Kohler Generator Load Bank Testing

Servicing the Southeastern United States

Call TAW Power Systems to Schedule A Load Test: 800-333-9449.

TAW is the premier provider of Load Bank Testing for Kohler and All Major Manufacturer Power Systems. We are the largest independent repair and service facility of Kohler and all competitive manufacturers in the Southeastern United States, also servicing the Caribbean and Central America. Our 14 facilities are located throughout Florida and Georgia, including Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Lakeland, Atlanta, Savannah, Macon and Augusta.

TAW Load Bank Testing meets all these industry requirements:

NFPA 110 2002 Edition
7.13.6 A load shall be applied for a 2-hour, full load test. The building load shall be permitted to serve as part or all of the load, supplemented by a load bank of sufficient size to provide a load equal to 100 percent of the nameplate kW rating of the EPS, less applicable derating factors for site conditions.
7.13.6.1 A unity power factor shall be permitted for on-site testing, provided that rated load tests at the rated power factor have been performed by the manufacturer of the EPS prior to shipment.

NFPA 110 specifies a 2-hour onsite load test. The State of Florida AHCA requires the same NFPA 110 testing plus an additional 2-hour test and unit step load test. Both authorities accept an on-site unity power factor test if a rated load test has been performed at the factory prior to the generator set being shipped.

What’s the difference?
Unity (1.0 PF) Load Test
A unity power factor load test is performed with a resistive load bank. The primary purpose of this test on-site is to "prove" the proper installation of the generator set. The resistive load-bank provides a load equal to the KW/power rating of the generator set. If the generator set has been properly installed, i.e. the fuel system (fuel lines, pumps & tanks) is able to deliver adequate fuel; the exhaust system (exhaust pipe & muffler) is sized properly so as to not create too much back-pressure on the engine and the cooling system (air intake & exhaust louvers, ductwork) is sized to provide adequate air flow to cool the engine without too much back-pressure on the radiator fan, then and only, will the engine be able to produce sufficient horsepower to pull the full rated load. Usually a deficiency in an installation will be apparent in the first two hours of a load test. Systems that are "borderline" may take longer before they reveal a problem, however almost always within a four-hour load test. TAWPS recommends all new installations be load tested to "prove" the installation is proper.

Rated Load Test @ 0.8 PF
A 0.8 PF load test is performed with an inductive load bank and it’s best to have this done at the factory as a final test after production. The primary purpose of this test after production is to see if the alternator is running at the proper temperature rise and there are no apparent hot spots that may lead to premature failure of the windings. The inductive load-bank provides a load equal to the KVA rating of the alternator at 0.8 PF. Rated power factor testing is also performed during the prototype testing phase to rate the alternator based on the temperature rise measured at the rated power factor. TAWPS recommends this test be performed on all new generators before they are shipped. It’s a waste of time and the customer’s money to do this test on the jobsite.

Call TAW Power Systems to Schedule a Load Test: 800-333-9449.

E-Mail: tawinfo@tawinc.com