This means that if this switch is used, there needs to be a manual or mechanical reset of the generator start circuits.

How Do You Turn A Generator Off Normally?

Since we’ve established that auxiliary shutdown switches are only for emergency use, you may then wonder how to turn your generator off in normal situations. Do they automatically turn off when the power comes back? Or do you have to go turn them off yourself? 

Whole home generators are designed for automatic, hands-free operations.

Typically, whole home generators are designed to automatically turn off when utility power is restored. This is because when a generator’s automatic transfer switch senses the loss of utility power, it signals the generator to start. Then, once utility power is restored, the transfer switch senses the return of power, it transfers the load back to the utility. After this, the generator continues running for a brief period in order to enable the engine to cool down properly, then it shuts down completely.

Due to the automatic start and stop features, homeowners don’t need to manually start or stop their generators when the power goes out or when it comes back on. 

You’ll always want to consult your generator’s manual, since there can be variations in the shutdown procedure depending on the generator you have. 

Servicing And Installing Generac Whole Home Generators In Northern Utah

Generator Supercenter of Northern Utah provides Generac generators to homeowners throughout – you guessed it – Northern Utah. From helping homeowners select the ideal generator for their specific needs to installing them to providing routine maintenance and service, our expertly trained professionals are here to help you through every step of buying and owning your whole home generator.

To learn more about the Generac generators we provide, please don’t hesitate to either contact us today or to swing by our showroom in Riverdale, UT. We look forward to helping you, however we can.