A standby generator that's never been tested under load is a guess. Load banks apply a real, controlled electrical load so you find out what your system does at full duty, in a shed, on a schedule, rather than during an outage.
Our hire fleet is Crestchic, from 1kW up to 3.3MVA, and larger loads again by combining multiple banks. AC resistive and reactive. Smaller sets come trailered for easy transport, and we supply the cables to go with them.
Hire the load bank, or hand us the whole test
Most suppliers can drop a load bank at your gate. Fewer can run the test.
We do both. Hire a Crestchic set and run it yourself, or have our technicians perform the test, because load testing is something we already do as a service. Every generator we sell is load-tested before it leaves the workshop. Same equipment, same people.
- AC resistive and reactive banks, 1kW to 3.3MVA
- Combine multiple banks for larger loads
- Trailered smaller sets, cables supplied
- Four branches with technicians who run these tests routinely
Also available to hire
Why hire from Macfarlane
Powering Australia since 1949
Founded in Melbourne, still 100% Australian owned and operated.
Every unit PDI-tested
Fuelled, oiled, run and load-tested before dispatch. Most competitors just send the box.
We hire and install
Licensed electricians connect, load-test and commission on site. Not a delivery driver.
4 branches, 1 supplier
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth. National delivery, in-house servicing and genuine parts.
What we need to know before you hire one
Four things, and we can work the rest out from there:
- How much load, in kW or kVA, and at what voltage
- What you're testing - generator, UPS, or a full system
- Resistive or reactive. If you're proving the engine, resistive. If you're proving the alternator and voltage regulation under a realistic power factor, you need reactive
- Where. Site access decides whether it's a trailered set or something craned in
Not sure? Tell us what you're testing and we'll spec it.
What our customers say
Load bank hire FAQs
A resistive bank tests at unity power factor - it proves the engine can make its kW. A reactive bank adds inductive load so you can test at a lagging power factor, which is closer to a real site and proves the alternator and voltage regulation too. If you're commissioning to a spec, check what power factor it calls for.
Diesel generators that run at light load never get hot enough to burn their fuel completely. Unburnt fuel and soot build up in the exhaust and glaze the bores. It shortens engine life and, left long enough, it means a rebuild. Running the set against a load bank at proper duty burns it off. It's the main reason standby sets need periodic load testing.
From 1kW up to 3.3MVA, and larger loads again by combining multiple banks.
Yes. We load test every generator we sell as part of pre-delivery, so it's routine work for our technicians. Ask us about our load bank testing service.
Yes. Cables and supporting equipment come with the hire.
Yes. Load banks are available to buy as well as hire. Tell us the application and we'll quote both ways.
Every hire is quoted per job, because size, duration, delivery, installation and fuel all vary. Longer hires reduce the daily rate. Send an enquiry for a free, no-obligation quote.
Yes. We hire from single-day jobs through to long-term site contracts.
We hire and deliver from our Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth branches. Call 1300 MAC GEN and we'll connect you to your nearest team.