What we buy
Ranges we buy on this page
Transformer Buyers NC buys used, surplus, failed and obsolete 115 kV class transformers across North Carolina. This page covers identification, field records, substation clearances and removal planning for plant engineers, utility asset managers, demolition crews and trustees handling transmission equipment.
| Phase | kVA | Voltage | Fluid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 or 3-phase | 25 - 20,000 kVA | 115 kV Class | Liquid or dry |
| 3-phase | 75 - 10,000 kVA | up to 34.5 kV | Liquid-filled |
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 115 kV Class means
The 115 kV class describes equipment serving a transmission voltage used across the Carolinas. On a transformer nameplate, distinguish nominal system voltage from winding ratings and tap positions. A unit connected to a 115 kV bus may carry a different rated high-side voltage.
Basic impulse insulation level, or BIL, is commonly around 550 kV for this class; confirm the actual rating on the nameplate or certified drawing. BIL describes impulse withstand capability, not operating voltage. Bushings, winding insulation and terminal arrangements must be identified separately.
Local reality
North Carolina installations
Duke Energy and Dominion substations across North Carolina provide the regional context for 115 kV equipment. Record the actual owner, station name and equipment number rather than assuming utility ownership from location. Industrial sites can own transformers connected to a utility transmission service.
A retired 115 kV transformer at a North Carolina industrial station may remain inside an active switchyard. Site drawings should identify the removal bay, adjacent energized buses and access gate. Ownership authorization and switching responsibility need separate documentation before anyone schedules crane access.
Around the site
Clearances that decide the rigging
At 115 kV, electrical clearances are measured in feet, not inches. Required approach distances depend on the work, personnel qualifications and applicable safety rules. Plot the crane boom, load line and suspended bushing against adjacent energized conductors before selecting a crane position.
Long 115 kV bushings can determine lift height even after the tank clears its foundation. Check lifting drawings for approved lugs, sling angles and spreader bar requirements. Removing bushings or radiators changes shipping dimensions, but it does not eliminate switchyard clearance constraints.
Where it sits
Field testing
For a retired 115 kV unit, useful records include turns ratio, winding resistance, insulation power factor and bushing test results. Identify test dates, tap positions and oil temperature. A report without those details can obscure whether a winding change reflects damage or test conditions.
Dissolved gas analysis helps document a 115 kV transformer's operating history, especially after a trip or internal fault. Include laboratory reports, relay targets and maintenance notes together.
Carbon deposits, a displaced winding or a cracked bushing require different handling decisions than an external gasket leak.
On the ground
Moving high-voltage equipment
A 115 kV transformer move starts with verified shipping weight, center of gravity and transport dimensions. Operating weight may include oil and accessories removed before loading. The hauling plan must distinguish tank weight from separate loads of radiators, conservator components and bushings.
North Carolina road access can control removal of a 115 kV unit as much as the substation gate does. Evaluate bridge restrictions, overhead crossings, turning space and lowboy ground clearance. Route surveys and required permits should use the proposed transport configuration, not installed dimensions.
Local reality
Valuation notes
Assessment of a 115 kV transformer starts with the nameplate, manufacturer, serial number, winding ratings and condition records. Cooling designation and tap changer arrangement help define the equipment. Missing bushings, damaged radiators or an undocumented internal fault change the scope of removal and evaluation.
For failed 115 kV equipment, distinguish confirmed damage from an unexplained protective trip. Oil quantity, PCB documentation and evidence of tank deformation matter to handling. Foundation access and accessory completeness also belong in the assessment, even when the transformer will not return to service.
Around the site
Next steps
Prepare a record package for the North Carolina 115 kV unit: readable nameplate photographs, overall views, test reports and a list of removed components.
Include photographs of the high-side bushings, radiator banks, lifting lugs and tank damage without entering restricted areas for a picture.
Before pickup planning, identify who can authorize release of the 115 kV transformer and who controls the station outage. Document isolation, grounding, oil handling responsibilities and the loading area. Transformer Buyers NC reviews this information for purchase and removal planning across North Carolina.
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
Is every 115 kV transformer rated 550 kV BIL?
No. Around 550 kV is a common BIL for 115 kV class equipment, but the installed unit's nameplate and certified drawings govern. Record high-side and low-side insulation ratings separately, and check replacement bushing records rather than assuming every component matches the original design.
Service area
Can a failed 115 kV transformer be assessed?
Yes. Transformer Buyers NC buys failed 115 kV transformers as well as used, surplus and obsolete units. Assessment needs the fault history, photographs, oil records and available test reports. A ruptured tank or damaged lifting lug must be identified before removal methods are considered.
Payment
What controls removal from an active North Carolina substation?
The station's electrical safety plan, outage boundaries and physical access control removal of a 115 kV transformer. The utility or site operator must establish isolation and grounding requirements. Crane placement, transport dimensions and documented release authority must also be settled before loading begins.
Logistics
Field testing: what should a seller know?
For a retired 115 kV unit, useful records include turns ratio, winding resistance, insulation power factor and bushing test results. Identify test dates, tap positions and oil temperature. A report without those details can obscure whether a winding change reflects damage or test conditions.