Replacing an Old or Outdated Standby Generator

A standby generator that was installed in the 1990s or 2000s has probably done its job quietly for two decades — and is now the item on the building's risk register nobody wants to own. Parts are obsolete, the controller is unsupported, the monthly test run is getting harder to pass, and the load it was sized for has changed. Ozwide Power replaces old and outdated standby generators for commercial buildings, strata, industrial sites and facilities across Perth, without leaving the building unprotected during the changeover.

We start with a site survey and a load test of the existing set, so the decision to repair, upgrade or replace is based on numbers rather than age alone.

Signs a generator needs replacing

• Age: 20+ years, or 15+ years with high hours — engine and alternator parts become special-order or unavailable
• Failed or marginal load tests: cannot reach rated output, hunts, trips on frequency or voltage, excessive smoke
• Obsolete controller or ATS: no spares, no remote monitoring, relays and timers instead of a microprocessor controller
• Load has outgrown the set: a lift upgrade, new fire pump, data room or added tenancies pushed demand past capacity
• Fuel system problems: diesel bug, corroded tanks, leaking bunds, no fuel polishing history
• Corrosion and canopy failure: coastal sites in particular — rusted canopies, seized louvres, water ingress
• Compliance gaps: the installation predates current AS/NZS 3010 and cannot be certified without major work
• Repair cost approaching replacement cost — a major engine or alternator repair on a 25-year-old set rarely makes sense

Repair, upgrade or replace?

How a replacement runs

• Survey and load test — existing set, ATS, fuel system, exhaust, access, and the real essential-services load
• Proposal — sized replacement, controller and ATS, fuel and canopy options, crane and rigging plan, decommissioning
• Temporary cover — where the building cannot be without standby power, a hire set is connected for the changeover
• Changeover — old set drained, disconnected and craned out; new set placed, fuel, exhaust and cabling connected; usually 1–3 days on site
• Commissioning — full transfer sequence tested and witnessed; certification to AS/NZS 3010
• Disposal — old set removed for resale, recycling or trade-in; fuel and oils disposed of correctly
• Maintenance agreement — monthly tests and annual load bank testing from day one, with digital reports in the customer portal

Replacement sets we supply

Pramac standby generators on Perkins, Volvo, Baudouin and Generac engines, 20–777 kVA stock and custom sets to 4.2 MVA, with sound-attenuated canopies or open sets and bunded fuel tanks; Generac sets for smaller commercial and residential replacements. As a Pramac Authorised Dealer we hold parts and service the sets we install for their full life.

Why buildings and businesses choose Ozwide Power

• Pramac Authorised Dealer — factory support, genuine parts and warranty on every set we supply.
• One team, whole lifecycle — sizing, supply, automatic transfer switches, generator installation, commissioning, then servicing & maintenance for the life of the unit.
• Perth-based technicians covering the CBD and every metro industrial precinct, with regional WA by arrangement.
• Standby stock sets from 2 to 777 kVA in stock or on short lead time, plus 100–3,200 A transfer switches.
• Standby custom sets up to 4.2 MVA — lead times depend on engine availability and factory capacity.
• Digital service reports and a customer online portal for the compliance records building managers, insurers and auditors ask for.

Frequently asked questions

Can you replace a generator from a different brand?

Yes. Most replacements are onto an existing pad and switchboard from another manufacturer. We match footprint, connection points and the ATS interface, or replace the ATS at the same time if it is also at end of life.

Will the building be without backup power during the swap?

Only if you choose to accept that. For buildings with fire pumps, aged care or data rooms we connect a temporary hire set before the old one is disconnected.

Do we need council or certifier involvement?

A like-for-like replacement generally does not, but the new installation must comply with current AS/NZS 3010 and we commission and certify it. Changes to fuel storage volume, location or exhaust can need approval — we flag that in the proposal.

Is it worth upgrading just the controller?

Often, if the engine and alternator pass a load test. A modern controller and ATS give remote monitoring, reliable auto-start and spare parts availability for a fraction of a new set. It buys time, not decades.

What is the old generator worth?

Sometimes something, sometimes only scrap value. We will tell you honestly after the survey and can arrange resale or trade-in against the new set.

Got an ageing generator on the risk register?

Call (08) 6385 1104 or request a generator quote online. Send us your load schedule, drawings or a photo of the existing set and we will come back with a sized, priced proposal.