Questions That You Need to Ask Before Seeking a Rental Load Bank

Load bank testing is an effective approach in determining that the data centre functioning is in proper shape. Whenever it comes to searching for a specialist who knows the ins and outs involving load bank functioning you ought to be careful. At first it may appear difficult for you to ascertain differences among providers and the requirements which are applicable for a certain data centre. Following are questions you will want to ask to ensure you have selected the right provider for the data centre project

Whether the Equipment is Accessible and Reliable

Firstly data centres involve complex networking which further relies on well-built infrastructure. The power system should be tested as an individual component within a system and in this regard it is vital to select a certain load bank rental provider who offers a set of required equipment for complying with individual needs. Some vital questions to clarify for understanding accessibility or reliability of the equipment are as follows: 

• What is the strength of your inventory? What kinds of load banks are in stock? 
• What is the delivery timeline? 
• Do you have proper equipment for testing multiple components simultaneously for ensuring the system is operating as per expectations? 
• What kinds of protection do you require for ensuring that the equipment is in perfect condition to be transported? 
• Which steps can you pursue when the product gets damaged especially during delivery? 

What Are the Full-services Offered? 

The thorough load test will incorporate testing of generators, switchgears and uninterrupted power supply. Also the testing will include machineries like cooling systems, batteries and Power Distribution Units. The load bank rental service provider will furthermore serve as the industry expert or consultant. This expert further has knowledge regarding “data centre market”. While building customisable testing plans each test is managed ensuring that labour requirements are reduced. Meanwhile the process helps curtail on associated costs. 

Hence the following are questions to enquire the resistive/reactive loadbank provider to get an understanding of their service offerings: 

• How much experience do you hold in load testing for data centres? 
• How is it possible for you to ensure that the specifications pertaining to the testing of data will adhere to the data center commissioning requirements? 
• If my in-house team is unaware of the processes involved in load testing, will you offer them training? 
• What are the major safety precautions you ensure for our onsite personnel? 

These are key questions to ask the load bank provider before seeking a rental solution. 

Best Practices to Safeguard Reactive Load Bank

Load bank testing is imperative for commissioning, verification, and maintenance of power systems. Maintenance of a safe workplace and understanding the load testing fundamentals is absolutely imperative for promoting safe and efficient testing. And in this endeavour, reactive load banks play a crucial role. However, to make sure the loadbank plays to its potential you need to maintain the load bank properly. Now there are various aspects of safeguarding these load banks. 

Protecting the Personnel

Engaging qualified personnel is imperative for successful testing. An experienced and qualified operator or technician must properly ascertain and understand all the applications for ensuring the correct set up of the load bank and its application along with operation. The testers need to have the capacity of safely administering the load test, and operate the load bank under a variety of conditions, and assess the preset capabilities with the use of handheld operators or other devices. Besides, every member of the load testing team needs to understand and anticipate the potential response of the load bank to the incidents like shut down or errors. 

Scheduling the Tests

Fixing the time and frequency for the conduction of the load test in most cases depends upon the requirement of the concerned facility along with the standards or regulations that are applicable to the facility. Mission-critical facilities like data centres, hospitals, power plants, production units, financial institutes must have backup power hubs that need precision load testing by reactive load banks. 

However, before the initiation of the load test, it is important to carry out the review of the test procedures, as well as regulations of the facilities in question. Non mission-critical generators powered by diesel are normally exercised at 30% to 50% of their full load capacity once or twice a month for about 30 minutes. During this ruin time, lubrication of mechanical components, prevention of oxidation of various electrical components, and estimation of the consumption of fuel is evaluated. It is during this time when load bank testing is also conducted to see how much the generator will respond to the emergency situation. 

Calibration

A number of manufacturers of load banks put to use a wide spectrum of integrated electronics for controlling and monitoring their products. Hence, the users of these load banks must check the operational methods and the accuracy of the load banks. This can be done by calibrating the load banks periodically or as per the specifications of the manufacturers. 

Proper calibration guarantees that the electronic components and controls are sensing and communicating with the load bank correctly and flawlessly sensing the parameters, and are displaying correct information. 

All these are needed to maintain the load bank and ensure that it performs optimally. 

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