Automatic Transfer Switch Installation in Myrtle Beach, SC
An automatic transfer switch senses a utility outage, starts the standby generator, and switches your panel to generator power, typically within 10 to 30 seconds, with nobody needing to be home or do anything.
Standard scheduling runs during regular business hours. Ahead-of-storm-season demand books out early — see the hurricane prep guide for timing.
What does an automatic transfer switch actually do?
It's the piece of hardware that turns a standby generator from 'a machine outside that can power the house' into a system that actually does, on its own, whether you're asleep, at work, or out of state.
Why it matters
Why Does an Automatic Switch Matter More on a Rental or Second Home?
Because nobody's there to run it manually. On an owner-occupied home, a portable generator and a manual switch can be a reasonable, cheaper answer, since someone's usually around to start it when the power goes.
On a short-term rental or a second home, that assumption falls apart. The Grand Strand has a large share of exactly this kind of property, and the owner is frequently out of state during the storm that actually causes the outage. A manual system does nothing if no one's there to run it, and a renter mid-vacation isn't going to know how, or want to.
Automatic transfer switching solves a specific problem: it makes the backup system work identically whether the owner is standing in the driveway or three states away. For a rental property, that's not a luxury upgrade. It's the difference between the system actually functioning and it just sitting there unused during the one week a year it matters.
What you get
What's Included in an ATS Install?
- Amperage-matched switchSized to your panel's service amperage, not a generic unit that happens to bolt on.
- Wiring into the panel or a dedicated sub-panelWhole-house switching where the panel supports it, or a sub-panel approach for essential circuits only.
- Utility-sensing controlsThe logic that detects a real outage versus a momentary blip, so the generator isn't starting for every flicker.
- Permit filedElectrical permit and inspection scheduled with the jurisdiction covering your address.
- Startup and transfer testA simulated outage test confirming the switch actually transfers load correctly before the job is called done.
Step by step
How Does the Switch Get Wired In?
Panel assessment
Time on site · part of the site visitConfirms service amperage, panel condition and whether whole-house or sub-panel switching fits your setup.
Permit filed
Time on site · several days to a few weeksElectrical permit filed with the correct city or county office for your address.
Switch mounted and wired
Time on site · half a day to a full dayATS mounted near the panel or generator, wired into the utility feed, generator output and load circuits.
Controls tested
Time on site · 1-2 hoursSensing logic and timing verified so the switch responds correctly to an actual outage, not a brief voltage dip.
Simulated outage test
Time on site · 30-60 minutesUtility power is cut on purpose to confirm the generator starts and the switch transfers load as designed.
A switch that starts the generator and moves your home to backup power automatically, tested under a real simulated outage before anyone signs off on the job.
What it runs
What Drives ATS Pricing?
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| 100-200 amp automatic transfer switch, hardware / unit onlyAmperage rating is the main driver of hardware cost. | $680-$1,500 |
| 200 amp ATS, fully installed / installedIncludes wiring, permit and the labor to tie it into an existing panel and generator. | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Whole-house switching vs. sub-panel/essential-circuits switching / add-onWhole-house switching needs a larger-rated switch and often more wiring runs. | typically $500-$1,200 more for whole-house |
| Older or undersized panel requiring attention first / n/aSee the panel note below; this is a separate scope, not included in ATS pricing. | varies, quoted separately |
These are typical ranges for Grand Strand; your exact price is confirmed after a site visit, and depends on your generator's existing wiring and panel condition.
Standalone ATS pricing assumes a generator is already in place or being installed at the same time; see the whole-house standby page if you need both.
Straight answers
What does an automatic transfer switch actually do?
It senses a utility outage, starts the generator, and switches your home to generator power automatically, typically within 10 to 30 seconds, without anyone needing to do anything.
Do I need one if I'm home during outages anyway?
Not necessarily. If you're reliably home and comfortable starting a portable generator and connecting it through a manual switch, that's a legitimate, cheaper option. Automatic switching earns its cost mainly when nobody's guaranteed to be there.
Can an ATS be added to a generator I already own?
In most cases yes, if the generator supports automatic switching and the panel has room for the hardware. Both get confirmed during the site visit before a price is quoted.
How much does automatic transfer switch installation cost?
A fully installed 200-amp switch runs $1,500 to $3,500, with amperage rating and whole-house versus sub-panel switching as the main cost drivers.
Does my existing panel need work before an ATS goes in?
Sometimes. An older or undersized panel occasionally needs attention before a transfer switch can be added safely. That gets assessed during the site visit and quoted as a separate scope if it applies.
What happens if the ATS fails: does the generator just not run?
The generator can still run manually in most cases, but automatic switching stops working, which defeats the point for an absentee owner. That's exactly the failure mode a maintenance plan is built to catch before it happens during a real outage.
Locked in.
Book it before the forecast turns.
If you already own a generator without automatic switching, adding one is usually a faster, cheaper job than people expect. Get a real number before assuming it's a bigger project than it is.
Call it in or send the details — a real quote comes back either way.