Generator terms, defined.
Straight definitions for the terms that come up when a generator gets serviced, tested, or upgraded, with the governing standard named for each.
NFPA 110 Level 1 and Level 2
NFPA 110 classifies an emergency power supply system by Level, Type, and Class. Level 1 covers systems where failure could result in loss of human lif...
02Emergency Power Supply System (EPSS)
An emergency power supply system, or EPSS, is the complete system that delivers backup power to a building: the generator set (the EPS), the transfer ...
03Wet Stacking
Wet stacking is the buildup of unburned fuel and carbon in a diesel generator’s exhaust system, caused by running the engine below roughly 30% of its ...
04Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
An automatic transfer switch, or ATS, is the device that detects a utility power failure, disconnects a facility from utility power, and connects it t...
05Breaker Trip Time Testing
Breaker trip time testing measures how quickly a circuit breaker opens under a simulated overload or fault, compared against the manufacturer’s publis...
06Fuel Polishing
Fuel polishing is the process of circulating diesel fuel through filtration and water-separation equipment to remove water, sludge, and microbial cont...
07Load Bank Testing
Load bank testing applies an artificial electrical load to a generator to verify it can produce its rated output under real working conditions, not ju...
08Generator Paralleling
Generator paralleling connects two or more generators to the same electrical bus so they share load and operate as one larger power source. The genera...
Power that stays on.
Preventive maintenance, testing, and repair for standby generators across Illinois and the Midwest. One call reaches a technician, not a call center.