Patent ID: 8483982

Claim:
A method for automatically testing an emergency power supply system (EPSS) that supplies alternate power to an electrical system in the event of a disruption of power from a main utility power source that normally supplies power to the electrical system, the method comprising: receiving, over a network, and storing electrical parameter data associated with an alternate power source of the EPSS and measured by an intelligent electronic device that measures a characteristic of power generated by the alternate power source and that transforms the measured characteristic into the electrical parameter data for communication over the network; receiving a first indication of a first amount of a load of a variable load bank to consume energy produced by the alternate power source; instructing, over the network, the automatic transfer switch to switch the status from a normal status to a test status to initiate a first test of the emergency power supply system by temporarily connecting the first load amount of the variable load bank to the alternate power source for a predetermined period of time; evaluating a first result of the first test based on at least the electrical parameter data received during the first test; responsive to the evaluating, displaying an indication of the first result of the first test; receiving a second indication of a second load amount of the load of the variable load bank; instructing the automatic transfer switch to switch the status from the normal status to the test status to initiate a second test of the emergency power supply system by temporarily connecting the second load amount of the variable load bank to the alternate power source; evaluating a second result of the second test based on at least the electrical parameter data received during the second test; and responsive to the evaluating, displaying an indication of the second result of the second test.