Carter Power Systems

Carter Power Systems is the power generation division of Carter Machinery, the authorized Cat^® dealer for Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and parts of West Virginia. It sells, rents and services Cat generators, transfer switches and switchgear for standby, prime and temporary power. Carter engineers also help design and specify systems, then support them for their working life.

Carter Power Systems serves Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia. Dedicated power systems service locations are in Chesapeake, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Richmond, Salem and Williamsburg, Virginia, and Elkridge and Ocean City, Maryland; however, engineers, technicians and rental equipment move across the whole territory, so you don’t need to be near a particular branch.

Standby power backs up the utility: the generator waits and runs only during outages and testing. Prime power means on-site generators are your main source of electricity, running long hours every day. Temporary power is rented equipment for a set period, such as a planned shutdown, a repair or an emergency. Learn more about power applications.

Buy when you need a permanent solution for prime or standby power — or code requires it, as it does for hospitals. Rent when the need is temporary: a planned shutdown, a repair to your existing generator, storm season, or a new load until permanent equipment arrives. If a rental starts to look long term, Carter will talk through whether buying makes more sense.

Yes. Carter’s field service and rental teams are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In an emergency, call a Carter location for assistance. For a new project, reach out to your service rep or submit a new request.

It depends on what is in the building. Codes such as NFPA 110, NFPA 99 for healthcare, and NEC Articles 700 and 701 establish when emergency or standby power is required and how fast it must come on. Hospitals, fire pumps, exit lighting and some elevators are common examples. Your design engineer confirms what applies, and Carter helps choose the generator that meets it.

The ratings plan for different amounts of use. A Cat^® standby rating assumes about 200 hours a year, up to 500, at an average load of no more than 70%. An emergency standby rating assumes about 50 hours a year, up to 200. Either one can run as long as a real outage lasts; the ratings describe planned use, not a cutoff.

Diesel is the long-standing standard for standby. It costs less up front and stores fuel on site, so it works where there’s no gas line. Natural gas avoids storing and maintaining fuel, and the pipeline keeps supplying gas when fuel trucks can’t get through after a storm, but larger gas units cost noticeably more to buy. Propane can suit small, remote sites.

Stored diesel slowly breaks down, gels and collects water, and a generator’s short test runs won’t use it up. After a few years untreated, it may not run the engine reliably when you need it. Fuel polishing filters and cleans the stored fuel so it stays usable, and Carter offers fuel testing and polishing as part of maintenance.

No. Some facilities back up everything, such as hospitals and wastewater treatment plants. Others back up only what code requires, like the fire pump, exit lighting and one elevator, which is common in dorms and hotels. Many owners add business-critical loads. What you choose to back up drives the generator’s size and cost.

Carter’s rental team answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Submit a rental inquiry outlining your needs, and we will respond promptly. For urgent needs, contact Carter Power Systems at 844.565.1890 for assistance. We will locate the nearest available equipment and start moving it. Our fleet moves across the whole territory, so you aren’t limited to what one branch has on hand.

Yes, and it’s one of the most common reasons customers rent from Carter. Rental generators keep a facility powered while permanent equipment is repaired, replaced or upgraded, or during a planned utility shutdown. Many customers schedule these rentals months or years ahead, from a single small unit to multi-megawatt setups.

As much as you need. Carter can handle delivery, setup, cables, connection planning, fuel and refueling, extra fuel tanks, on-site technicians and monitoring, and removal when the job ends. This is called a turnkey rental. You can also rent smaller units and run them yourself.

By what you need to power. Tell us what the generator will run, where and for how long, and we’ll ask about voltage, connection points and fuel, and walk the site if needed. Many customers turn out to need a smaller generator than they expected, which lowers the cost.

Yes. Along with generators, Carter’s power rental fleet includes battery energy storage (BESS), chillers and other temperature control equipment, air compressors (including oil-free models), air dryers, load banks, fuel tanks and power distribution. One call covers all of it for a planned outage, an event or an emergency.

Yes. Carter Machinery is one of four designated Energy Resource Centers for battery energy storage in the Cat^® dealer network, a designation based on fleet scale, application engineering depth, and deployment history. Every BESS rental is backed by on-site load analysis, hybrid system design, and factory-trained technicians across Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia.

