As a business owner, you have no doubt created a contingency plan to cover small emergencies as they arise. But have you considered bigger emergencies, such as inclement weather, natural disasters, and power outages? If not, the time to consider these possibilities is now! One way to protect your business and its assets is with a 50kw diesel generator. A generator will keep your business up and running even when the grid is down.
Many businesses refuse to invest in the purchase of a backup generator, citing cost as a critical factor in their decision. In addition to the generator’s cost, business owners say that the long lead time prior to delivery of such an expensive investment is off-putting. Others think that a generator is not relevant to their line of work. It is also important to note that most business owners believe that backup generators can only be purchased new. However, this is a false assumption. There are many used generators for sale, from reputable dealers, at significant savings to the buyer.
The Benefits Of Purchasing A Used Generator
Used commercial generators are a great way to guarantee that your business has reliable power, no matter what happens. Used generators are extremely affordable. Generally speaking, a medium-to-large-sized operation should consider looking for a diesel generator for sale. There are many benefits to purchasing a used generator, including:
- Lower cost – this is one of the biggest reasons businesses buy a used generator. A used generator is the faction of the cost of new generators, which greatly reduces the up-front cost of such a significant purchase. There are a variety of used generators for sale, all with different specifications to fit your needs.
- Lead time – the lead time on new generator orders can be anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks. Generators are built to order, meaning there is generally no stock on hand. Purchasing a used generator greatly reduces the lead time for the buyer. This makes used generators a good choice for a business that needs a backup generator right away.
- Reliability – a used generator that is purchased from a certified dealer will be just as reliable as a new generator. Certified used generator dealers always test, maintain, and repair used generators to guarantee function and reliability before a sale.
- Reduced paperwork – it may surprise you to know that buying a new generator comes with the unpleasant task of filling out what can seem like a mountain of paperwork. By purchasing a used generator, you can skip the paperwork. There will still be some forms to file in order to finalize your purchase, but there will be far fewer than if you were to purchase a new generator.
- Flexibility – buying a new generator means that you will be purchasing the generator as-is. However, with a used generator, you have greater flexibility to make adjustments or modifications that will best suit your needs – such as swapping out or customizing the control board process for your specific application. In addition, purchasing a used generator means that you will have a greater variety of products to select from, as a certified used generator dealer will stock different brands.
5 Key Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Used Generator
Although purchasing a used generator comes with many benefits for the customer, it is important to keep in mind a few key items when looking for a used diesel generator for sale. This ensures you will get good value for your money, and that fixes down the road won’t eat up the money you saved on the initial purchase price.
- Load bank testing – this test is a way to validate the correct operational performance of a used generator under load conditions before you purchase it, or during routine preventive maintenance. Make sure you perform this test before you turn over your hard-earned cash.
- The supplier – where and who you buy your used generator from is important! Commercial generators are complex pieces of machinery that need to be maintained and tested by certified engineers. A qualified seller will make sure that all generators have been checked over before they are sold.
- Age, hours, and usage – before you buy a generator, check the run-time, age, and usage of the generator. Most generator engines have an odometer reading that tells you how many hours it has been run. It is also good to find out what the generator was used for, and whether it was used as a standby or ongoing power source.
- Manufacturer’s reputation – for a purchase this large, reputation matters. Take note of the generator manufacturer’s history and reputation before you buy, and avoid brands with bad reviews when possible.
- Visual checking – it’s a good idea to check all of the mechanical components on a generator for wear, fatigue, cracks, or corrosion before you make a final purchase. If you are not trained to spot issues, find someone who can!
What Size Generator Do I Need?
For a mid-to-large size business or restaurant, a 50kw generator should be more than enough to power all of your equipment in the event of a power failure or other outage. To verify the size of the generator you need, however, there are a few simple things you can do. First, add up the wattage of everything you want to power during an outage. This will give you a rough approximation of how much power you need. Then, add the starting watts (or surge watts) of appliances that use more wattage when cycling on. Selecting the right size generator depends on what you want to power. Running watts are the continuous watts needed to keep items running. Starting watts are the extra watts needed to start motor-driven products. Once you figure that total out, you will know what size generator you need to purchase to keep your business running.
There are many good, used generators for sale if you are interested in purchasing one. Just keep in mind the five key factors mentioned above before you finalize your purchase. Then, enjoy the peace of mind having a backup power source for emergencies brings to your business plan.
