Load Bank Hire vs. Load Bank Purchase
Many critical businesses make use of generators for uninterrupted power supply. They use generators as a backup power supply in case of any emergencies. These industries or businesses include the IT sector, banks, food industry, agricultural industry, and many emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, Air transportation industry, Police, and many more.
In case the power goes off suddenly then it may result in anything right from the loss of important data of consumers to the loss of human lives due to failed medical procedures. Thus, to avoid such situations, regular testing of generators and other equipment becomes a necessity!
You might say, why testing? Instead, you can use backup power generators. But what if the backup generator fails too when it is most needed? Exactly, that’s where the load banks come into the picture!
What a Load Bank is Exactly?
Load banks are devices that can test emergency or standby generators by applying an artificial load. These load banks are needed to make sure that backup generators perform well without failure when they are needed the most.
Companies need to perform the first test when the generators are installed first before they start working. Routine or regular testing with the help of load banks is necessary to ensure that the backup supply will provide adequate protection in case of a power outage. Depending upon the unique needs of your organization, you can decide whether to purchase a load bank or rent one!
Though both options have their pros and cons, we will help you to make the right choice for your business.
Frequency of Load Bank Testing
You test your generators when you first install them. For this testing, you need a load bank. Many businesses and industries, be they private or government, require periodic load bank testing. Especially, in industries such as Healthcare, data centers, and Air transportation industries where the continuous working of backup power generators is very essential, there load bank testing at regular time intervals would be required.
It is also a fact that the generator’s age and condition, changing power requirements, and many other factors will impact generator performance over time. And thus to check the condition of the generator, its working ability, etc. they should be tested with load banks at regular time intervals.
Most organizations won’t need to load banks daily, weekly, or even monthly. That is the reason why you should consider some factors before you decide to rent or buy a load bank.
When to Consider a Load Bank on Hire?
- If you own a generator at a site or have contracts to manage and maintain generators across multiple sites then load bank rental will be more suitable for you instead of purchasing a generator and keeping it at only one site. Thus, your generator’s load bank testing requirements are important.
- Also, if you need a range of voltages and power factors to complete your tests then load bank hire would be logistically and financially more appropriate for you.
- Space – This is an important point to consider too. If you have less space then load bank rental would be an easy option as the space will be used for a few weeks only. The organization also doesn’t have to worry about full-time storage, repairs, maintenance, or protection of the load bank if they rent it. On the other hand, if you buy it, you will have to permanently lose your space.
- Right Power Testing Expertise – Do you have the right in-house expertise to test your equipment? To help you out in case of any unexpected emergencies?
If you have them within your organization then you do not need to worry. Otherwise, if you want to benefit from the experience and knowledge of a dedicated technician, then renting your load back will give you access to a team of specialists that can support you in the early days as the load bank rental companies can provide the expertise to transport, install, and remove the machines. - Affordability – This is one of the important points to consider too. Small businesses or new businesses cannot afford to purchase a load bank in the initial days. Instead, a load bank on rental would solve their purpose. Many load bank companies provide such load bank rental
When to Buy or Purchase a Load Bank?
- Will you always use a load bank at the same voltage?
- Is your need for a load bank for only one location?
- For how many weeks you will use it at a time? For two or three weeks?
- Is your requirement multiple times per year?
If your answers to the above questions is ‘yes’, then purchasing a load bank would be the correct option for you!
There are many benefits to purchasing a load bank.
- It is always handy to you anytime whenever you want to run the tests for your backup generators.
- This would be vital for mission-critical environments such as hospitals, data centers, banks, etc.
- You will benefit from the fewer admin costs too.
- As load banks not only test generators but also help to prolong the life of generators, buying load banks is a wiser decision in many cases.
Conclusion
As discussed, the decision of whether to buy a load bank or rent one differs from business to business and on the individual’s needs.
You may want to rent for now for some reason and later you may decide to buy a container load bank. In that case, buying from the manufacturer you have rented from will mean the equipment is familiar to you and results will be consistent for you.
The safety and performance of your backup power supply are also important. Hence, choosing a partner that can offer a combination approach, that is, load bank hire and load bank purchase, plus the expertise to support you in whichever method you choose, will work the best for you!
We, at Perennial Technologies, provide you with both load bank sales and rentals. In any case, we provide you with the expertise to transport, install, inspect, and maintain your devices. Join us and leave your worries to us, right from installing new generators, or performing scheduled testing.
