An adjustable electrical load bank which comprises an upper and lower horizontal, electrically conducting plates mounted parallel to each other on a frame and both electrically insulated from this frame. The lower plate is fixedly mounted on the frame while the upper plate is movably connected thereto through four spring devices. Three vertical piles of disk-shaped carbon elements are disposed between the two horizontal plates and each have an electrical resistance between their respective upper and lower ends which varies with pressure applied thereon. An upper and lower pistons separated by an helicoidal spring are disposed in a vertical cylinder mounted on the frame. The upper piston is associated with a manually operated cam while the lower piston is fixedly connected to the upper plate. Upon operation of the cam, the helicoidal spring produces a force acting against a force generated by the four spring devices for applying pressure on the piles. An accurate adjustment within a range of light pressures on the piles is therefore enabled due to these reverse forces for thereby allowing to give to the pile resistances corresponding values. When the helicoidal spring is completely compressed, the cam can still be operated to apply relatively high pressures on the piles to vary their resistances accordingly. The load bank is particularly suitable for use in wide current range battery testers.