There are many great benefits to purchasing a pre-owned or low-hour used generator. It is often the most cost-effective way to buy good quality generators.
Once you’ve decided to purchase a used diesel generator set, there are several considerations you must keep in mind when choosing which used diesel generator to buy, the size, where to install your generator and how to install it.
This article aims to enlighten you on the important things to look out for in buying a used generator:
- AGE, HOURS, & USAGE – the first thing to look out for. Find out how many hours it has on it; generator engines are usually just like a car and have an odometer reading. Try to always go for a generator that has less than 4000 hrs on it, as you will be able to use it for a longer duration and it most likely would not have been overhauled. It may also be helpful to know what it was used for. A generator that has been used as a standby or backup power source will typically be better maintained and have much less wear than one used as a continuous power source. However, be aware that there are many times when the age and usage information is simply not available. Dealers typically acquire generators from different places, and they often have no idea where it came from or what it was used for in the past.
- MANUFACTURER HISTORY & REPUTATION – Be sure to determine the manufacturer of the generator as well as its model. This will enable you to check reliability and reputation. Try and get a used generator manufactured by a reputable and trusted manufacturer like Perkins, Caterpillar, or Cummins. Do not go and buy a generator from an unknown manufacturer the spare parts for which are not readily available.
- VISUAL INSPECTION– Your next action should be a visual inspection. A generator, like any mechanical device, suffers wear and tear during operation. This is something you will not see from pictures. Under this point there are several things to note.
- Meters on Panel – Are the indicators and meters on the panel moving, rising and falling to show that they are still working? This is important because when a generator is having issues this is one of the places to look at first.
- Engine Frequency and Speed– The bench mark for engine frequency in Nigeria is 50Hz. It varies in other countries to up to 60Hz in the US. The frequency and speed are directly related. While buying a generator ensure you buy between 47Hz -54Hz and an engine speed of 1500Rpm.
- Engine at Start-Up– You need to note how the engine starts. Does it come on once it is started or is it a case of ‘hard starting’ where the person will have to keep kicking for a while before it comes on?
- Idle Running– When the generator is put on and there is no load on it, what is the sound like? Is it smooth and cool or can you hear all sorts of noise as if some components are running loose?
- Engine at Shutdown– How does the generator go off at shutdown? Does it go off quietly like it should or it starts coughing and hiccuping before going off?
- WHO IS YOUR DEALER – After visual inspection, this is an important component in deciding whether to go ahead and make the purchase. While anyone on the street can put up a generator for sale, that’s clearly not an ideal situation for a buyer of used goods. Diesel generators are complex machines and they need to be maintained and tested by experienced technician/engineers in order for them to operate at optimum efficiency. To eliminate any risk, it is recommended that you buy from a professional organization backed by years of industry experience that also offer after sales service with highly skilled hands, just like Joshua Long Consulting Limited offers.
About the author: Tinuola Ann Ajayi is a Senior Sales Consultant at Joshua Long Consulting Ltd.
