Everything You Need to Know
Generators are really important for the smooth running of a site, especially if they are there to come on in the event of a power outage. If you want to ensure that a generator is running well and will be able to give you the power you need when you need it, then load bank testing is something that should be carried out. Not sure what load bank testing is? Don’t worry! Here is everything you need to know about low and high voltage loadbanks and how they can help to protect your power supply.
How a load bank test works
First of all, what is a load bank test? It’s pretty simple, really! It sees you apply an electrical load to a generator so that you can see how it would perform in a real-life setting. Consider it something of a test run! If you don’t carry out a load bank test, then you are never going to be sure that your generator is in good working order. By the time it comes to needing it for real, you could be stuck with a model that just isn’t working, leaving you without power.
Here are just a few of the reasons load bank testing is so vital.
Check that your generator will perform as expected
As we just mentioned, a load bank is there to see how your generator would perform if it were being used for real. A load bank test will allow you to test your generator with a load that is equivalent to what you plan to use it for. This means that the length of load bank tests can vary hugely from person to person, with some needing low voltage load banks and others needing models at the higher end.
If you work with a trusted load bank hire company, they will be able to tell you what load bank you need and how long the test needs to be carried out for.
Can pick up weaknesses in the system
Your generator may have issues that have gone undetected for a long time, and quite often, the standard checks that they go under aren’t sensitive enough to pick these up. What is? You’ve guessed it: a load bank test. By testing it with the right electrical load, you will be able to see if there are issues that need addressing. This can prevent so much disruption and expense further down the line.
Prevents wet stacking
Now, for a technical term that you may not have heard of. Wet stacking is when a generator powered by diesel still retains some fuel in the system. This can come from it not being run at a high load often enough. This leftover fuel can damage the generator and reduce its efficiency. If you carry out regular load bank testing, then you will ensure that all fuel is being used and not building up.
What to do now
As you can see, load bank testing is really important if you are going to keep your generator in good condition. So why not get in touch with a trusted loadbank hire company today?
