Contractors and engineers across industries are reaping the benefits of using remote-controlled load banks for their load bank testing needs. Remote load banks operate in much the same way as their non-remote counterparts. All unit ratings and circuit calculations, for instance, are the same, as are the basic protocols for bringing each load bank online. Whether you are conducting a standard annual NFPA-110 test, or a less demanding 25 or 50 percent unit rating test, the principles applied are the same.
But when it comes to overall efficiency, utility safety, and connectivity, remote controlled load bank testing is superior in every way. Here are some of the top considerations to help you decide if remotely controlled load bank testing is right for your project.
Cost Efficiency. Remote controlled load banks contribute to a significant reduction in labor costs with the need for fewer technicians and shortened testing times. With the CR Remote, a single technician can control up to 50 individual load banks at one time.
Accuracy. Several factors, including some listed here, contribute to an increase in accuracy for remote-driven load testing. Improved latency standards, custom software scripts, and shortened time cycles for testing each make remote load bank testing the most accurate and cost-effective form of load testing. Customization also allows testing for a variety of intricate scenarios including voltage lag. This increase in accuracy, in turn, provides contractors with greater confidence that their electrical system is prepared to be hooked up to the grid.
Latency. Latency refers to the length of time normally takes between an initial input signal received by a UPS system that power disruption has occurred and the UPS system’s ability to begin handling the electrical load necessary to continue data center operation. The Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) recommends latency below 16.6 milliseconds per cycle of AC wave, but industry average falls to a mediocre 120 milliseconds. Comrent’s LPH100, LPH400, LPH500, and XS665 remote load banks are the closest remote to achieving industry standard with a 20-millisecond latency response. This allows Comrent tests to more accurately emulate real-world standards than any other testing scenario in the marketplace.
Load Size and Complexity. Load size and complexity can vary dramatically from one project to another. Comrent’s expert staff can equip even the most complex data center projects with the proper remote load bank testing solution.
Timing. If your project is on a tight schedule, or even running behind, remote load bank testing might be the best way forward. Most load tests involve several important steps, but because all load functions in a remote unit can be controlled from the touchscreen panel, remote controlled load banks take the least amount of time to operate and are the most efficient type of load bank on the market.
Data Collection. Remote controlled load banks are an ideal choice if data collection is a primary concern. Comrent's CR Remote can display live statistical feedback, as well as collect and store vital data in its 64-gigabyte internal hard drive. It also has a USB input for quick and easy data transfers and comes equipped with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter for use over a dedicated Ethernet system.
If you are considering using remote-controlled load banks for your next project, give one of our experts a call at 888-881-7118, and they will walk you through a complimentary consultation.
You can also request a quote for additional information on load banks for any application.
