UPS load bank testing in Toronto and Ontario
A load bank test proves that a UPS carries the load it is rated for and transfers cleanly, before a real outage tests it for you. Symetrix Canada coordinates UPS load bank testing for sites in Toronto, the GTA and Ontario: we scope the test with you, schedule a qualified load bank specialist, and keep the UPS side of the job in our hands. Requests get a reply and a quote within 4 business hours.
Key facts
- What it proves: output at rated load and clean transfers to and from bypass1
- When it is done: at commissioning, after major repairs or a battery replacement, and periodically on critical sites
- How we deliver it: we coordinate, with a qualified load bank specialist
- Response and quote: within 4 business hours
We coordinate this service with specialist partners.
What a UPS load bank test shows
- Capacity: the UPS delivers its rated output at the voltage and frequency it should, without alarms.
- Battery path: a short discharge proves the UPS goes to battery and back under load 1. Full runtime is a separate battery capacity test, booked with it if you need the figure.
- Transfers: the UPS goes to bypass and back cleanly under load.
- Heat: with infrared checks during the test, loose or undersized connections show up as hot spots. See power quality and thermography.
Resistive or reactive?
A resistive load bank applies a purely real load (unity power factor) and is the common choice for UPS testing. Resistive-reactive banks add an inductive component to test at a lower power factor, closer to some real loads. The UPS manufacturer’s documentation and the purpose of the test decide which is used 1.
How a test runs
- Scope: the UPS, the load steps, the duration and the pass criteria, agreed in writing.
- Isolate the critical load: it stays supported on maintenance bypass or another source during the test.
- Connect the load bank at the UPS output, using the access points the installation provides.
- Step the load up to the agreed level, recording output voltage, current and frequency at each step.
- Discharge briefly on battery to prove the battery path, or run a full capacity test if it is in the scope.
- Transfer tests to bypass and back.
- Report: readings at each step, any alarms, and what to do about them.
A manufacturer procedure gives an idea of scale: Eaton’s runs the UPS at 50% load for one hour and 100% load for 3 hours, with a battery discharge of up to 4 minutes, and has a certified electrician make the connections 1.
Common questions
What is load bank testing in a data centre?
Connecting an artificial load to a UPS or generator to prove it delivers its rated output, without putting the critical IT load at risk. Battery runtime is proved by a separate capacity test.
What is a load bank used for in UPS testing?
To load the UPS to a known level, usually up to its rating, and record its output, a short battery discharge and its bypass transfers under that load 1.
How often should a UPS be load tested?
At commissioning, after major repairs or battery replacement, and on a schedule set by the manufacturer's guidance and how critical the site is 1.
Is the load at risk during a load bank test?
It should not be. The critical load is moved to maintenance bypass or another source before the load bank is connected, under a method statement agreed in advance.
Request a quote
Reply and quote within 4 business hours; same day in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, and 24 to 48 hours elsewhere in Canada.
Sources
- Eaton, Load Bank Testing Scope of Work (Attachment L-6), steps 9 to 17
Updated