GE adds Static Transfer Switches for Critical Infrastructure

Though there are several ways to configure uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for redundancy in data center applications, using static transfer switches between pairs of UPS systems offers data center operators an enhanced level of reliability. GE's Critical Power business is introducing a new line of GE Zenith STS-3 Series three-phase static transfer switches and GE Zenith STS-1 Series single-phase static transfer switches for critical infrastructure applications.

The new GE Zenith STS-3 static transfer switches provide power source redundancy in UPS system architectures to increase product mean time between failure between the power source and the critical load, using features such as internal triple redundancy of control power and logic. The new GE static transfer switches, which have a wide range of available ampere ratings, are part of a complete GE critical power distribution solution, which includes UPS systems upstream of the static transfer switch units and power distribution units and/or power overhead busway systems downstream of the static transfer switch units.

Customers who deploy two independent UPS systems in their critical power infrastructure with downstream GE static transfer switches can enhance system reliability by approximately 30 percent as compared to paralleled UPS system designs that do not deploy static transfer switch devices. This architecture also provides added flexibility because one UPS can be isolated for repair or maintenance while the other UPS protects critical loads via a manually initiated static transfer switch source transfer.

GE’s STS-3 Series units meet key technical requirements by performing out-of-phase transfers between power sources without undue inrush current on the electrical system when power distribution unit transformers are employed on the load side of the static transfer switch.

The new GE Zenith STS-1 Series static transfer switches provide a single-phase solution for customers who want to deploy the switches in a rack-mount form factor to provide dual input source capabilities to rack-mounted single-cord information technology (IT) servers or other non-IT critical process equipment.

GE Zenith STS-3 Series three-phase units are designed for data center, telecommunications, financial and industrial critical infrastructure customers seeking centralized power source redundancy, while the GE Zenith STS-1 single-phase static transfer switches are for point-of-use power source redundancy at the localized rack level.

“We’re delivering a full line of static transfer switch solutions to meet a wide range of customer requirements in the data center and other critical process markets,” said Ray Prince, Americas UPS segment leader, GE’s Critical Power business.

Pricing for the GE Zenith STS-3 Series starts at $10,000 and pricing for the GE Zenith STS-1 Series starts at $1,700, depending on the amp rating.