When the utility can’t supply enough power, can’t supply it reliably, or isn’t there at all. Unstable power can also ruin products in sensitive manufacturing environments. Common users include data centers waiting on utility capacity; utilities and co-ops; industrial parks; universities; and oil and gas sites. Some systems also capture engine heat for hot water or steam, called combined heat and power (CHP).

Cost and emissions. Prime generators run thousands of hours a year, and diesel at those hours usually needs expensive Tier 4 exhaust treatment. Natural gas burns cleaner, though urban areas with poorer air quality, like Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., may still require added controls. Cat^® gas generators for prime power are built for pipeline natural gas; propane isn’t a drop-in substitute.

A nearby gas line isn’t enough on its own. The supply must deliver enough volume and pressure for every generator running at once, and local distribution lines often can’t, which can mean a larger or dedicated line from a major pipeline. Carter asks about fuel supply early, along with load profile, site conditions, connection voltage and air permits.

Often, yes. Peak shaving means running your generators during high-cost hours to cut your utility bill. Demand response means the grid operator pays you to supply power (or be ready to do so) during shortages. Both depend on the right controls, emissions permits and grid connection, which should be considered at the design stage. Carter engineers can tell you early whether peak shaving or demand response fits your site. They review your load profile, set up the generators, switchgear and controls to start when the utility calls, and flag permits up front. That includes the extra emissions controls (SCR) that units running regularly need around Northern Virginia and DC.

In island mode, your generators run on their own, disconnected from the utility, as at a remote site or during an outage. In grid-parallel operation, they run in sync with the utility and share the load, which is what peak shaving and selling power back require. Grid-parallel needs utility approval to connect and more advanced controls. A related setup, bridge to grid, runs on-site power until a utility connection is ready. Carter designs and builds the switchgear and controls for either mode, often in one system that does both. Carter also helps start the utility approval early, because some utilities move faster than others.

N+1 means one spare generator beyond what the load needs, so a single failure doesn’t drop the facility. 2N means two complete systems, each able to carry the full load on its own. 2N gives the most protection, but roughly doubles the equipment and space. The right choice depends on your uptime commitments, budget and footprint. Carter’s engineers can lay out both options.

On-site natural gas generation can fill the gap. For example, if a campus needs 500 MW and the utility can deliver 350 MW, a prime power plant can supply the rest, either permanently or as a bridge until utility capacity arrives. For shorter gaps, rental generators can cover the difference. Gas supply and air permits are usually the longest-lead items. Carter helps start those conversations early.

Large backup generators usually need an air permit from the state environmental agency, such as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality or the Maryland Department of the Environment. Permits typically limit run hours and can require added emissions controls, especially in Northern Virginia, where air quality rules are stricter. Carter provides the emissions data your permit application needs.”

Yes. Carter’s rental team plans and runs temporary power for scheduled outages, including setup, fuel, monitoring and removal. On one recent job at a large Northern Virginia campus, more than 20 trailer-mounted generators carried the site for a week-long planned outage.

Three are central: NFPA 99 sets the requirements for healthcare facilities, NFPA 110 covers how the emergency power system must perform and be maintained and tested, and NEC Article 517 covers the wiring. Hospital life-safety circuits must get power back within 10 seconds of an outage. Codes set a minimum, so Carter also advises on redundancy, room to grow and ease of maintenance.

This is common. Many hospitals designed only a decade ago are now short on emergency power, often because hotter summers add cooling load. Options include adding generators to the existing paralleling system, adding switchgear sections, or, on larger projects, moving to a medium-voltage design that allows far more generators. Rental power can carry the hospital during the cutover so the emergency system is never left uncovered. Carter engineers can assess your system and help you choose the right path.

Build it into the design. Transfer switches with bypass let technicians service or replace a switch while the hospital stays protected. Permanent connection points for portable load banks and temporary generators let crews test or swap equipment without shutting down switchgear. Codes don’t require these features, but they save significant time and money over the system’s life. If your system doesn’t have them, Carter’s testing and service teams can schedule load bank tests and maintenance around patient care, with rental generators covering the hospital. Carter engineers can also look at adding bypass switches or connection points to your existing system.

