Load Bank?

[derf]

What is a good dummy load for a genset? Electric heater?

 

[docfarmall]

I found a bunch of load banks off the shop trailers anyone needs them
call me quick

 

[derf]

How big and would shipping be reasonable?

 

[wreckerman893]

They are big and heavy...shipping would be a beotch unless you could get them shipped via "SS Express".

 

[Isaac-1]

For small to mid size ones try finding an old electric stove top or two if they output 240V single phase.
Ike

 

[FireFighterHill]

Space heaters and base board heaters make great cheap easy to assemble load banks.

 

[docfarmall]

Shipping aint that bad

 

[cornrichard]

I would use a Margarita machine. That way all the electricity generated would be turned into party.

 

[orren]

Interested in load bank. Is there a rating marked on them such as Kilowatts, Voltage,etc.?
If so, please post what you have.

Thanks, Orren

 

[DieselBob]

I use 2 4500 watt water heater elements ($12 each) in a 55 gallon drum (free). Have them switched with 2 240v 30 amp switches so I can very the load.

 

[docfarmall]

I saw each one has like 4 or 5 . 3kw switches . There are three different load banks there.

 

[derf]

I picked up a twin heating element today from a guy I bought a generator from. I dunno the wattage or anything but next gen I get running I'll hook up to it and see what happens. I plan to hook up one element to 240V and see what kind of current it draws. I recently picked up an oven for powder coating and I'm thinking it might be a good test load with two oven elements and four stove elements.

 

[islandguydon]

I use a electric oil filled radiator style heater, 3 settings 120v, 500 watt, 1000 watt, 1,500 watt. 3 ways to check a load and if you need more double or triple up.

 

[derf]

I use a electric oil filled radiator style heater, 3 settings 120v, 500 watt, 1000 watt, 1,500 watt. 3 ways to check a load and if you need more double or triple up.

I have one of those. But, I want to be able to test up to 10kW and 240V.

 

[PeterD]

OK, what I use...


1. I have three of those (little) oil-filled electric heaters, total draw can be about 4500 watts (assuming three phase).
2. Then I have a bunch of electric baseboard units that were removed from my daughter's house.
3. My (old) electric stove (now my powder-coat oven), and
4. An old electric hot water heater, rewired with two elements. (When using fill with cold water, and leave both fill and outlet open to allow steam to escape. With this you must watch to make sure it doesn't over heat the elements.

 

[derf]

I've thought about water heaters but they require too much maintenance, filling with water, etc. Plus, steam adds a new element of danger to an already testy situation, so to speak.

 

[PeterD]

derf, that's true, but any load bank will get hot if it is working... Even those oil heaters will reach temperatures of 200 degrees (F) in normal operation (I checked, right after the guy who was helping me said "Dang, that's hot!")

But agreed, a water heater is a poor last choice, IMHO as well.

 

[derf]

Yeah, I pictured a bunch of heating elements open to the air with a fan blowing on them to keep them from overheating.

 

[steelandcanvas]

I use 2 4500 watt water heater elements ($12 each) in a 55 gallon drum (free). Have them switched with 2 240v 30 amp switches so I can very the load.

Bob, Would happen to have a few photos of your load bank to share with us? I have thought of different ways to go about load testing my 003A, but this by far, sounds like the best way.

 

[PeterD]

The MEP-004's "factory" load bank is positioned in front of the radiator to allow the engine's fan to cool it. An excellent idea considering just how much heat it can produce. I think, for three phase, that three oven elements would make a good load bank, and it should not be that hard to mount them so that you can get cooling air (big box fan if necessary?) Most oven elements are about 4 KW so that would give you a 12 KW load (bit less if 208 three phase, however) and if you combined with broiler elements (say get three scrap stoves) you probably will have 5 KW load per leg.