Methods and systems for dynamic memory backup for transfer-switch controllers

1. A backup-memory apparatus for a transfer-switch controller, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store transfer-switch data related to a first transfer-switch controller, wherein the first transfer switch-controller comprises a controller for a given transfer switch, and wherein the transfer-switch data includes data related to historical performance of the given transfer switch and data related to an in-phase monitor for monitoring a phase of a starting motor for the given transfer switch;

the apparatus capable of interfacing with a communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller;

the apparatus further capable of being disconnected from the communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller and thereafter interfacing with a communication interface of a second transfer-switch controller, and

the memory further configured to, after the apparatus interfaces with the communication interface of the second transfer-switch controller, provide at least a portion of the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller to the second transfer-switch controller for use by the second transfer-switch controller for startup of the starting motor in-phase.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface of the apparatus,

wherein the communication interface of the apparatus is capable of interfacing with the communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller and with the communication interface of the second transfer-switch controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an enclosure that is configured to house the memory and the communication interface of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory further is configured to provide the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller to the second transfer-switch controller after the apparatus receives a command from the second transfer-switch controller to provide the transfer-switch data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to provide the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller to the second transfer-switch controller in response to the apparatus interfacing with the communication interface of the second transfer-switch controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller comprises data representative of operational settings for the first transfer-switch controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after the apparatus interfaces with the communication interface of the second transfer-switch controller, at least a selected portion of the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller is provided to the second transfer-switch controller.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller comprises a wireless communication interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller comprises a pluggable feature.

10. A backup-memory apparatus for a transfer-switch controller, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to interface with a communication interface of a first transfer-switch controller, wherein the first transfer switch-controller is a controller for a given transfer switch;

a memory configured to store program instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor is capable of executing the program instructions to (i) receive from the first transfer-switch controller transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller, and (ii) store the received transfer-switch data in the memory, wherein the transfer-switch data includes data related to historical performance of the given transfer switch and data related to an in-phase monitor for monitoring a phase of a starting motor for the given transfer switch;

wherein the communication interface is capable of being removed from the communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller and thereafter interfacing with a communication interface of a second transfer-switch controller, wherein the second given transfer-switch controller is a replacement controller for the given transfer switch; and

wherein the processor is further capable of executing the program instructions to, after the communication interface interfacing with a communication interface of a second transfer-switch controller, provide the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller to the second transfer-switch controller for use by the second transfer-switch controller for startup of the starting motor in-phase.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising an enclosure that is configured to house the memory, the processor, and the communication interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller comprises data representative of operational settings for the first transfer-switch controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller comprises data related to maintenance data for the given transfer switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the communication interface of the first transfer-switch controller comprises a pluggable feature.

15. A transfer-switch controller for a transfer switch, wherein the transfer-switch controller comprises:

a communication interface configured to receive a memory device, wherein the memory device has stored information, wherein the stored information is transfer-switch data related to a first transfer-switch controller for the transfer switch, and wherein the transfer-switch data includes data related to historical performance of the transfer switch and data related to an in-phase monitor for monitoring a phase of a starting motor for the transfer switch;

a memory configured to store program instructions; and

a processor capable of executing the program instructions to:

(i) receive the stored information from the memory device;

(ii) use the received stored information as a basis to select transfer-switch settings for the transfer-switch controller for use in the transfer switch; and

(iii) cause the transfer-switch controller to operate according to the selected transfer-switch settings for startup of the starting motor in-phase.

16. The transfer-switch controller of claim 15 , wherein causing the controller to operate according the selected transfer-switch settings comprises changing default settings of the transfer-switch controller to the selected transfer-switch settings.

17. The transfer-switch controller of claim 15 , wherein the selected transfer-switch settings are the same as transfer-switch settings according to which the first transfer-switch controller operated.

18. The transfer-switch controller of claim 15 , wherein the selected transfer-switch settings are substantially the same as transfer-switch settings according to which the first transfer-switch controller operated.

19. The transfer-switch controller of claim 15 , wherein the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller for the transfer switch comprises data representative of operational settings for the first transfer-switch controller.

20. The transfer-switch controller of claim 15 , wherein the transfer-switch data related to the first transfer-switch controller for the transfer switch comprises data related to maintenance data for the transfer switch.

21. The transfer-switch controller of claim 15 , wherein the communication interface configured to receive a memory device is a pluggable feature.

22. The back-up memory apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second transfer-switch controller comprises a replacement controller for the given transfer switch.