Abstract

The erratic supply of power experienced over time in Nigeria and other developing countries which have been detrimental to certain health (surgical), occupational and general practices can now in this recent time be eliminated by the use of an automatic changeover switch. The automatic changeover switch that was designed, constructed and tested in this work was a single phase type that is compatible for single phase electrical generators. The main components were electromagnetic relays and integrated circuits. In addition to performing the switching operation between the mains and the generator in the presence or absence of power, the constructed device also switches when it senses an adverse incoming voltage (high or low). Thus it was designed to avoid too high voltages (above 270 V) or too low voltages (below 160 V). These types of voltages possess threat to sensitive electronic devices used in our homes or in any organization. So the system was designed to automatically transfer the load from the mains to the generator when it senses these two extreme voltages.