When hiring a load bank, it is important to let your provider know where the equipment will be used and what the site conditions are like. Suppliers such as Crestchic are used to providing load banks to suit varying applications across different continents, from the extreme heat of the Sahara and the cold of the Antarctic to the corrosive saline environments found in Marine environments. Letting your hire company know where the load bank will eventually be used – including the altitude, humidity and ambient temperature – can help them to specify the right equipment for the job.

Equally important is whether the load bank will be used indoors or outdoors. Load banks work by dissipating energy as heat, making it vital that there is space around the equipment for proper airflow, or that the correct type of equipment, such as a vertical blow machine, is used. When used indoors, it is critical that temperatures are monitored to prevent accidental activation of sprinkler systems, overheating or damage to the load bank.

Finally, it helps your supplier if you let them know if the load bank will need to be installed or delivered above ground level, as well as the distance it will be located from the generator. This will ensure that your supplier provides adequate manpower and cabling to successfully carry out testing.

Tomorrow’s focus: Working from generator nameplates and data tags