PGE has a Caterpillar 3516DITA 1850kW high voltage diesel generator set in stock right now — SKU GS4851. This unit is rated at 12470V (12.47kV medium voltage), 60Hz, 1800RPM, open skid mounted, with approximately 480 hours since new. It is sitting in our Santa Clarita, CA yard and priced at $175,000. View the full listing here.
This guide covers everything a buyer needs to know about the CAT 3516DITA platform, who needs a 12470V generator, how this unit compares to other 1500-2000kW options, and what to inspect before purchasing.
The unit we are selling — SKU GS4851 — is a Caterpillar 3516DITA diesel generator set rated at 1850kW standby, 12470 volts, 3-phase, 60Hz, 1800RPM. It is pre-owned with approximately 480 hours since new. That is barely broken in for a 3516 engine platform that Caterpillar designed to run 20,000+ hours between major overhauls.
Here are the specifics:
Two things make this unit unusual. First, the hours. A 480-hour 3516 is functionally a new engine wearing used paperwork. These engines do not even finish their break-in period until 500 hours. Second, the voltage. Almost every used 3516 on the market is a 480V unit. Finding one wired for 12470V narrows the search dramatically, which is why this unit has value to the right buyer.
The open skid configuration means no sound attenuation — this unit runs loud. It is built for installations where noise is not a constraint: power plants, remote industrial sites, utility substations, or facilities that already have a generator building. If you need an enclosure, PGE sells sound-attenuated enclosures separately and can discuss packaging options. But the open skid keeps the price lower and the maintenance access unrestricted.
See all photos and specs for the GS4851 here.
Most diesel generators sell at 480 volts. That is the standard distribution voltage for commercial and industrial buildings in the United States. So why does a 12470V generator exist, and who buys one?
12470 volts — written as 12.47kV — is a medium voltage class used for primary electrical distribution. It is the same voltage that runs on the utility power lines in your neighborhood. When a facility is large enough that it has its own medium voltage distribution system, a 12470V generator connects directly to the medium voltage bus without requiring a step-up transformer.
Here is who specifically needs a 12470V generator like this CAT 3516DITA:
The practical advantage of medium voltage generation is simple: at 1850kW, a 480V generator pushes about 2,225 amps. A 12470V generator producing the same 1850kW pushes only about 86 amps. That means smaller conductors, smaller switchgear, smaller conduit, and lower installation cost for the electrical distribution side. For any run longer than about 200 feet from generator to main switchgear, the installation savings on a medium voltage unit can be significant.
The trade-off is that medium voltage equipment — switchgear, cabling, terminations, and protective relaying — requires qualified MV electricians and more sophisticated protective relaying. You are not plugging this into a standard 480V ATS. But if your facility already operates at 12.47kV, this CAT 3516DITA 1850kW unit connects directly to your existing medium voltage bus. No step-up transformer, no additional losses, no extra footprint.
The “DITA” in CAT 3516DITA stands for Direct Injection Turbocharged Aftercooled. This tells you exactly what the engine is: a mechanically-injected (not electronically-controlled), turbocharged, aftercooled version of Caterpillar’s 3516 platform.
Caterpillar’s 3500 series is the most widely deployed large diesel engine family in the power generation industry. The 3516 is the V-16 variant with 69 liters of displacement. Here is where the DITA sits in the 3500 generator lineup:
For a buyer evaluating this GS4851 3516DITA, the mechanical injection system is actually an advantage in certain contexts. Utility peaking plants and remote industrial sites often prefer mechanical engines because they can be maintained by any competent diesel mechanic without Caterpillar’s proprietary diagnostic software. If your facility is 200 miles from the nearest CAT dealer, a DITA engine is easier to keep running than a 3516B or 3516C that needs an ET (Electronic Technician) software session for certain fault codes.
The 3516 DITA block is identical to the 3516B block. Internal components — liners, pistons, rods, bearings, heads — are largely interchangeable. The difference is the fuel system and the controls. Parts availability for the 3516 DITA is excellent because the 3500 family has been in production since the early 1980s and Caterpillar still supports it fully.
