What we buy
Ranges we buy on this page
Transformer Buyers NC buys used, surplus, failed and obsolete 5,000 kVA transformers anywhere in North Carolina. This page covers nameplate ratings, station applications, shipping weights, lifting arrangements and the records needed to evaluate a unit.
| Phase | kVA | Voltage | Fluid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 or 3-phase | 5,000 kVA | up to 34.5 kV | Liquid or dry |
| 3-phase | 50 - 20,000 kVA | 46 kV | Liquid or dry |
Who we buy from
Six kinds of seller
- Recyclers
- Electrical contractors
- Equipment dealers
- End users
- Demo contractors
- Distributors
Fast offers
A written offer the same business day, based on your photographs.
Dedicated logistics
Our own crew, trailer and crane, not a brokered haul.
No broker fees
One buyer from first call to cleared pad, with nothing skimmed.
How it works
Six steps from photograph to payment
- 01
Take pictures
Photograph the nameplate, the inside of the cabinet and the tank from both ends. Four frames on a phone are enough to price most units.
- 02
Send them to us
Email or text the photographs with the site address and whether the unit is still energised. We reply the same business day with questions or a number.
- 03
Review the offer
The offer names the unit, the site, the price and the pickup window. It is written, dated and good for thirty days unless the unit changes hands.
- 04
We schedule freight
A crew, a trailer and a crane if the pad needs one. You get the date and the arrival window, and the site does not have to close for it.
- 05
Testing on arrival
Winding resistance, insulation resistance and a turns ratio check, plus oil analysis where the unit is liquid-filled. Results travel with the unit.
- 06
Get paid
Payment is released against the signed bill of sale and the scale ticket, by check or ACH, with the paperwork copy left on site.
What we handle
The parts sellers dread
Rigging
Crane, skates and a route survey for anything that will not roll onto a trailer.
Oil containment
Pans, absorbent and a spill plan before a drain plug is touched.
Bill of sale
A document that clears a lien, a lease or a bankruptcy file, not a handwritten note.
PCB paperwork
Testing and manifesting for pre-1979 oil, handled before the unit moves.
On the ground
What 5,000 kVA means on a nameplate
A 5,000 kVA nameplate identifies apparent power capacity, equivalent to 5 MVA. It does not establish voltage, shipping weight or lifting requirements.
Record the manufacturer's serial number, frequency, cooling designation and temperature rise alongside the rating before describing a North Carolina station unit.
Cooling stages matter on this size of transformer. A nameplate may show separate ratings for natural cooling and fan-assisted operation, so confirm where 5,000 kVA appears. Photograph the complete plate, including impedance, winding connections and any notes defining the rated operating conditions.
Local reality
Where 5,000 kVA units are used in North Carolina
A 5,000 kVA power transformer commonly serves an industrial substation or a utility station.
In North Carolina, removal planning may involve a manufacturing campus near Greensboro, a municipal station or a process plant with dedicated medium-voltage distribution and controlled access to its transformer yard.
At a utility station, ownership and switching authority must be established before removal. An industrial unit may sit behind customer-owned switchgear instead. For a 5 MVA transformer, identify the asset owner, operating utility, isolation boundary and person authorized to release the equipment.
Around the site
Weight and dimensions in practice
Shipping weight for a 5,000 kVA transformer is roughly 32,000 to 50,000 pounds, but the actual configuration controls the lift. Check whether the stated weight includes insulating liquid, radiators, bushings and accessories.
A tank-only figure cannot support planning for an assembled-unit pick.
Measure overall height, width and length at the widest projecting components, not just the tank walls. On a North Carolina plant removal, radiator banks and high-voltage bushings can determine trailer clearance. Record the loaded transport height after confirming the proposed trailer deck elevation.
Where it sits
Handling a 5,000 kVA unit
Plan around a 100-ton crane for this weight band, subject to an engineered lift plan. Crane capacity depends on radius, boom configuration and ground conditions.
A 50,000-pound transformer beyond a fence may require a different setup than the same unit beside the lowboy.
Use designated lifting points and verify sling geometry, spreader bar requirements and attachment condition. Rail transport deserves evaluation when a usable siding and suitable receiving access exist. For a 5 MVA removal, compare the rail route with highway clearances, permits and transfer requirements.
On the ground
Voltage and phase combinations
A 5,000 kVA rating alone does not identify the voltage combination. A three-phase station unit might step 34.5 kV down to 4.16 kV, but the nameplate must confirm both windings.
Record tap positions, winding connection and neutral terminal arrangement without assuming a standard configuration.
At 5 MVA, primary and secondary bushings may connect to overhead conductors, enclosed bus or cable terminations. Photograph each connection before dismantling. Include the basic impulse insulation level, or BIL, shown on the plate; voltage class alone does not fully describe insulation requirements.
Local reality
Condition and testing
For a failed 5,000 kVA transformer, describe the event rather than labeling it simply bad. Differential relay operation, winding overheating, a cracked bushing and an external cable fault suggest different problems.
Preserve relay targets, inspection photographs and the last operating date with the asset records.
Oil-filled units need liquid identification and available PCB documentation, along with oil-test history where retained. Dissolved gas analysis, moisture results and winding resistance records can clarify condition.
For a 32,000-to-50,000-pound unit, document leaks before lifting so containment requirements are understood before equipment arrives.
Around the site
What a 5,000 kVA unit is worth to a buyer
A buyer's evaluation of a 5,000 kVA unit depends on its electrical configuration, documented condition and removal constraints.
A complete nameplate, recent test reports and clear photographs distinguish an intact station transformer from a damaged tank with missing bushings or an uncertain service history.
Access can determine whether a North Carolina removal is practical. Provide the pad location, gate dimensions, crane setup area and any overhead obstructions. We buy 5,000 kVA units in operating, surplus, failed and obsolete condition, with each assessment tied to the actual equipment.
Get started
Get an offer in minutes
Five fields is all it takes. Photographs help, but a nameplate and a town are enough to start.
No fee, no obligation. We reply the same business day.
Tell us what you have
We reply the same business day.
Questions
Straight answers
Equipment types
Does a 5,000 kVA transformer always weigh 50,000 pounds?
No. Roughly 32,000 to 50,000 pounds is a typical shipping range, not a certified lifting weight. Use manufacturer drawings or verified weight records, and confirm whether liquid, radiators and bushings are included before selecting rigging for the lift.
Service area
Can you buy a failed 5,000 kVA transformer?
Yes. Transformer Buyers NC buys failed 5,000 kVA units across North Carolina. Describe the failure, remaining liquid, damaged bushings and any fire exposure. Relay records, oil reports and photographs help establish condition and the precautions needed for removal.
Payment
Is a 100-ton crane enough for removal?
A 100-ton crane is a planning reference, not a guaranteed lifting arrangement. The crane contractor must check the load chart at the actual radius, ground support and rigging weight. Fence setbacks and radiator clearance can change the required setup.
Logistics
Voltage and phase combinations: what should a seller know?
A 5,000 kVA rating alone does not identify the voltage combination. A three-phase station unit might step 34.5 kV down to 4.16 kV, but the nameplate must confirm both windings.