What are the Advantages of Using Load Bank Testing?
As with any types of essential work equipment, tests must be carried out on UPS and generators to ensure that they are operating as they should be doing and to mitigate any potential issues that could arise if they were to fail.
UPS and generators are a critical solution for many businesses, providing backup power in incidents such as power blackouts and protecting equipment from damage caused by power surges. If these systems do not perform as they should when they are needed to, this can cause major disruption and avoidable costs, so regular testing is very important.
What is load bank testing?
Load bank testing is one type of testing that is performed on UPS and generators, involving the proving of load capabilities. The process includes checking the condition of your UPS batteries and monitoring individual battery/cell voltages.
Ideally, you want to have a load test around a week after you first power your system and then on an annual basis after that. Performing load testing too often can use up battery life, so once a year is usually the best approach.
Key benefits of load bank testing:
Tests for reliable performance
Load testing enables you to assess how the generator or UPS will perform in the event of a power supply problem. It will confirm whether the system can maintain the full load without encountering issues such as shutting down or becoming overheated. Load bank testing will provide the confidence that your UPS will deliver the required level of power and autonomy.
Identifying potential component failures
The testing can help to find components that have reached the end of their design life and will imminently fail. This will enable the relevant components to be replaced before any major catastrophe occurs.
Proactive maintenance can be established
Most maintenance happens reactively, where a problem happens and then the part is fixed. In this case, the unplanned problem can disrupt productivity and calling out an engineer and ordering parts may take some time.
With proactive maintenance, parts can be replaced before failure, saving the time taken to fix the part and also preventing larger-scale disruption. The maintenance can be planned at the most convenient time, to minimise the impact on productivity.
Provides records
The testing provides documentation of performance details to enable better analysis and monitoring of trends. By having accurate records, it will help to monitor and predict when parts will need replacing.
Load bank testing is a vital part of an effective UPS battery maintenance schedule, providing valuable insight into how the UPS will perform under real load. Secure Power offers load bank testing, as well as full maintenance service, so you can benefit from all of the advantages listed above, including minimising business disruption and making cost savings through proactive maintenance.
Contact our team today to arrange comprehensive UPS or generator load testing to ensure your business avoids the potential consequences of a failed system when there is a power cut.