American Power Systems, Inc. uses gold standard in testing for performance, durability and safety

When you need the job done right the first time, you can depend on American Power Systems, Inc. When other power solutions have failed or simply don’t exist, our team steps into the gap, which has given APS a worldwide reputation for quality, innovation, and expertise. 

So how do we do it?

To ensure APS products meet our threshold for superior quality and performance, all new products undergo a rigorous engineering and testing process. This includes testing using ISO/SAE standards, internationally agreed-upon standardized guidelines to ensure that products and services meet the highest quality and safety. 

Testing helps to:

• Identify areas of improvement related to a product’s durability and reliability over time. 
• Find and address endurance-related design issues before the product is released to the market.
• Ensure that the product performs as expected over the long term. 

APS also uses information gleaned during testing to improve future designs and develop new products that are attractive to customers. This allows us to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive in our industry.

"There is a reason why APS is globally trusted," APS President & CEO Amy Lank said. "When our products hit the market, we feel confident in their performance because of how meticulous we are behind the scenes during their development."

However, not all manufacturers test equally. Because of this, it’s important to understand the difference in how tests are performed because not all methods will produce real-world performance. Let's look at what some of those may be.

Testing for real-world performance

During our product development phase, APS uses what is known as a “saturated dwell” test, which requires the alternator to reach equilibrium steady-state temperature for a set length of time before values are recorded. 

During APS testing, the alternator is placed in an enclosure heated to 100°C (212ºF) while running. Once the temperature consistently registers 100ºC, our testing engineers apply the load and record the data taken at the various RPM levels. This “hot box” output curve, alongside the ambient (23ºC) curve, is what you will find on APS alternator spec sheets that are available for download on our website.

Benefits:

• More closely simulates real-world use conditions
• More accurately predicts real-world on-vehicle product performance
• Product performs as expected after purchase

Drawbacks:

• More time required for testing before product launch

A moment in time

Others may share data from sweep tests, which are performance snapshots taken at one point in time. 

A sweep test is simply a 30-second machine test to see whether a product is meeting the specs to which it was designed. However, the environment in which the test was performed does not replicate the real-world sustained temperatures to which the alternator may be subjected during actual use. It also will not show sustained maximum output over a longer period of time. 

Benefits:

• Performance data shown may be higher due to lower temperatures
• Less time required for testing

Drawbacks:

• Doesn’t accurately reflect real-world use performance
• Actual on-vehicle performance may be lower
• Product may not perform to expectations after purchase

Getting the performance you’re expecting
“It’s crucial that you evaluate a company’s testing standards closely when comparing products to make sure you get the performance you’re expecting,” Lank continued. “Before APS releases a product, we make sure that it’s going to perform like we say it will. Our end users know our seal of approval has the highest standards behind it, which ultimately leads to a satisfied customer.”

How can we help? Contact us here.