Some power engineering service providers specialize in a few services within a particular industry, while others offer numerous services that are applicable to various industries. In this entry, we list some critical services offered by the latter type of engineering service provider, some or all of which may be valuable to your company or organization's commercial power needs.
1. Load Bank Testing
Some companies have load banks onsite, but more common is for companies to rent load banks, usually to check the operating capacity of their back up generators and prevent wet stacking, which occurs when unburned fuel escapes a diesel generator's cylinders and fills its exhaust pipe, potentially creating a fire hazard. Given the usually infrequent need for load banking, renting a load bank is more cost effective than buying one.
2. Automatic Transfer Switch Installation/Maintenance
An automatic transfer switch controls your building's switchover to generator power in the event of a power outage, making it crucial to perform regular transfer switch maintenance, or have a switch replaced if necessary. Many buildings have generators that work fine but transfer switches that aren't properly maintained, a scenario that could render a generator inaccessible in the event of a power outage.
3. Breaker Testing
Improperly performing breakers can do more than lead to burned breaker panels; they can also ruin sensitive equipment by failing to protect it from too much current, as well as increase the likelihood of building fires. Having a power engineering service provider regularly test your breakers helps to prevent these things from happening.
4. Generator Retrofits
For older generators to keep performing like new, they eventually need retrofits that help to ensure their reliability, and make them compatible with a building's newer operating systems. In most cases, consummate retrofits to an older generator cost less than half of what it would to purchase a new generator.
5. Switchgear Installation/Maintenance
Keeping your switchgear properly maintained, and replacing it when necessary, is key to preserving the electrical equipment it isolates. In addition to switchgear installation and maintenance, some engineering service providers retrofit existing switchgear and construct custom switchgear when necessary.
6. Infrared Scanning
Infrared scanning is a quick, inexpensive way to discover maintenance issues before they turn into costly repairs and replacements. Infra red scanners can detect abnormal heat patterns emanating from electrical components of various sizes and types, identifying problems in the making. In terms of preventative maintenance, infrared scanning is without peer.
7. Equipment Rental
Some types of equipment commonly offered for rental by engineering service providers are: load banks, emergency generators, and power distribution units, although some companies offer a more extensive range of equipment. From concert events and construction projects to disaster recovery, rental power equipment can serve a variety of purposes.