| Unit / SKU | Engine | kW / Voltage | Config | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 3516DITA (GS4851) | CAT 3516 DITA — V-16, 69L, Mechanical Injection | 1850kW / 12470V | Open Skid, ~480 hrs | Medium voltage facilities needing 12.47kV direct bus connection; utility peaking; budget-conscious MV buyers at $175,000 |
| Cummins QSK60 DQKAB (GS4845) | Cummins QSK60 — V-16, 60L, Electronic | 2000kW / 12470V | Weather Enclosed / Sound Attenuated | Medium voltage buyers who need 2000kW and sound attenuation; data centers with MV switchgear and noise requirements |
| CAT 3516 (GS4822) | CAT 3516 — V-16, 69L | 2000kW / 4160V | Open Skid | Facilities with 4160V medium voltage distribution; older industrial plants and water treatment |
| CAT 3516B (GS4790) | CAT 3516B — V-16, 69L, Electronic (ADEM) | 2000kW / 480V | Open Skid | Standard 480V standby power; hospitals, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities with standard distribution |
| CAT 3516C (GS4826) | CAT 3516C — V-16, 69L, Electronic | 2000kW / 4160V | Containerized (ISO) | Modular deployment for data centers and industrial sites; walk-in maintenance access; structural weather protection |
This is the section most buyers skip, and it is the one that costs people money when they get it wrong.
Generator voltage is not a spec you upgrade for bragging rights. It is determined by your facility’s electrical distribution architecture. Buy the wrong voltage and you are adding a transformer — or worse, rewinding an alternator — after delivery.
Here is the breakdown:
480V (low voltage, standard): This is what 90%+ of commercial and industrial generators in the US are configured for. It matches standard building distribution voltage. Your ATS, your switchgear, your downstream panels — all 480V. If your facility main switchboard is 480V, buy a 480V generator. Period. There is no advantage to buying a medium voltage unit and stepping down.
4160V (medium voltage): Common in older industrial plants, large water treatment facilities, and some utility applications. PGE has a CAT 3516 2000kW at 4160V (GS4822) and a containerized CAT 3516C 2000kW at 4160V (GS4826) for buyers in this voltage class.
12470V / 13800V (medium voltage, utility-class): This is the voltage on the power lines outside your building. Generators at 12470V or 13800V are built for facilities that distribute power at primary voltage — utility peaking plants, large campus distribution systems, and hyperscale data centers with medium voltage architecture. This CAT 3516DITA at 12470V falls in this category.
A critical point: you cannot simply “re-voltage” a generator. The alternator windings are specific to the output voltage. Converting a 480V alternator to 12470V requires a complete alternator rewind or replacement — a $30,000-$60,000+ job depending on frame size. That is why a factory-configured 12470V unit like the GS4851 has real value. The alternator is wound, insulated, and tested for medium voltage service from the factory. No compromises, no field modifications.
If you need 12470V and you are shopping the used market, your options are limited. Most dealers stock 480V units because that is where the volume is. PGE also has a Cummins QSK60 DQKAB 2000kW at 12470V (GS4845) if you need more power or prefer the Cummins platform. Between the CAT 3516DITA at 1850kW for $175,000 and the Cummins QSK60 at 2000kW for $295,000, PGE has the medium voltage market covered at this power level.
At the 1500-2000kW power level, three engine platforms dominate the used market: the Caterpillar 3516 family, the Cummins QSK60, and the Kohler 2000REOZMD (which uses an MTU 16V4000 engine). Each has a different value proposition.
Caterpillar 3516 (1850-2500kW): The largest installed base at this power level. CAT dealer network is unmatched. Resale values hold better than any other brand. The 3516DITA, 3516B, and 3516C share a common block architecture, so parts commonality across the family is high. The drawback is that Caterpillar parts carry a price premium — you pay more at the parts counter for the CAT name. Our CAT 3512 guide covers the smaller sibling in the 3500 family if 1850kW is more than you need.
Cummins QSK60 (2000-2500kW): The QSK60 is a 60-liter V-16 that Cummins builds specifically for the 2000kW power band. Fuel consumption is competitive with the 3516. The PowerCommand control system is well-regarded and widely understood by generator technicians. Cummins parts are generally 10-20% less expensive than equivalent CAT parts. The used market for QSK60 units is strong. Read our Cummins QSK60 guide for a deep dive on that platform.
Kohler 2000REOZMD (2000kW): Kohler builds their 2000kW genset around the MTU 16V4000 G63 engine — a 76-liter V-16 manufactured by Rolls-Royce Power Systems (formerly MTU Friedrichshafen). The Decision-Maker 3500 controller includes built-in paralleling capability. The sound-attenuated enclosure on the REOZMD is among the quietest at this power level. The downside is a thinner dealer network compared to CAT or Cummins. We have a dedicated Kohler 2000REOZMD guide if that platform interests you.
