Avtron 3020
200 kW resistive load bank on castors for 400 V 50 Hz data hall commissioning, 1 kW steps under SIGMA LT
Avtron 3020 is one of 16 load banks tracked in the SecondWatt catalogue, each with specifications, lead times and indicative secondary-market pricing.
Avtron 3020 200 kW resistive load bank for data hall commissioning: 1 kW steps, 400V 50 Hz, IP54, CE. Specs, inspection points and pricing context.
The Avtron 3020 is a 200 kW resistive, unity-power-factor load bank on castors, rated 400 V at 50 Hz. Avtron states it was developed specifically for data center HVAC commissioning and verification, which is an unusually direct statement of purpose for a load bank. Step resolution is 5 kW as standard and 1 kW with the SIGMA LT hand-held, giving 40 or 200 discrete steps. Up to 25 units can be networked and driven together or individually. It sits on the Froment UK platform rather than the Cleveland one. Elements are a 6 block configuration of 80/20 nickel-chrome wire embedded in compacted magnesium oxide inside stainless steel sheaths, and the unit is CE marked to the EMC and Low Voltage Directives with electrical enclosures to IP54. Specifications must never be carried across from the Helidyne and UL 508A machines such as the 2905 and 4900. Avtron names it in the March 2026 Rest of World data centre brochure as air cooled data hall commissioning. It is also the deepest stock item Avtron lists, with 31 units at 150 kW and 33 at 200 kW held for immediate delivery. A 150 kW build therefore exists alongside the 200 kW rating the datasheet covers.
Why it matters
With the SIGMA LT hand-held the 3020 resolves 1 kW on a 200 kW machine, which is 0.5 percent of full scale and fine enough for UPS work at this size. Networking up to 25 units turns a fleet of 200 kW boxes into a controllable multi-megawatt simulated IT load. That combination, plus deep stock, is why it is Avtron's data hall commissioning unit of choice outside the Americas.
Who buys it
Data centre commissioning agents and MEP contractors working 50 Hz and 400 V markets who need many small units placed as distributed heat load across a data hall. Generator and HVAC test teams also buy it as a compact castor-mounted unit. Buyers on 60 Hz North American supplies need a different platform, because no 60 Hz build of the 3020 is published.
Role in the data center
A data centre story Avtron makes itself rather than one inferred from the specification. It is named in the March 2026 Rest of World data centre brochure as air cooled data hall commissioning, alongside the LC35, 8400 and 8850. The role is distributed simulated IT heat load for CRAC, CRAH and containment verification during late-stage commissioning. At 1 kW resolution on 200 kW it is also usable for UPS step testing at this size.
Key specifications
| Rated capacity | 200 kW resistive at unity pf |
|---|---|
| Standard load step resolution | 5 kW (40 steps) |
| Finest load step resolution | 1 kW with SIGMA LT hand-held (200 steps) |
| Voltage | 400 V |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
| Load tolerance | 2.5 percent of total capacity |
| Airflow | 2.3 m3/s (4,873 CFM) |
| Fan motor | 1.3 kW single phase, 50 Hz DOL |
| Noise level | 69 dBA at 50 Hz, 3 m |
| Ingress protection | IP54 enclosures, IP2X grille IP rating |
| Element configuration | 6 block, 80/20 nickel-chrome in magnesium oxide stainless sheathed, non-finned |
| Dimensions | 1140 x 870 x 950 mm |
| Weight | 220 kg (485 lb) |
| Ambient range | -10 to 40 deg C |
| Units networkable | 25 units |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Technical summary
Capacity: 200 kW resistive at unity power factor (kW, not kVA); a 150 kW build is also stocked. Load step resolution: 5 kW standard, 1 kW with the SIGMA LT hand-held, so 40 or 200 steps. Voltage and frequency: 400 V, 50 Hz. Elements: 6 block, 80/20 nickel-chrome in magnesium oxide, stainless steel sheaths, non-finned. Load tolerance: within 2.5 percent of total capacity. Cooling: 2.3 m3/s (4,873 CFM), horizontal discharge, 1.3 kW single-phase fan motor. Noise: 69 dBA at 50 Hz, measured 3 m away at 90 degrees to airflow, plus or minus 3 dBA. Ingress protection: IP54 electrical enclosures, IP2X discharge grille. Connections: single pole twist lock power, IEC 60309-2 auxiliary supply, 110 VAC control transformer. Dimensions and weight: 1140 x 870 x 950 mm, 220 kg (485 lb). Ambient: -10 deg C to 40 deg C, 110 deg C average air temperature rise, 90 percent RH non-condensing. Marking and warranty: CE to EMC and LVD, ISO 9001:2015, 24 month warranty.
