By Healthcare Facilities Today

Florham Park, N.J. — Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) and a global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, debuts the Avtron® LPH150S, a portable load bank that's redefining performance benchmarks for full-load testing of 3.75 kW-150 kW capacity gensets, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

"Its operational flexibility and time savings for manpower and logistics produce a fast return on investment," said Mark Prevoznik, director of sales and marketing for Avtron, part of Emerson Network Power’s ASCO® Power business. "It breaks new ground for compact load banks with user friendly network control ability and high power absorption capacity."

All new features including full-load testing flexibility, the ability to operate up to 11 units from a single intelligent handheld terminal, proprietary resistive elements, a hybrid power absorption design and low-noise, high-velocity muffin fans for cooling combine to save time and reduce testing costs, especially for manpower and logistics.

Testing flexibility is provided with three, three phase 60 Hz ratings of 150 kW at 480 Vac and 240 Vac, and 112.5 kW at 208 Vac. Typically, 150 kW rated portable units provide a single voltage.

Up to 11 units can be daisy chained in the field and controlled with the Avtron Sigma 2 Intelligent Handheld Terminal--the control interface for all load bank functions. Compact load banks typically offer manual control with toggle switches, so the ability to control 11 units from a single controller significantly reduces manpower requirements, especially when testing multiple UPSs. Adding additional load banks is a simple 'plug 'n play' process.

Service and rental companies, and commissioning teams that test backup power installations and UPSs recognize the benefits of daisy chaining multiple load banks. A large load bank rental company, in fact, already has ordered a significant number of the units.

The microprocessor-based terminal displays volts, amps, frequency, kW, phase to phase amps, load programming, 16 point load profile capacity and Modbus. A 32.8 ft. connection cable is standard and a 20 ft. cable set with connectors is optional.

The Avtron LPH150S Load Bank also features a local control panel. Functions include on/off, start, stop and reset, test status and station select. Internal Safety circuits include load circuit fusing, wrong voltage protection, and air-fail and over-temperature protection.

Proprietary Avtron HelidyneTM resistive elements combine with industrial rated heating coils to provide high power absorption capacity at low voltage. This is the first time Avtron has integrated Helidyne elements and coils in a compact load bank.

High velocity, low noise muffin fans provide the required cooling for 150 kW of power in an enclosure measuring 37.48 in. high, 21.75 in. wide and 31.85 in. deep. Casters and heavy-duty lifting handles make the unit easy to move and position.

The Avtron LPH150S Load Bank facilitates satisfying NFPA 110 and state code requirements for full load testing of gensets and UPSs. The load bank provides stable and accurate loading compared to using variable building loads. The load bank can also maintain a minimum load which allows the genset to reach operating temperatures to help reduce "wet stacking" in gensets.

The Avtron LPH150S also is available with a 400V, 50 Hz rating and models with traditional manual, or custom controls will hit the market in the coming months. For more information on the Avtron LPH150S Load Bank, call (800) 800 ASCO (2726), email CustomerCare@Asco.com or visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com/ASCO.

About Emerson Network Power

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), delivers software, hardware and services that maximize availability, capacity and efficiency for data centers, healthcare and industrial facilities. A trusted industry leader in smart infrastructure technologies, Emerson Network Power provides innovative data center infrastructure management solutions that bridge the gap between IT and facility management and deliver efficiency and uncompromised availability regardless of capacity demands.  Our solutions are supported globally by local Emerson Network Power service technicians. Learn more about Emerson Network Power products and services at www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.

About Emerson 

Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world.  The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions.  Sales in fiscal 2013 were $24.7 billion.  For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.