In short. At 500 kVA — 400 kW at 0.8 power factor, about 696 A per phase at 415 V — a generator stops being a purchase and becomes a small power project. Used and refurbished 500s pass through our workshop steadily, mostly from completed infrastructure jobs and building upgrades, and the saving over new is at its largest in this class. So is the risk of buying blind: at this size a hidden fault costs serious money. Every 500 we offer is load-bank tested first, and you can witness the test at Pedda Amberpet before paying. This week’s stock: WhatsApp 098852 01608.
Where 500 kVA sets earn their keep
Factories with multiple large motors, commercial towers, hospitals, data rooms, cold chains, hotels and mid-size process plants — and construction sites that need one strong set instead of a farm of small ones. Many buyers at this size are also choosing between one 500 and two 250s in parallel; the N+1 capacity calculator puts numbers on that trade-off, and our engineers will give you the arguments both ways — a single 500 is cheaper per kVA, two 250s give redundancy.
What buying used means at this size
The engine is now an industrial machine whose overhaul is a significant event, so provenance and test evidence dominate the decision. Three rules we apply to our own stock, and recommend if you buy anywhere: first, no purchase without a sustained load-bank run — idling proves nothing at 500 kVA; second, alternator insulation and AVR behaviour get tested, not assumed, because rewinding at this frame is a real cost; third, the emission stage is checked against the site before quoting, since a large set that cannot be registered where you operate is worth scrap plus freight. Our inspection covers all three, and the record travels with the set.
As-is against refurbished at 500 kVA
The arithmetic sharpens as the frame grows. A tested as-is 500 with a clean record suits standby duty behind a stable grid. For prime or long-hours duty, the refurbished route — rebuild to the inspection’s findings, then the six-month warranty (rubber and plastic parts, consumables, fuel-quality damage and overloading excluded) — is usually the sound money, because a single major failure on a cheap set can exceed the whole saving. The definitions are on the used and refurbished page; the valuation logic on used generator prices.
The project around the machine
A 500 arrives with real engineering: foundation and vibration isolation, exhaust with CPCB stack height, around 700 A of switchgear and cabling (parallel runs — size them in the cable calculator), AMF panel, changeover or ATS, earthing, and commissioning against the building’s protection. We quote and deliver the whole scope, and have run exactly this class in the field — including a BHEL thermal-project hire and TSGENCO panel work at Nizamsagar.
Talk to us about a 500
WhatsApp 098852 01608 or the enquiry form with your load, largest motors, duty and district. We will tell you honestly whether a used 500, a refurbished one, two paralleled sets or a new machine is the right project — and we buy and part-exchange 500s too.
Questions buyers ask about used 500 kVA sets
What is the price of a used 500 kVA generator?
Set by make, hours, tested condition and emission stage — the spread at this size is wide, which is exactly why test records matter. WhatsApp 098852 01608 for current stock and prices with documents.
How many amps does a 500 kVA generator supply?
About 696 A per phase at 415 V, and 400 kW at 0.8 PF. See the full-load current chart for every rating.
One 500 kVA or two 250s in parallel?
One 500 costs less and is simpler; two 250s keep half your power through any single failure and service event. Run the redundancy calculator, then decide by what an outage costs you.
Can I witness the load test?
Yes — and at this size you should. Workshop appointments at Pedda Amberpet include a load-bank run of the actual set you are buying.
Do you handle the full installation?
Yes: foundation guidance, exhaust and stack, cabling, AMF panel, changeover or ATS, earthing and commissioning — one supplier accountable for the running system, with service after.
Technical content reviewed by D. Srinivas Reddy, Managing Partner and Service Engineer, Reddy Generators. Last updated 1 November 2026.