Pick wrong and the savings disappear. An as-is unit may need an overhaul before it can carry your load. A refurbished unit may only have had a wash and new paint. Either way, the risks are downtime when the set fails on its first real job, delay while parts are found and repair bills that make the cheap option the expensive one.
USP&E Helps You See What You Are Really Buying
We know you want a used generator that works without paying for work that was never done. USP&E has delivered 150+ power projects in 45+ countries, with 25,000 MW contracted since 2002, and our 400+ engineers and project managers inspect, refurbish, supply and install used generators and gas turbines. Our systems are ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified, and every deal runs under FCPA and OFAC controls. USP&E is a full-service EPC and O&M contractor, not a broker.
You do not need to avoid as-is units or trust every refurbished label. You need a clear definition of the work done, evidence you can check, and a fair comparison of what each option costs to get running on your site.
Pin Down What Each Label Means
As-is should mean you get the unit in its current state with no repair promised. That can be a fair deal when the price reflects the work ahead and you have the skills to do it. The danger is an as-is unit priced as if it were ready to run. Ask when it last ran, at what load, and why it is being sold.
Refurbished has no fixed meaning. For one seller it means a full engine and alternator overhaul with new wear parts and a load test. For another it means a clean, new filters and paint. Ask for a written list of the work done, the parts replaced, the tests run and the date. If the seller cannot give it, treat the unit as as-is.
A good starting point is to compare offers against refurbished and used diesel units in stock where the work done is listed, so you can see what a full refurbishment should include.
Ask for Evidence and Price the Hidden Work
For a refurbished unit, ask for photos taken during the work, parts invoices, the overhaul report and the load test record. Check that the hour meter, serial numbers and nameplates match the paperwork. Check whether the alternator was tested and the controls updated, because a rebuilt engine on a tired alternator is only half a refurbishment. Our page on how professional refurbishment works shows what a complete job looks like.
For an as-is unit, list the work it is likely to need: fluids, filters, belts and hoses at a minimum, then batteries, injectors, cooling system work, alternator testing and perhaps an overhaul depending on hours and history. Price that work, add the time it will take, and add the risk that you find more once you open it up.
Check the make and model too. Some brands and models have better parts support in your region than others, which changes the cost of any repair. A brand comparison for used sets can help you weigh this before you commit.
Compare on Total Cost and Test Before You Pay
Compare both options on the same basis: the total cost to a working, tested set on your site. Include the purchase price, repairs, transport, installation, commissioning and the value of any warranty. Include the cost of downtime if the unit fails early. Often the refurbished unit wins once the hidden work on the as-is unit is counted, but not always.
Whichever you choose, inspect the unit and load test it before you pay in full. A load bank test at your expected load shows whether the set holds voltage, frequency and temperature. Agree in writing what happens if the test fails. Our sister site has more on used diesel gensets and what to check.
Plan beyond this purchase too. Many buyers move from used diesels to gas turbine generators as load grows: used/new gas turbines, a remanufactured GE Frame 6B or natural gas engines/stations. Data centre sites take the same step under hyperscale EPC/O&M with AI gas turbines, hyperscale generators, gas turbines for compute and New USP&E FX-45 45MW Modular Gas Turbine for the Hyperscale Data Center sector in the USA. The same rule applies at every size: ask for evidence.
Where USP&E Supports Your Used Generator Project
For your used gas turbine purchase, your engineering lead sits at USP&E’s Executive HQ in Johannesburg (22 Kildoon Rd, Bryanston), with Cape Town (31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock) adding design, commissioning and project depth. Southern Africa is where USP&E plans, controls and supports frontier power work across the continent.
London (162-168 Regent Street) structures finance and contracts for preserved used gas turbines and gensets, Colorado Springs (1755 Telstar Dr, Suite 300) and Knoxville (800 S Gay St, Suite 700) connect you to US equipment supply and US-based engineering, and Wuxi, China (No. 1, Ningzhou Road, Wuxi) follows up China manufacturing and supply chain.