Inspectors expect proof that generators and transfer switches were tested on schedule, plus maintenance reports and oil, coolant and fuel sample records. Done by hand, that can mean a day of walking to each transfer switch and writing up results. Newer Cat^® paralleling switchgear can include a Joint Commission testing screen that runs the required tests from one location and prints the report, often in about an hour.

For a typical hospital diesel system: Every week, inspect the generator and its components. On a monthly basis, run each generator under load for at least 30 minutes, at 30% or more of its rating, and test the transfer switches. Annually, if monthly runs can’t reach 30% load, perform a load bank test. Every 36 months, run the system for at least 4 hours at 30% or more of its rating. Facility staff usually handle weekly checks. Carter can handle the rest, keep the records, and have a technician on site during testing.

Carter Machinery’s marine team, based in Chesapeake, Virginia, with marine shops in Elkridge and Ocean City, Maryland. Technicians go to the vessel, at the pier or in a shipyard, for repairs, maintenance, and overhauls, and they travel beyond the region when a customer’s boat is elsewhere. You can reach the marine team directly: Marine sales, 443.776.3832. Marine service & support, 757.995.7513.

The Carter team mobilizes as fast as parts and people allow, because a boat earns nothing at the dock. On one recent emergency, a dredge lost an engine and Carter technicians were on site within 24 hours, working long days to get it back in service. For emergency support, call marine service at 757.995.7513, or reach out to our Chesapeake, Elkridge, or Ocean City locations.

An overhaul rebuilds your existing engine. A repower replaces it with a new engine, often with new transmissions and controls. On large engines, a repower can cost about the same as an overhaul, and it also makes sense when parts are hard to find or a contract calls for cleaner emissions. Carter can quote both side by side.

Yes. After major service, Carter updates the vessel’s technical file with every changed or superseded part, so it’s ready for ABS and Coast Guard review. When major components such as crankshafts are replaced, Carter arranges ABS certification. Carter also performs the annual ABS safeties and shutdowns inspections for commercial and government vessels.

Cat propulsion engines and marine generator sets across commercial, government and pleasure craft, from high-performance pleasure craft engines to the large 3500 Series engines that power diesel-electric workboats. Carter also sells new Cat propulsion engines, generator sets, transmissions and vessel controls, and can upgrade many older engines to a cleaner emissions tier during an overhaul.

Yes. Carter’s Engineering Services team can engineer a complete customer replacement around your vessel’s application and your naval architect’s specifications, covering the controller, cabinet, alarms, monitoring, and remote annunciation. Every system is designed, built, programmed, and tested in-house before it ships, so your dry-dock time goes to installation and commissioning, not troubleshooting. Learn more about Engineering Services.

Start with the load list and motor starting, then factor in site limits like footprint, sound and fuel, and whether one large unit or several paralleled units fits better. Carter’s application engineers work through these with you and recommend a configuration. To start on your own, Caterpillar’s SpecSizer gives a first size and model. It needs a Caterpillar account, and Carter can review the result.

It depends on your load, how much redundancy you need and how the facility will grow. Paralleled units keep critical load covered when one is down for service, and you can add units later. A single unit is simpler and needs less switchgear. Too much redundancy has a cost too, because underloaded generators run inefficiently. Carter’s engineers can compare both options for your project.

Call 844.565.1890 to reach the Carter application engineer for your region. You can send either general inquiries and in-depth project details through Talk to a Power Specialist for prompt assistance. If you already have a specification, upload it through Send Your Specs, and a Carter engineer will review it.

Caterpillar sells worldwide, so many listed models are built for 50 Hz power or aren’t EPA certified for U.S. use. U.S. projects generally need 60 Hz, EPA-certified models. Carter’s model information focuses on generators available for U.S. projects. Carter can help with international projects separately

It depends on the generator size, the enclosure and the tank, which usually sits underneath the generator and adds height. Carter’s configuration table lists the total footprint, height, weight, breaker height and door swing for each model with each enclosure and tank option, so you don’t have to add up separate spec sheets. Leave extra room for service access, door swing and any clearances your local code requires.

Divide the tank’s usable capacity by the generator’s fuel use at that load, in gallons per hour. For example, a 200-gallon tank on a generator burning 8 gallons per hour at full load lasts about 25 hours. At half load, fuel use drops and run time goes up. The configuration table lists run time for each tank option.