Major variations
A 150 kW build and a 200 kW build both exist, evidenced by Avtron's stock list, while the datasheet covers only the 200 kW rating. The 3020LTR at 250 kW is a separate standardised, outdoor rated, trailer or castor mounted sibling with fewer options, a shorter lead time and a lower price point. Avtron also publishes a 3020R page, and no Avtron 3000 Series document defines what the R suffix designates.
Configurations and options
SIGMA LT local control with digital toggles is standard, and the optional SIGMA LT hand-held is what buys 1 kW resolution in place of 5 kW. Networking hardware allows up to 25 units to run together or individually. Series siblings run 3010 at 110 kW, 3040 at 400 kW, then 3066, 3110, 3103, 3164 and 3220 above.
Compatibility and dependencies
400 V at 50 Hz only, with single pole twist lock power connections and an IEC 60309-2 auxiliary supply. The 1 kW step depends entirely on the SIGMA LT hand-held being present. Multi-unit operation needs the networking option, and clustered units need enough separation to avoid ingesting one another's discharge.
Pricing and availability
Trend: stable What category pricing as of 2026-08-31 shows at this size is dispersion rather than trend: across 11 distinct used air-cooled low voltage resistive units, dollars per kW runs from 14.00 to 90.00, more than six to one on the same physical technology. Inside the eight-observation 30 to 200 kW subset, one dealer's four units average 49.68 per kW against 71.76 for the four other sellers. Lead time, new: The best documented availability of any Avtron load bank. Avtron's stock list holds 31 units at 150 kW and 33 at 200 kW, plus 3 units of the 3020LTR at 250 kW, and states the latest units are ready for immediate delivery. That is 64 in-stock 3020 units, the deepest inventory of any model on the page, though no figure in days is quoted.. Warranty, new: 24 months, per the pub 5006 rev H datasheet..
Lifecycle and maintenance
Avtron publishes no MTBF. Warranty is 24 months and the build follows ISO 9001:2015 procedures. Avtron specifies the non-finned sheathed elements for longevity and reliability, and its own element guidance says sheathed types do not reach the temperatures open wound designs do and tolerate water, dirt and debris. The trade-off is that sheathed elements often require a cool-down period after use, which the Helidyne platform does not, and that is an operational cost on a tight commissioning schedule. Finned elements, which the 3020 does not use, are the type Avtron says need replacing more often because of hot spots. No service interval in months or running hours is published. A 200 kW run held eight hours dissipates 1,600 kWh, discharged horizontally at a 110 deg C average air temperature rise, so clustered units must not ingest one another's exhaust.
Thermal and emissions profile
No on-site combustion and no stack; the unit produces no direct emissions of its own, and emissions during a test are attributable to the source under test. At its 200 kW rating it rejects 200 kW as heat to the room or through the discharge path, which matters because this model is aimed at HVAC and cooling-plant commissioning, where the load bank heat is itself the test stimulus for the cooling system.
Common failure points
- Sheathed element earth fault — Earth fault trip when one particular block loads
- Missing SIGMA LT hand-held — The unit steps only in 5 kW increments rather than 1 kW
- Airflow blockage or exhaust recirculation — Overtemperature trips, especially with units clustered in one hall
- Fan motor failure — No airflow and an immediate thermal trip under load
- IP54 seal degradation — Moisture or dust inside the control enclosure after outdoor storage
- Twist lock connector heat damage — Discoloured or pitted single pole connectors and local heating under load
Inspection checklist
Nameplate: confirm whether this is the 200 kW or the 150 kW build, at 400 V and 50 Hz; there is no published 60 Hz version. Load steps: exercise all 40 steps at 5 kW, and all 200 steps at 1 kW if the hand-held is present. Hand-held: confirm the SIGMA LT hand-held is included, because without it resolution is 5 kW and not 1 kW. Load tolerance: measured total must sit within 2.5 percent of 200 kW, so 195 to 205 kW. Sheathed elements: inspect all 6 element blocks for sheath cracking, bulging or discolouration. Insulation resistance: megger element to frame; sheathed elements should read clean. Fan motor: confirm the 1.3 kW single-phase motor runs and check for bearing noise. Airflow: verify an unobstructed 2.3 m3/s (4,873 CFM) path and that the IP2X discharge grille is intact. Enclosure sealing: confirm the electrical enclosures still meet IP54, checking gaskets and door latches.
Procurement channels
New through Avtron and its distributors, and unusually this model is genuinely available from stock rather than build-to-order. The 3020 is a 400 V 50 Hz build, so its used units surface through European decommissioning and resale channels rather than North American ones. Rental comes from third parties, since Avtron states it does not rent its own equipment.
Regional notes
Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and other 50 Hz 400 V territories. Avtron places it in the Rest of World data centre brochure and not the Americas edition, which instead names the 60 Hz 2775 at 265 kW.