• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

genset loadbanks

W

Waukesha

Member
77
31
18
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
I was able to source a Swift E Ultra 20KW load bank used through that online auction site for $500 shipped. Works great. As others have said, there's more cost effective ways to accomplish this task. I have an all gas house, and no space to store an electric stove, and live in an HOA neighborhood. I can't run a 55gal drum full of water, etc. Good luck!
 
S

shanekarl

Member
55
57
18
Location
Fort Worth, Texas - USA
Waukesha said:
I was able to source a Swift E Ultra 20KW load bank used through that online auction site for $500 shipped. Works great. As others have said, there's more cost effective ways to accomplish this task. I have an all gas house, and no space to store an electric stove, and live in an HOA neighborhood. I can't run a 55gal drum full of water, etc. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback! I have decided to wait for a 30kw or larger load bank. Hopefully ill run across one for a fair price in the next few months or so.
 
M

mrbearski

New member
2
1
3
Purchased a MEP-003a a few weeks and am in the process of getting it going. Also working on building a load bank to be able to fully test it once running. From what I have acquired, I believe that I will be able to test all the way up to 17.4 kw in 500 watt increments all for an investment of about $250, plus whatever my son costs me to fabricate a case for it. Once done, I'll attempt to attach some pics.
 
W

Waukesha

Member
77
31
18
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Guyfang said:
The Swift E is a VERY good load Bank. Smaller, easy to transport. But the A427A is built like a beast. Its not something you can walk away with!.
Click to expand...
As it goes, mine was actually damaged in shipping. I picked up the box (yes they shipped it in a cardboard box...) and noticed something was loose inside, and dents on the sides. I sent pictures to the seller and they promptly refunded my money and told me to keep it! I was able to reassemble the contactors and it works great. It's definitely NOT built like a tank. But it works :)
 
D

deherenman

Member
47
27
18
Location
Texas
Looking at building a load bank versus buying two 5kw shop heaters.

Looking on Depot, it looks like 35 00-4500 and 5500 water heater elements are anywhere from $9 to $13 a piece.

My question is how much? CFM is coming out of the great above the radiator? On the 803a. I rig up a mount and air cool those water heating elements with the amount of cfms that are being blown from the radiator fan alone?

Versus putting them in a 55 gallon drum of water.

Just putting this out there for food for thought
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mullaney

Mullaney

Well-known member
Staff member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
Supporting Vendor
8,069
20,466
113
Location
Charlotte NC
deherenman said:
Looking at building a load bank versus buying two 5kw shop heaters.

Looking on woke Depot, it looks like 35 00-4500 and 5500 water heater elements are anywhere from $9 to $13 a piece.

My question is how much? CFM is coming out of the great above the radiator? On the 803a. I rig up a mount and air cool those water heating elements with the amount of cfms that are being blown from the radiator fan alone?

Versus putting them in a 55 gallon drum of water.

Just putting this out there for food for thought
Click to expand...
.
I think dropping in two heating elements into a 55 gallon bucket of water would work well. At least for a little while. The water will heat up and the water will boil off eventually.
 
C

Coug

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
3,081
4,585
113
Location
Olympia/WA
Water heater elements typically only have the element portion in the water, so SAFELY mounting them into something like a 55 gallon barrel or bucket of water is extremely important.

Exposed electrical connections for one, especially if you are mounting them vertically down into the top of the bucket/barrel. Also needing to properly ground the electrode housing and water do make it a little more complicated than just sticking the electrode into water and calling it good.

It might cost more, but using shop heaters or an old dryer is a lot safer.
 
reset2

reset2

Active member
192
88
28
Location
Myersville MD
Might seem odd but an oven works too. I own and work on rental properties. Had an oven scheduled for delivery and thought time for a load test. Forgot to do an amprobe measurement at the time for actual current draw, but with four stovetop burners and the oven on the 803's gauge showed 75%.
If you zoom in you can see my plug adapters for different configurations of cords.


Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
 
2

2Pbfeet

Well-known member
602
1,177
93
Location
Mt. Hamilton, CA
uniquify said:
NorthernTool.com has a couple overhead garage heaters on clearance today.

5000w for $76.99 pics show 3/4/5 kw settings
7500w for $65.99 pics show 7.5/5 kw settings

Both of those are a "Keebar" brand, which I've never tried nor heard of before, but the price is cheap.

Click to expand...
Great price!

Personally, having looked inside a few of them, I think that these heaters are all made by the same global manufacturer. YMMV. I have one of the 10kW ones. Inside, the circuit boards appeared to be designed for absolute lowest cost, and were all set up for and ready for 3 phase 240V, and just needing to move a couple of wires.

All the best,

2Pbfeet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
112,619members
166,198threads
2,340,884posts
1,023online users
Top