Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)

An operating state in which an appropriately configured property electrical system is isolated from the utility grid and supplied by local resources such as storage or generation. Island-mode capability, transition behavior, supported loads, and runtime depend on system architecture, approved protective equipment, available energy, and site conditions.

The intelligence layer of a residential microgrid — a dedicated power management computer that monitors all energy sources and loads in real-time, optimizes battery state of charge, decides when to start/stop generators, manages power flow between sources, executes load shedding if needed, and enables remote monitoring. A microgrid controller is what distinguishes a true microgrid from a collection of independently operating devices. Consumer battery products use basic inverter logic, not a dedicated controller.