For used diesel purchases, Johannesburg and Cape Town engineers inspect units in African yards, Colorado Springs and Knoxville check US units, and Wuxi checks sets coming from China. Regions served: USA | AFRICA | UK | UAE | CHINA. Reach matters more than pins on a map: 150+ power projects in 45+ countries, 25,000 MW contracted since 2002, and ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified.
What USP&E Has Delivered for Used Generator Buyers
You want proof that USP&E knows how to inspect, refurbish and redeploy used power equipment. These projects show that record.
- USP&E has refurbished seven GE Frame 6B gas turbines to zero hours in-house for major US hyperscale data-centre developers.
- NEOM, Saudi Arabia: USP&E supplied three zero-hour Siemens SGT-400 gas turbines as the single technical and commercial interface, and the client reported savings of over $10 million. Read the case study.
- MAN redeployment, Iraq: USP&E moved a stranded 32 MW MAN plant, plus two surplus MAN generators, across four countries to an industrial buyer facing 12 to 18 month lead times for new engines. Read the case study.
HowTo: Choose Between As-Is and Refurbished Used Diesel Generators
Your 3-step plan: 1. Share both offers and any records the sellers provide. 2. Receive a side-by-side check of work done, evidence and total cost. 3. Inspect, test and install the unit you choose with one team.
- Ask each seller exactly what work was done and what was not done.
- Ask for photos, records and test reports for any refurbishment claimed.
- List the repair work an as-is unit is likely to need before it can run your load.
- Compare warranty terms and who will support the unit after delivery.
- Compare both options on total cost to a working, tested set on your site.
- Inspect and load test your chosen unit before you pay in full.
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FAQ: Used Diesel Generator: As-Is or Refurbished?
What does as-is mean for a used diesel generator?
USP&E reads as-is as the unit in its current state with no repair or warranty promised. That can be fair value when the price reflects the work ahead. Always ask when it last ran, at what load and why it is being sold.
What should a refurbished used generator include?
USP&E expects a written list of work done, parts replaced and tests run, with dates. A full refurbishment covers the engine, the alternator and the controls, followed by a load test. Without that list and evidence, treat a refurbished unit as if it were as-is.
What evidence should I ask for on a refurbished unit?
USP&E asks for photos taken during the work, parts invoices, the overhaul report, the alternator test results and the load test record. Check that serial numbers, nameplates and hour meter readings match the paperwork, and ask about anything that is missing.
Is a refurbished used generator always better value?
USP&E finds that it often is once the hidden repair work on an as-is unit is priced, but not always. Compare both on total cost to a working, tested set on your site, including repairs, transport, installation, warranty and the cost of early failure.
Where are USP&E’s offices for used generator inspections?
USP&E inspects used units in Africa from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Colorado Springs and Knoxville cover units in the US, London supports contracts and finance, and Wuxi checks gensets, enclosures and spare parts coming from China before they ship to your site.
Has USP&E delivered used or redeployed equipment before?
USP&E has refurbished seven GE Frame 6B gas turbines to zero hours in-house for major US hyperscale data-centre developers. Public case studies also include a stranded MAN plant redeployed to Iraq and three zero-hour Siemens SGT-400 turbines supplied for NEOM.
Is USP&E a broker for used generators?
USP&E is not a broker. USP&E inspects, refurbishes, supplies, installs and maintains generators with its own engineers, so the team that helps you compare offers is the same team that tests and commissions the unit and supports it for years afterwards.
How fast can USP&E compare two used generator offers?
USP&E can start as soon as you share both offers and any records. Engineers flag missing evidence and likely hidden work first, so you can ask the sellers the right questions before you agree a price or pay a deposit.
Pay for Work Done, Not Labels
Check what each label really means and you buy a used generator that runs from day one. Buy on the label alone and the hidden work finds you later. USP&E will help you compare, test and install with confidence.
Talk to an engineer about your used gas turbine purchase: use the USP&E contact page, call +27 10 822 2324 or email info@uspeglobal.com. You can also search the USP&E inventory for equipment that fits.
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