The Raritan Blog

Why the Hybrid Rack Transfer System is Superior to Both ATS and STS Systems

Michael Bord
June 4, 2014

Lots of data center vendors offer transfer switches, but they normally fall into one of only two categories: relay-based Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) or Static Transfer Switches (STS) that rely on silicon-controlled rectifiers.  Although effective in switching between power feeds, they both have inherent design flaws that hinder both performance and reliability – two areas where a hybrid rack transfer switch really excels.  But, to understand why the hybrid transfer switch is superior, you first need to understand the limitations of ATS and STS devices.