Crestchic is experiencing unprecedented demand for its new 200kW loadbank. The stackable loadbank – which was developed specifically for the data centre market – is designed to make heat load testing of server halls and electrical infrastructure simpler, faster, and more efficient.
Paul Brickman, Commercial Director at Crestchic, explains, “We’ve experienced astonishingly high demand across Europe – not just for the 200kW, but across our entire portfolio of loadbanks, for both hire and purchase. With the sector now expecting 99.999% uptime as standard and higher data centre density becoming the norm, testing cooling systems and performing integrated systems tests is increasingly important. As well as helping to identify any weaknesses before critical equipment is deployed, testing generates valuable data on performance under different loads, providing a baseline for future reference that can support troubleshooting down the line.”
At just 1159mm x 876mm x 983mm, the load bank has a small enough footprint for operators to link multiple machines and strategically place them at intervals around the hall. Operators can closely mimic the heat generated by servers, replicating airflow patterns and rack configurations such as hot and cold isles. Multiple load banks can be configured and controlled using just one LC10 handheld digital conbling fully remote operation and simple management of incremental loads.
In addition to heat load testing, the units connect to Power Distribution Units (PDUs), facilitating testing of the data centre’s electrical infrastructure, including power to servers, switches, bus track power units, feed tracks, tap-offs, and other devices. With heavy-duty casters, the loadbank has been built for easy manoeuvrability and can be positioned at each PDU in the server hall, for full system testing.
The units have one of the lowest Delta T rises on the market at below 100°C (at the exhaust face), providing a more accurate test of the cooling system’s ability to handle the actual heat load it will encounter during operation.
Crestchic offers a range of solutions for testing backup diesel generators and UPS, heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) systems, electrical bus and distribution cabling, and PDUs. Load testing at the commissioning stage and at regular maintenance intervals can ensure that systems remain operational and reduce the risk of unwanted and expensive downtime.
200kW units are available for short and long-term rental and purchase.
