Diesel Generator Load Bank Testing and Exercise Records: Why the Log Matters
What generator exercising and load bank testing are for, why a standby diesel generator needs a record of both, and what the customer's generator log should show after each PM.
- Published
A standby generator is judged on one moment: when the power fails, does it start and carry the load? Most of its life is spent waiting, so the only way to know is to run it. Exercising and load bank testing are how that gets proven between outages, and the log is how the customer can show it was done.
This page describes generator exercising and load testing at the category level. How often, for how long, and at what load all come from the generator manufacturer's documentation and any requirements that apply to the installation.
Exercising versus load bank testing
- Exercising runs the generator on a schedule so its engine, fuel system, and controls do not sit idle indefinitely.
- Load bank testing connects the generator to a controlled artificial load so it can be run at a meaningful level without depending on the building's load. A diesel that only ever runs lightly loaded can develop problems that a proper load run reveals.
Why the record matters
For many generator customers, such as facilities, property managers, rental fleets, and anyone with critical equipment, the record is not paperwork. It is how they show their team, their insurer, or an inspector that the generator was maintained and tested. A generator log that shows what was run and what was found is part of what the customer is paying for.
Some installations have their own testing requirements, set by codes or standards that apply to that site. Those requirements belong to the installation, not to a generic checklist. Confirm them with the customer.
What the customer's record should show
After each visit the record should show what exercise or load test was run, how the generator performed, what was serviced, and what is due next. See what belongs in a PM report for the customer.
For the full visit, see the diesel generator maintenance checklist.
Record it in Blue Collar Parts
The generator PM form has a Load-Bank Exercise Record & Operating Maintenance section, and its header asks for the date and engine hours of the last load-bank test, so the log carries forward from one visit to the next. Findings, readings and notes are entered item by item, and they land in the record your customer receives. See how to record a PM service, then send the record to your customer.
Preventive maintenance is not a federal annual inspection and does not establish regulatory compliance. This page describes a system at the category level. Use the equipment manufacturer’s current service documentation for the items to check, procedures, specifications, and service intervals.