Really-Basic Transfer Switch Question...

 ... from somebody who knows *nothing*.

Looking at my breaker box.

Forget the double breakers for AC, kitchen range, and clothes
dryer.   I'm guessing they're 220v.

That leaves sixteen single breakers, each rated "15" or "20"
(amps, I guess.... and 120v)

If I want to cover all but the single breakers, do I need a
transfer switch that can handle 16 "circuits"?    Or can those
breakers be doubled up on the transfer switch so one "circuit"
feeds multiple breakers?

True?

Is installation as simple as hanging the switch next to the
breaker box and running the right wires back-and-forth to/from
the right places?

--
PeteCresswell

 
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:

Presuming you're referring to the "GenTran" and similar small transfer
switches, which are really banks of individual transfers. You will
indeed need a 1:1 correspondence between the circuits you want to
transfer and the circuits supported by the transfer switch unit. The
various manufacturers sites should have useful selection guides.

 Per (PeteCresswell):

SHB "If I want to cover all the single breakers,"
--
PeteCresswell

 
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:

Yes, I realized that.

 You may not get away with doing splices inside your breaker service panel
due to heat limitations. Best to remove them and rewire directly to the new
transfer breaker panel, usually.

Transfer panels can be obtained with individual circuit transfers although
this is usually only seen in specialized generator packages. Most likely a
main switch transfer panel will be easily obtained with 16 or more
individual breakers. Buy the same kind and re-use your old breakers.