> Is there not a way to test generators without actually having them power the live datacenter infrastructure? I mean, simulate the exact generation and load re

> Is there not a way to test generators without actually having them power the live datacenter infrastructure? I mean, simulate the exact generation and load requirements that the generators will face? That would exercise transfer switches in addition to generators. Transfer switches are always energized, except for the time an equivalent of a big red mechanical switch is flipped into "OFF" position. When it is in the off position, neither main or generator are going to provide power to the customer. The biggest power consumer is actually a cooling system. If a HVAC system stops functioning in a typical data center, the temperature would quickly rise to the level of Arizona desert, destroying metric tons of equipment. Transfer switches have certain properties where after a flip they may not go back to the correct state on power restore ( say 1% ). Normally it is not a big deal because you really need to have lose power under full load often to get bit by it and if you are losing power that much you should probably address it with the utility company. However, if you are doing your full test once a week, in one year you would introduce 52 power failures. Say your transfer switch is stuck in a wrong position. Now you need to shutdown all heat generating equipment to when you drop power to fix/replace the failed component you don't melt your data center... Congratulations, your data center now has to go offline.