For mission critical facilities, such as data centers and hospitals, emergency power generators simply cannot afford to fail. Regularly scheduled maintenance will help to make sure that your generator is ready when it’s called upon. That is why preventative maintenance such as load bank testing is of utmost importance. Load bank testing helps to ensure that your generator will be fully dependable and operational, as well as completely capable of the highest possible load it may be required to handle at any critical point in time.
What is load bank testing?
A generator load bank test involves an examination and assessment of a genset. It verifies that all primary components of the generator set are in proper working condition under loaded conditions.
The test puts a generator under varying load conditions and sees how the machine reacts to the power draw. This is not to be mistaken for the automatic exercising some generators do for a load test. These exercises turn on the device but do not put it under a load. Without testing the generator under load, you will not be able to gauge the health and performance capabilities of the generator.
Why is generator load bank testing important?
When a diesel engine powered genset is not used frequently or only run on light loads, it can be prone to experiencing unburned fuel and soot buildup in the exhaust system. This is called wet-stacking. When wet-stacking occurs, the genset is likely to perform poorly, to endure damage, can become a fire hazard, and can even lead to complete failure.
During a load bank test, the generator is allowed to run at full power and full temperature. This will cause any wet-stacking to burn off. Hence, a load bank test can determine whether the generator will function properly and efficiently on all levels, and eliminates any wet-stacking that may have built up within the generator.
Benefits of load bank testing
There are multiple reasons gensets should undergo a load bank test on an annual basis, including the following:
– Verifies the gensets capabilities opposed to just routinely starting it up
– Problems discovered early can be significantly less expensive and prevents future major issues
– Helps to avoid wet-stacking and cleans out carbon deposits
– Verifies the engine cooling systems will perform while under load
– Provides assurance that the genset should work properly when you need it most
GreenBay’s load bank testing of gensets is a wide-ranging service that monitors every critical component of your generator, including the engine temperature as well as the oil pressure. Throughout the testing process, we oversee the entire unit, ensuring that it runs at normal operating pressures and temperatures once optimal levels are achieved. Our aim is for your standby generator to operate more efficiently, thereby guaranteeing the unit is working exactly as it was designed to do.
During a load bank test, the generator is allowed to run at full power and full temperature. This will cause any wet-stacking to burn off. Hence, a load bank test can determine whether the generator will function properly and efficiently on all levels, and eliminates any wet-stacking that may have built up within the generator.
