Any standby power generator needs adequate maintenance to remain in top running condition. Testing allows service professionals to determine any weaknesses or developing problems with a commercial secondary source. Transfer switches, switchgear, load capacity, circuits, lubrication, and operational performance are among the many items a technician may evaluate during a typical preventative maintenance visit. An infrared scan of the entire system may be run to identify failing components, overloads, load imbalances, and existing connection problems. The time required to complete this scan is determined by facility size. A smaller facility may be completed within a day whereas larger ones could take two to three.
Additional non-invasive tests may be run on individual components such as breakers to identify problems and evaluate their performance. Dependable professionals will follow the recommendations of the manufacturer along with their own power generator testing protocols.
Breaker Testing: A Critical Part of Generator Maintenance
Breakers are an electrical switch designed to protect individual circuits from being damaged. Harm may be caused by a current overload or the shorting of a circuit. When a fault is detected between connectors, electrical flow may be halted until the problem is resolved. An overload occurs when the supplied electrical flow is higher than what should be coming in. The breaker stops flow by flipping to an off position in order to prevent circuit damage. Loose connections can be another cause for overloading and are required to be checked on a generator during routine maintenance. Breaker testing identifies possible causes for overloading which allows the technician to complete the necessary repairs. Short circuits happen when two hot wires of the same type or in combination with a neutral wire touch. Wire breaks are also a possible cause of circuit issues. Ground faults where the hot wire touches either the breaker box metal or the ground wire are another type of short circuit situation.
Breakers are current limiters which monitor the flow of a particular circuit. They include a spring loaded switch and a bimetallic strip. Overheating due to various reasons makes the strip bend so the switch can be tripped. This portion is designed to handle small surges while an additional component provides faster switching during a large surge. It consists of an electromagnet with wire loops surrounding an iron piece. When a large surge happens, the strip is pulled down almost instantaneously to provide immediate protection.
Breaker testing ensures interior components are in good working order and functioning as designed. It can drastically reduce the chances of a tripped breaker when the secondary power source is required. Insulation, contact, and connection resistance are among the many factors tested during a visit. Contacts may need to be adjusted or replaced on individual breakers. All parts are cleaned, lubricated, and replaced or repaired if needed. Any business relying on a secondary source for supplied power should have regular power generator testing and maintenance performed. Generator efficiency is greatly hindered when suggested care is not completed. The system may not kick on in an emergency or outage situation. A preventative maintenance schedule is the best way to increase the dependability of any backup system.
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