Sound depends on the generator’s size and its enclosure. A weather-protective enclosure keeps out rain and snow, and sound-attenuated enclosures add insulation and baffles to cut noise further. The configuration table lists the sound level for each model and enclosure, measured at a set distance, so you can check it against local noise limits.

Call the Carter application engineer for your region at 844.565.1890 or submit the model and the enclosure and tank options you’re considering through Talk to a Power Specialist. We’ll send the dimensions, weights, sound levels, and fuel data you need for your spec. We can answer questions about any model, listed or unlisted.

Usually the generator spec sheet, enclosure data, fuel tank data, and installation drawings. The library groups the documents Cat^® publishes for each model. For the assembled unit’s dimensions, weights and sound levels with enclosure and tank, use the Model Configurations tool.

Documents come straight from Caterpillar’s product data, so they update when Cat releases a new revision. If you need to confirm a revision for a submittal, ask your Carter application engineer.

We review it against current Cat^® models, current EPA emissions tier requirements, and the application details you share with us. Where the spec references outdated models, superseded requirements, or competitor equipment, we rewrite those sections to reflect what’s current and what works for your project.

No. We rewrite the specification language to match your application. If we identify a mismatch between what the spec calls for and what’s available or code-compliant, we’ll flag it and discuss it with you before making any changes.

We’ll follow up to understand the project before we can do useful work on your spec. That conversation is technical, not a pitch. If Cat equipment is the right answer for your project, a well-written spec makes that clear.

Even better. Send the spec and tell us the model in the optional notes field. We’ll confirm it’s the right fit, update any outdated language, and make sure the enclosure, tank, and installation requirements are current.

Carter covers the whole system, not just the generator. Carter’s engineers design and build controls and switchgear retrofits, system upgrades and custom panels, tested in Carter’s shop before installation. Service covers planned maintenance, emergency repairs, engine overhauls, fluid analysis and fuel polishing. Testing covers load banks, transfer switches, switchgear, breakers and infrared scans. Carter also handles larger jobs, like replacing a generator by crane. One provider means one schedule, one set of records and one number to call.

Yes. Contact us for a repair, a one-time inspection, or a test at any time. If you want regular service, Carter can set up a maintenance agreement. Explore service agreements.

The equipment still works, but if that part fails, there may be no replacement to install. Generator and transfer switch controllers typically get about 15 years of manufacturer support, and many older breakers can’t be sourced at all. Carter’s engineers can retrofit current parts into the equipment you already have, so the work happens on your schedule, not after a failure.

Yes. Carter’s engineers design and build custom control cabinets, switchgear and transfer switch upgrades, and panels that connect generators to building automation, on Cat and other brands’ equipment. Everything is tested in Carter’s shop before installation. Tell us what the equipment has to do, and an engineer will follow up.

Usually. You keep your existing equipment, and Carter replaces the controls. For generators, the upgrade uses current Cat controllers built to your engine’s serial number. For transfer switches, it works across brands, including Zenith, ASCO, and Westinghouse. Everything is built and tested in Carter’s shop first. For smaller transfer switches, a new switch often costs less, and Carter will tell you so.

Usually retrofit. The breakers, bus, and steel cabinets can last for decades, but the electronic controls inside typically get about 15 years of manufacturer support. Carter can replace just the controls, in Cat switchgear or other brands, which is often far less disruptive and costly. Carter can also fit current breakers into older lineups when the originals can no longer be sourced. Plan the upgrade before a part fails that can’t be replaced, so you can budget for it instead of paying for an emergency fix.

It depends on the system, but every retrofit follows the same steps: assessment, design, your engineer’s approval, building and testing in Carter’s shop, installation and on-site testing, then training. Shop testing keeps time on site short. Work is usually staged one generator or section at a time, and rental power can cover any gap, so the facility stays protected.

Yes, for many Cat engines. Ask a Carter engineer what’s available for yours.

Yes. Carter builds communication panels that collect data from the generator controller, fuel monitoring, battery charger, and other components, then convert it to the protocol your building automation or electric power monitoring system (EPMS) uses, such as Modbus, BACnet, or TCP/IP. Panels are tested and pre-configured in Carter’s shop. Carter also builds custom touchscreen operator panels and annunciators.

