What is a load audit?
A load audit is a documented inventory of the equipment a power system must run, its running and starting demand, operating time, usage pattern and recharge conditions. It turns a vague power requirement into a testable system brief.
What a load audit records
List every tool, appliance, charger and accessory that may draw power. For each item, record whether it uses AC or DC, its running watts, any starting or peak demand, how long it operates and whether it runs continuously or cycles. Use rating plates and manuals first, then measured data where the published information does not represent real work.
Next, group loads by when they operate. Power-system output must cover equipment that runs at the same time, not simply the largest item on the list. Energy capacity must cover the full operating period. A refrigerator may have a modest running demand but operate through a long shift; a saw may draw more power but run only for short cuts.
Include the charging plan
Record when and how the system can recharge: mains power, vehicle charging, solar or another approved source. Note the available time, the charger's input limits and whether charging overlaps with equipment use. A system that works for one shift may not be ready for the next if the recharge window is too short.
Turn the audit into a decision
Add the operating energy for all loads, check concurrent running power, then check the highest realistic starting demand. Keep headroom for uncertainty, future equipment and conditions that reduce usable energy. Do not treat a catalogue rating as guaranteed runtime.
For fleet work, repeat the audit for each operating profile rather than assuming every vehicle or crew has the same load. The finished audit should name the equipment, assumptions, source of each figure and the field test required before deployment. That gives procurement and installers something they can verify.