For this specific buying scenario — a buyer who needs medium voltage output — the competitive set narrows considerably. The CAT 3516DITA at $175,000 and the Cummins QSK60 DQKAB at $295,000 are the two medium voltage units PGE has in stock. The CAT is 1850kW, the Cummins is 2000kW. The CAT is open skid, the Cummins is weather enclosed and sound attenuated. The $120,000 price difference reflects the enclosure, the 150kW higher rating, and the Cummins’ electronic control system. If you need the power and the sound attenuation, the Cummins is the pick. If you need a cost-effective medium voltage unit for a facility that already has a generator building or where noise is not a factor, the CAT 3516DITA GS4851 is hard to beat at this price.
Used CAT 3516 pricing varies by variant, hours, voltage, and enclosure. Here is what the market looks like right now:
The medium voltage premium is real but hard to quantify precisely because so few 12470V units hit the used market. When a buyer needs 12470V, they typically have two options: buy a 480V unit and pay $30,000-$60,000+ for an alternator rewind, or find a factory MV unit. The math on the GS4851 at $175,000 looks solid when you factor in the avoided rewind cost.
Any buyer looking at a pre-owned 3516 — DITA, B, or C — should be evaluating these areas. For the GS4851 specifically, PGE can facilitate any of these inspections at our Santa Clarita yard. Call (818) 484-8550 to schedule.
PGE can arrange a witnessed load test and full mechanical inspection on the GS4851 at our facility. We are located at 26764 Oak Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
DITA stands for Direct Injection Turbocharged Aftercooled. It describes the fuel delivery and air induction system on the engine. Direct injection means fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber (as opposed to pre-chamber injection on older CAT engines). Turbocharged means exhaust-driven turbochargers compress the intake air. Aftercooled means the compressed intake air passes through an intercooler before entering the cylinders, increasing air density and power output. The DITA designation specifically indicates a mechanically-injected engine — no electronic engine control module. The GS4851 in PGE’s inventory is this exact configuration.
This generator was built for a facility that distributes power at medium voltage — 12.47kV. Large industrial plants, utility peaking stations, data centers with MV switchgear, and campus distribution systems use medium voltage because it reduces current (and therefore cable size and losses) over long distances. At 1850kW, a 480V generator pushes about 2,225 amps. The same 1850kW at 12470V pushes only about 86 amps. The alternator on the GS4851 is factory-wound for 7200/12470V output. It cannot be re-tapped to 480V — that would require a complete alternator rewind or replacement.
Not economically. Converting from 12470V to 480V requires a complete alternator rewind — replacing all the stator windings with conductor sized for the higher amperage at lower voltage. On an alternator this size, a rewind costs $30,000-$60,000+ and takes several weeks. You would be better off buying a 480V unit. PGE stocks multiple CAT 3516 units at 480V including 3516B and 3516C variants. Call (818) 484-8550 if you need 480V — we almost certainly have a unit that fits.
The CAT 3516DITA at 1850kW and the Cummins QSK60 at 2000kW are competitors in the same general power band, but they differ in important ways. The 3516DITA is mechanically injected — simpler to maintain in the field but less fuel-efficient than the electronically-controlled QSK60. The QSK60 has a 60-liter displacement versus 69 liters on the 3516, meaning it produces similar power from a more compact package. PGE stocks both in medium voltage: the CAT 3516DITA 1850kW at $175,000 and the Cummins QSK60 DQKAB 2000kW at $295,000. Read our QSK60 guide for the full Cummins breakdown.
Caterpillar publishes a major overhaul interval of 20,000-24,000 hours for the 3516 platform in standby service, depending on load factor, fuel quality, and maintenance adherence. In prime or continuous duty, the interval drops to approximately 12,000-16,000 hours. The GS4851 at approximately 480 hours has used roughly 2% of its first overhaul interval. A major overhaul on a 3516 — liners, pistons, bearings, heads, turbos, injectors — typically runs $80,000-$120,000 at current parts pricing. That overhaul is decades away on a standby unit running 200 hours per year.
Yes. PGE ships generator sets from our Santa Clarita, CA facility to anywhere in the continental United States. A unit this size — 40,000 lbs, 23 feet long — ships on a flatbed or step-deck trailer. PGE can arrange freight or the buyer can send their own carrier. International shipping is also available. Call (818) 484-8550 for a freight quote on the GS4851 to your location. We also buy generators and accept trade-ins nationwide.
The Caterpillar 3516DITA 1850kW diesel generator set — SKU GS4851 — is sitting in PGE’s Santa Clarita, CA yard right now. 12470V medium voltage, approximately 480 hours since new, open skid mounted, priced at $175,000. This is a factory-configured medium voltage unit with a barely broken-in engine on a platform Caterpillar built to last 20,000+ hours.
Medium voltage 3516 units do not sit on the used market for long. If your facility needs 12.47kV backup power at the 1850kW level, this is the unit. Call PGE at (818) 484-8550 or view the listing below.
