Resistive Vs. Reactive Loadbank- What’s Best for You?

by James Spencer Blogger

An apparatus used to release electrical energy is a loadbank. It is applied to the testing and calibrating of inverters, generators, and other electrical apparatus. There are two primary categories of load banks: reactive and resistive. Most people often get confused between the two.

Let us strike a comparison between reactive loadbank and resistive loadbank on the basis of the following aspects.

Electrical Resistance

Purely resistive devices, such as heating elements or resistor grids, make up resistive loadbanks. These substances provide electrical current with resistance, transforming electrical energy into heat.

Both resistive and reactive components are included in reactive loadbanks. They also include reactance, which stands in for the inductive or capacitive load on the power supply, in addition to resistance.

The Use

Resistive loadbanks are mostly utilised to test and validate the power output and functionality of generators, UPSs, and other power sources. They aid in ensuring that the power supply can deliver a steady and consistent load.

Power sources' capacity to manage actual (active) and reactive powerloads is tested using reactive loadbanks. This aids in evaluating the generator's or power system's overall performance and power factor.

Applications

Reactive loadbanks are frequently used to test power factor correction equipment, evaluate the operation of power factor correction capacitors, and determine the effects of reactive power on generators and transformers.

Power systems' normal maintenance, commissioning, and acceptance testing frequently involve the usage of resistive loadbanks. They are appropriate for applications that demand a constant and stable load.

Advantages

The simplicity and dependability of resistive load banks is one of their key benefits. They offer a simple way to test power sources and are simple to regulate.

Reactive loads may be used to imitate real-world situations, which is the major benefit of reactive loadbanks. This can aid in locating possible problems with reactive power management and power factor correction.

These are some of the basic comparisons between resistive and reactive loadbanks. You may pick the best load bank for your needs by taking into account all of these criteria. Remember that a good loadbank can offer multiple benefits; therefore, be sure to choose a good one!