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You can sell your old transformers for a lot of money. Find out how to maximize the value of your surplus transformers.
You probably want to get an offer on a surplus transformer if you are reading this. We’d like to make you an offer but first, we need to know more about the transformer that you want to sell.
Here are six ways to get the most money from your surplus transformer.
- Take photos (nameplates, interiors, and exteriors)
- Contact our buying team
- Purchase offer
- Loading the transformer
- Receiving and testing
- Get paid
Take a look at the steps.
1. Take Pictures
Assessing your transformer is the first step to getting the best price for it. We can make an informed offer for you based on your pictures, the current market price of scrap, and any environmental risks involved with buying surplus units. Here are the three pictures we need to see your transformer.
Nameplate
First, we will need a photo of the nameplate which is normally located on the outside or inside of the enclosure. The nameplate photos must be high-resolution and clear so that we can read all the information on them. Check that you can see the entire nameplate before putting your phone away. We can’t read it if you can’t.
Interior Cabinet
Next, we will need a photo of the interior cabinet or enclosure. This shows the condition and bushings of liquid-filled transformers. An internal image of the core and coil is helpful when examining transformers.
Exterior Tank
We’ll need to see a picture of the exterior of the transformer. To determine the cost of reconditioning, we need to know the condition and size of the tank, cabinet, and radiators.
2. Contact Electrical Transformer Buyers
Send these photos to Electrical Transformer Buyers’s purchasing representative along with any relevant information. Fill out the form found on our page. If you already have a Electrical Transformer Buyers representative, send them this information.
Our team will be able to give you a faster offer if you provide more information upfront. Our team will ask you a few questions:
Does the unit contain oil?
Transformers with liquid oil (padmounts and substations), or transformers mounted on poles are more valuable than units that have been drained. Even if your unit has been drained, you’ll get top dollar.
Where is the unit?
Electrical Transformer Buyers purchase transformers from all over the United States, and pay for the freight. Before we can send you an offer, our team needs to know the location of your transformer in order to determine where Electrical Transformer Buyers should receive it.
Contact Us at 954-488-0700
Review the Purchase Offer
Our purchasing team will then send you an official offer after reviewing your pictures and information. Most purchase offers have conditions attached to them in order to protect you from legal liability.
Transformer that is electrically functional
Electrical Transformer Buyers will pay you up to five times more for your transformer than the scrap value because we refurbish and redeploy them (rather than shredding them). We must make sure that your transformer is in good electrical condition (and not beyond repair). Once your unit arrives, our inventory team will perform a test (and provide documentation if requested).
Oil contains less than 2 PPM PCBs
In 1978, the EPA banned the use of PCBs (polychlorinated Biphenyls), in transformers. PCBs can still be found in many units across the country. Electrical Transformer Buyers do not buy transformers that contain more than 2 parts per million of PCBs due to these restrictions. Electrical Transformer Buyers test every transformer as soon as it arrives at its facility. We may send you a DGA Kit before shipment, depending on the age of your transformer.
Please review this offer and contact your buying representative if you need any assistance.
4. Load truck
You’re only two steps from receiving payment after accepting the offer. Electrical Transformer Buyers pays for freight but we ask that sellers load the truck as soon as it arrives. The logistics team will work with you to schedule the pickup of the transformer.
5. Receiving and testing
Your work is finished once you have loaded the truck. Our team will handle the delivery at one of our offices. Your unit will be placed in a queue for testing with other transformers that we have purchased. Your transformer will be tested for electrical issues and oil (if applicable) within 7-10 days.
6. Earn Money
The best part is yet to come: you’ll be paid for your transformer.
Tested and Passed
Most transformers are tested without issue thanks to the pre-shipment evaluation. Payment is made using your preferred payment method within a week after the test. You just got the best price for your transformer.
Fails in Testing
Some transformers may fail to pass one or more of our tests. If this happens, it means that they have failed so badly that the cost of reconditioning them is higher than their value (think about a totaled vehicle). We will still offer you the best price for your unit, even though it may be less. You have two choices:
- We will offer you the most scrap value possible for your transformer, and we’ll make sure it is disposed of correctly.
- You can return the transformer to us for free and then scrap it.
Sell Surplus Transformers at Top Dollar
Want to get up to five times the value of your transformers as scrap? To get started, visit the Electrical Transformer Buyers page. We are happy to answer your questions and assist you in getting the best price for your surplus transformer.