Carter offers three levels. An annual inspection while the switch is running includes a visual check, voltage readings, an infrared scan for hot spots, and a live transfer test. An annual deeper service with the switch shut down adds cleaning and checking contacts, tightening connections, lubrication, and a contact resistance test. A quarterly agreement combines three running inspections and one deeper service a year, and every level comes with a written report.

Carter recommends inspecting switchgear at least once a year. NFPA 70B bases the schedule on the equipment’s condition and how critical it is, so older or heavily loaded gear may need attention more often. Carter offers three levels of service, from a basic inspection with an infrared scan up to full breaker and protective relay testing. These can be added to your maintenance agreement or scheduled on their own.

A load bank is portable equipment that puts an artificial electrical load on a generator, so you can prove it carries real load without risking your building. It’s needed when regular test runs don’t reach enough load. NFPA 110 calls for an annual load bank test when monthly runs fall below 30% of the rating. Running a diesel lightly for long periods also causes wet stacking, a buildup of unburned fuel and soot that load bank testing helps burn off. Carter can build load bank testing into your maintenance agreement or schedule it as a one-time test.

Carter’s reports are written to NETA and NFPA standards and include findings, photos, infrared images, and recommended repairs. Hospitals use them to prepare for Joint Commission surveys. When an inspector’s reading of a code is unclear, Carter’s engineers can help you sort out what is required.

NETA, the InterNational Electrical Testing Association, publishes the standards for how electrical equipment such as switchgear, breakers, and relays should be tested and maintained. Testing to NETA standards means results are measured against recognized benchmarks, not a technician’s judgment alone. Carter’s switchgear and breaker reports are benchmarked to NETA.

A CVA is a planned maintenance agreement that keeps your standby generator ready to run when the power goes out, even after months of sitting idle. Carter technicians inspect it on a set schedule, catch problems like worn hoses, leaks and weak batteries before they cause a failure, and keep the records. Once the agreement is signed, Carter manages the schedule. Coverage is built around your equipment and needs, from one visit a year to quarterly service with load bank testing and fluid analysis.

At least once a year, and many owners choose twice a year or quarterly. Hospitals are typically serviced every 90 days to meet inspection requirements. Prime power generators, which run every day, are serviced far more often, based on run hours.

Price depends on the number and size of generators, how many visits a year you choose, which tests are included, such as load bank testing or fluid analysis, and your location. Standby agreements can be quoted quickly. Prime power sites, which run thousands of hours a year, use a long-term service agreement priced around expected run hours over 10 to 20 years.

No. A warranty covers repairs to the equipment itself. A CVA covers the planned maintenance that keeps it ready to run. Carter also offers Cat Extended Service Coverage (ESC), which extends protection beyond the factory warranty.

Carter has sold and serviced power systems in the region for more than 50 years. Many of its sales engineers, service leaders, and engineering staff have 20 to 30 years of experience in the field, so customers often work with the same people for years.

A Carter technician, not a subcontractor. Carter’s power systems technicians are factory-trained and Cat^® Certified, and many customers see the same technicians year after year, so they know your equipment. With more than 500 technicians across the Mid-Atlantic region, Carter has the capacity to cover multi-site fleets and widespread outages. Testing and inspections follow NETA and NFPA standards.

Carter offers the availability of a national rental company, with the largest rental power fleet in the Mid-Atlantic, and the responsiveness of a local shop. What sets it apart is depth: setup, maintenance, overhauls, switchgear testing, and controls engineering all happen in-house, so one team is accountable for the whole system.

Carter is the authorized Cat dealer serving Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware and parts of West Virginia. Carter sells new, used and rental Cat generators, and supports them after installation. Caterpillar doesn’t sell generators directly.

Manassas, which handles power systems service and rental for Northern Virginia. Elkridge serves the Baltimore–Washington area, and Fredericksburg covers the corridor to the south. Engineers, technicians and rental equipment also move in from other locations whenever a job needs them. Contact your nearest Carter Power Systems location at 844.565.1890.

Carter is the authorized Cat^® dealer serving Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware and eastern parts of West Virginia. Contact your nearest Carter Power Systems location at 844.565.1890.

Yes, power systems support is available across the full Carter territory, and any location can reach the power team. Eight locations are hubs for power support and sales: Richmond, Salem, Chesapeake, Elkridge, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and Ocean City. Contact your nearest Carter Power Systems location at 844.565.1890.