If you need to sell used transformers — dry-type, oil-filled, padmount, or distribution units — value depends on kVA, voltage, phase, manufacturer, condition, age, location, and removal requirements. Nameplate photos are the fastest way to start.
Electrical contractors with upgrade takeouts, industrial plants clearing spares and decommissioned units, demolition firms, utilities and co-ops, data centers, warehouses, and facility owners across the Chicago area and the Midwest.
Send clear photos of the full unit plus close-ups of the nameplate: manufacturer, kVA rating, primary and secondary voltage, phase, frequency, impedance, catalog or serial number, and manufacture date. Add the approximate weight, city/state, condition, whether the unit is installed or disconnected, and your desired removal timing.
Transformers should be reviewed before they are dismantled or mixed with general scrap. The nameplate, enclosure, oil condition, and removal setting can materially change the best recovery path.
Capture manufacturer, kVA, primary and secondary voltage, phase, frequency, impedance, and catalog or serial information. Include an overall photo for scale, plus shots of the enclosure, bushings, and any gauges or radiators.
Tell us whether the unit is installed, disconnected, tested, stored indoors, or exposed to weather. Known operating history is useful when available. For oil-filled units, note any known oil test results, leaks, or PCB documentation — older units may require testing before they can move.
Approximate weight, floor level, door clearance, loading access, and project timing help determine whether direct pickup, rigging, or another recovery option makes sense. Heavy padmount and substation units often need a crane, so early photos of the access path matter.
The two broad families of industrial transformers are evaluated differently, and knowing which one you have shapes the questions we will ask.
Ventilated, encapsulated, or cast-resin units common inside commercial and industrial buildings. Typical sizes run from small 15–45 kVA units up to 2,500 kVA and larger for big facilities. Common voltages include 480V to 208/120V step-down configurations. Clean, indoor, working takeouts in standard ratings are the most straightforward to evaluate. Photograph the enclosure louvers, the nameplate, and the primary and secondary connections.
Liquid-filled distribution, padmount, and substation units. These carry more copper and steel, but oil condition and environmental paperwork add steps. If the unit is older, PCB testing or documentation may be required before transport. Note the oil level on the gauge, any visible leaks, the radiator condition, and whether test reports exist. Never drain oil yourself to "prepare" a unit — send it as-is and let the review determine the path.
Buck-boost transformers, control transformers, isolation transformers, and autotransformers show up in panel shops, machine rebuilds, and plant maintenance cribs. Individually they are smaller, but sorted lots with readable labels can be reviewed together. Keep the cartons, tags, and rating plates with the units.
Most of the used transformers on the market come from a handful of repeat situations. If any of these sound like you, the review process is the same: photos and nameplates first.
Selling a full facility? See our plant closing buyer page for project-scale reviews that include switchgear and bus duct alongside transformers.
Before you call or email, gather what you can. Every item below shortens the review:
Full-unit shots plus close-ups of the nameplate, bushings, gauges, and enclosure.
We separate likely resale candidates from commodity-recovery units based on ratings, condition, and demand.
Clarify quantity, oil/PCB status for liquid-filled units, location, access, and removal timing.
If the unit fits, work through purchase terms and pickup or rigging logistics with qualified contractors.
We evaluate dry-type transformers, oil-filled and liquid-filled distribution transformers, padmount units, substation and industrial power transformers, buck-boost, control, isolation, and autotransformers — single-phase and three-phase. We also review transformer takeouts that come out alongside switchgear and bus duct on upgrade and demolition projects.
Manufacturer, catalog or model number, kVA rating, primary and secondary voltage, phase, frequency, impedance, serial number, and manufacture date. Add the enclosure type, approximate weight, whether the unit is installed or disconnected, and the city/state. Clear photos of the nameplate plus one overall shot for scale are the fastest way to get a review started.
Yes, with conditions. Oil condition and environmental paperwork matter on liquid-filled units — older transformers may need PCB testing or documentation before they can be transported. Tell us what you know about the oil, note any leaks or test reports, and do not drain the unit yourself. Send it as-is and the review will determine the right path.
Removal depends on weight, location, access, and timing. Heavy padmount and substation units often need rigging or a crane, and disconnection must be handled by qualified electrical contractors — Ironcrest does not provide electrical advice or perform energized work. Send photos of the unit and the access path (doors, floor level, loading area) so pickup logistics can be assessed. For full-facility projects, see our plant closing page.
Send photos, nameplate details, condition, quantity, and pickup location. Transformer values depend on ratings, manufacturer, condition, age, oil status, removal requirements, and current markets — so Ironcrest does not publish blanket pricing. Email sjohns@ironcrestindustrialsurplus.com or call 312-880-8174 and we will review your unit for today's price.
Have a dry-type, oil-filled, or padmount transformer to sell? Send nameplate photos, condition details, quantity, and pickup location. We review industrial transformers for direct purchase and will confirm the best recovery path for your unit.
Email sjohns@ironcrestindustrialsurplus.com or call 312-880-8174.
Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.
We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.