Change Over Switches

Changeover switches are manual transfer switches that move a load between the mains supply and a standby generator, making sure the two sources can never be connected together. We stock GARO metalclad and enclosed changeover switches from 32A to 400A, 3 pole and 3P+N switches in IP53, IP55 and IP65 enclosures, and GARO 100A modular 2 pole changeovers for consumer units.

Get trade rates on account, and receive stocked switches the next working day in NI and the Republic when ordered by 5pm on weekdays.

CMS4125 In-Stock

4 Pole 125A Change over Main Switch

£48.00 inc. VAT

CO63IP65P In-Stock

63 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP65

£116.46 inc. VAT

CO125IP53M In-Stock

125 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP53

£220.98 inc. VAT

CO63IP53M In-Stock

63 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP53

£104.71 inc. VAT

CO25IP53M Ships in 3-5 days

25 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP53

£57.60 inc. VAT

CO80IP53M Ships in 3-5 days

80 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP53

£194.88 inc. VAT

GCO2100IP40M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO Changeover Switch 100A 2 Pole Enclosed IP40

£62.22 inc. VAT

GCO2100 In-Stock

GARO 100A Modular Change Over Switch 2 Pole

£27.59 inc. VAT

GCO4100 Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 100A Modular Change Over Switch

£54.16 inc. VAT

GCO3160IP55M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 160A 3 Pole Changeover Switch IP55

£785.20 inc. VAT

CO32IP53M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 32A 3P Metalclad Changeover Switch IP53

£75.60 inc. VAT

CO40IP53M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 40A 3P Metalclad Changeover Switch IP53

£79.80 inc. VAT

CO100IP53M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 100A 3P+N Metalclad Changeover Switch IP53

£165.60 inc. VAT

GCO3125IP55M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 125A 3P Changeover IP55

£600.00 inc. VAT

GCO3200IP55M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 200A 3P Changeover IP55

£804.00 inc. VAT

GCO3250IP55M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 250A 3P Changeover IP55

£840.00 inc. VAT

GCO3400IP55M Ships in 3-5 days

GARO 400A 3P Changeover IP55

£1,080.00 inc. VAT

How to choose a changeover switch

A changeover switch lets a farm, business or home keep essential circuits running during a power cut, while preventing a generator from back-feeding the network. Use the points below to narrow the choice.

Size and number of poles

Current rating - at least the full load current of the circuits transferred, from 25A modular units to 400A for large commercial supplies.
2 pole - single-phase supplies, including the GARO modular versions that fit inside a board.
3 pole or 3P+N/4 pole - three phase supplies, with the choice depending on whether the neutral must be switched.

Enclosure and environment

Choose IP53 for typical indoor locations, IP55 for more demanding plant rooms and IP65 where the switch could be exposed to water jets or heavy dust. Metalclad enclosures offer robust protection in agricultural and industrial settings.

Installation and compliance

The switch is installed between the supply intake and the circuits to be backed up. The generator is normally connected through a dedicated inlet or hard-wired cable, often SWA armoured cable, with suitable industrial plugs and sockets where a portable generator is used. The earthing arrangement of the generator and whether the neutral is switched need careful design, so installation should be carried out by a qualified electrician to current wiring regulations and the network operator's requirements.

Related products

For local isolation of equipment, see TP&N isolators and switch fuses.

Meteor Electrical has supplied the trade for over 40 years. Orders above £30 / €35 ex VAT are delivered free, all switches carry the manufacturer's warranty, and you can call 028 8675 1515 (048 8675 1515 from ROI) for help.

FAQ's Ask Your Own Question

What are Change Over Switches?: A changeover switch is used during an outage. It is designed to transfer electricity from the commercial power grid to a local generator. Therefore, when the end user is experiencing a power cut, the generator from the changeover switch will provide power.
Are Change Over Switches required?: Change over switches aren’t essential however would be extremely useful during an event of a power outage. Outages are unpredictable and can be inconvenient. Change over switches are used in disasters such as power cuts and allow electricity to still be running using the generator.
Where can Change Over Switches be used?: Change over switches can be used for domestic environments such as homes. Power cuts typically occur during poor weather conditions. Change over switches are used to enable the electricity and electrical devices to still run. Change over switches can also be used for businesses. Power outages can have a negative impact on businesses which can be prevented using change over switches.
What Change Over Switches are available?: At Meteor Electrical, we supply a range of Garo’s change over switches including:

63 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP53

63 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP65

125 Amp 3 Pole & Neutral Changeover Switch IP53
What is the difference between IP53 and IP65 in Change Over Switches?: IP ratings provide different levels of protection against the change over switch. IP53 is protected against limited dust and against water sprays less than 60 degrees from vertical. Whereas, IP65 provides more protection. IP65 is fully protected against dust and lower pressure water jets from any direction.

In simple terms, IP65 Change Over Switches provides more protection compared to IP53.
How to choose the correct Generator Change Over Switch: Choosing the correct generator Change Over Switch can be difficult.

The generator change over switch you choose should be able to deliver maximum current for at least 3 hours, if not longer. The current from the power source of the electrical change over switch should be carried constantly. It's critical that the rating corresponds to the primary breaker's intended function.

If you need advice on which electrical changover switch / generator change over switch, please chat to the sales advisor on the live chat.
What size electrical change over switch do I need for my house/business?: The simplest approach to figure out what size generator change over switch you need is to compare it to the load on your generator. To do so, make sure the largest outlet on your generator is the same size as the largest outlet on your generator. If your generator's biggest outlet is 30 amps, for example, you'll need a 30-amp electrical changeover switch to handle the whole load.
What is the difference between a manual and an automatic changeover switch?: A manual changeover switch is operated by hand to move the load from mains to generator, while an automatic transfer switch detects a mains failure and switches over automatically, usually with a generator that starts itself. Manual switches are simpler and widely used on farms, homes and small businesses with portable or standby generators.
Does a changeover switch need to switch the neutral?: It depends on the earthing arrangement of the supply and the generator. In many installations a 4 pole or 3P+N switch is used so the neutral is switched along with the lines, but some designs keep the neutral solid. The installation designer should decide, following current wiring regulations and network operator guidance.
What does the centre off position on a changeover switch do?: The centre off position, often marked 0 between positions I and II, disconnects the load from both supplies. It guarantees a break before the second supply connects, so mains and generator are never paralleled. It also provides a convenient point for isolating the downstream circuits during maintenance.