westinghouse load resistor

[electricalperson]

when i was in school we had old westinghouse load resistor banks. you would flip knife switches to various posisions to get different resistance readings when we were playing with DC and simpson multimeters.

does anybody know if they still make a load resistor setup like this to test circuits with?

im thinking i can use it to put small loads on circuits to troubleshoot tripping arc faults or voltage drop on long runs

 

[iwire]

Load banks are available from many manufacturers in many different sizes and with many options

http://www.postglover.com/loadbanks.html

 

[iwire]

FWIW a large electric heat gun works pretty well load up branch circuits.

 

[electricalperson]

FWIW a large electric heat gun works pretty well load up branch circuits.

i used electric heatguns before for this but there not as cool as a load bank

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

It's sounds like you went to a pretty good school. I remember when I was in school the texts and teaching was great but the hands on was lacking. I used to do some pretty cool tests back at the apartment after school. I used to scared my new, young wife to death some times . So may tripped breakers and resistors on fire

GOOD TIMES!!!

Ah....I miss those good times.

 

[electricalperson]

we used to use just DC power in the lab where we got to use those resistors and simpson meters. we had small DC generators that we were coupled to a DC motor. we would put power to the motor and once it was up to speed we would switch power to the DC generator and it would run itself

 

[peter d]

FWIW a large electric heat gun works pretty well load up branch circuits.

That's what I use to load test my home generator.

 

[electricalperson]

That's what I use to load test my home generator.

i turn the dryer on to test mine

 

[LarryFine]

we had small DC generators that we were coupled to a DC motor. we would put power to the motor and once it was up to speed we would switch power to the DC generator and it would run itself

I don't think so, Tim.


Coast down slowly, maybe. Perpetual motion, nu-uh.

 

[brian john]

The load resistors you are talking about were most likely part of a wye/delta starter. Years ago I made a small load bank utilizing these.

 

[ohm]

I like to use something that makes noise, like a hole hawg or shop vac.

But be careful on MWBC's...you might fry them (or a TV) if you lift a neutral!

 

[electricalperson]

I don't think so, Tim.


Coast down slowly, maybe. Perpetual motion, nu-uh.

we had a DC generator coupled to a DC motor if i remember correctly

 

[electricalperson]

The load resistors you are talking about were most likely part of a wye/delta starter. Years ago I made a small load bank utilizing these.

its possible i dont really know where they came from

they were really old and very dangerous to touch when the power was on since all the blades were exposed and the resistors were exposed in the back

i dont remember the voltage we used

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

we had a DC generator coupled to a DC motor if i remember correctly

Larry is right. It's called perpetual motion and is impossible unfortunately.
motor turns generator which powers motor...

 

[electricalperson]

Larry is right. It's called perpetual motion and is impossible unfortunately.
motor turns generator which powers motor...

it might of powered another motor it was a long time ago