[OT] Generator testing

Alex Hewitt hewitt_tech at comcast.net
Tue Sep 8 20:24:39 EDT 2009


Dan Jenkins wrote:
> This is only tangentially related to Linux, but I'd like to gather your 
> thoughts.
>
> We have a client who installed a backup generator for their buildings 
> some months ago, which is all to the good.
>
> The unusual thing, to me, about it is that they test it in the middle of 
> every week during normal work hours. First thing in the morning, the 
> power in all the buildings goes off for about 20-60 seconds when they 
> switch to the generator, and then does it again 5-10 minutes later when 
> they switch back. The servers, all but one running Linux (to bring this 
> slightly on-topic), are protected by UPSes, so they aren't directly 
> affected. The network switches, wireless access points, printers, and 
> computers scattered throughout the buildings, however, are not so 
> protected. Everyone is supposed to turn off their equipment Tuesday 
> night, but often individuals forget. They have noticed it takes the 
> network awhile to operate normally after this weekly event. Not 
> surprisingly with a flood of DHCP requests and SMB network convergence 
> happening when several hundred computers are turned on. Some of the 
> network switches and access points require a power cycle. We have seen a 
> slight increase in equipment failures, largely among the oldest devices. 
> We have proposed a plethora of UPSes to support the network devices, 
> however, that has not yet been approved, and may not be until next year. 
> We have also requested a less frequent test cycle and relocation to a 
> weekend, so far to no avail.
>
> My question, is it normal to test a generator weekly, during operating 
> hours, and is it normal to shutdown all the power in the buildings to 
> test it? It seems wrong to me & to the maintenance director, however, 
> the company which installed the equipment says this is normal operation. 
> Someone involved with the project implied it is a legal requirement in 
> some manner. Does any of that jibe with others experiences?
>
> Thanks enormously for any feedback.
>
> --
> Dan Jenkins, Rastech Inc., Bedford, NH, 1-603-206-9951
> *** IT Support for 30 years
>
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>   

I have one medical client that does exactly what you  are describing. I 
believe they are mandated by a state of New Hampshire  Health and Human 
Services regulation to perform their generator testing during the day on 
weekdays. In their case they have heavy duty UPSs to carry their load.  
I know exactly where all the UPSs are located because they had a failure 
and asked me  to  figure out how to fix the problem. The UPSs at the 
time were almost 10 years old and overdue for replacement.

-Alex

P.S. Most of their computer resources are not connected to the 
generators/UPSs which are used to keep OR lights and equipment on.




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