14th Sep 2026|Written by Sam Dexter
Replacing an ageing standby set at a Buckinghamshire workshop
Groundwork, construction and landscaping firms run everything from a single base. The headquarters and workshop hold the plant, the fleet, the tools and the office systems that keep every live site moving. Lose power there and the disruption is felt across every job the company has running.
A UK groundwork, construction and landscaping contractor came to us for that reason. Its headquarters and workshop in Buckinghamshire were covered by an older, smaller FG Wilson generator that no longer matched the site's load.
We supplied a brand new Cummins C38D5Q 38 kVA generator to take its place, providing backup power to the whole site in the event of a mains power outage.
The equipment supplied
We supplied a single Cummins C38D5Q diesel generator, a compact 3 phase set housed in a weatherproof acoustic canopy.
Specification:
- Model: Cummins C38D5Q
- Standby rating: 38 kVA / 30.4 kW
- Prime rating: 35 kVA / 28 kW
- Output: 400V 3 phase, 50Hz at 1500rpm, 54.8 amps per phase
- Engine: Cummins X3.3-G1
- Alternator: Stamford S1L2J1
- Controller: Cummins PowerStart 0600
- Fuel tank: 55 litres, giving up to 6.1 hours at 100% prime-rated load
- Build: silent (canopied) - 78 dB(A) at 1m / 68 dB(A) at 7m
- Footprint: 1975mm x 825mm x 1285mm, 842kg wet
- Application: standby power for a construction company headquarters and workshop
Why a groundworks HQ needs backup power
A depot of this type carries a broad mix of loads. Workshop compressors, welders, lifts and power tools sit alongside plant battery charging, fuel dispensing, wash-down pumps and lighting. The office side adds servers, estimating and scheduling systems, CCTV, gates and access control.
None of it looks dramatic on its own. Together it is the difference between a working morning and a wasted one. Vehicles that cannot be fuelled or repaired never reach site, and a job stalled by an outage at head office still has crews, hired plant and subcontractors booked against it.
Useful headroom over the old set
At 38 kVA standby, the new generator gives the site more capacity than the unit it replaces. That headroom matters in a workshop, where motors, compressors and welding sets draw high inrush currents as they start. A set sized too close to the running load will sag or trip under those peaks.
The Cummins X3.3-G1 engine offers strong load acceptance, and the Stamford brushless alternator holds a stable output as loads come on and off. The PowerStart 0600 controller supports automatic mains failure (AMF) operation, remote start and Modbus communications, with digital metering, fault logging and maintenance reminders built in. Being brand new, the set is backed by Cummins' standard manufacturer warranty: 2 years or 500 hours in standby applications.
Why customers choose Global Generators
- Authorised Cummins CPG reseller - the UK's best pricing on Cummins diesel generators, backed by our Best UK Cummins Diesel Generator Prices guarantee
- A leading stockist - a wide range of generators held in our own physical inventory, so a replacement set can be on site quickly rather than waiting on a factory build slot
- Over 50 years of combined experience - we help contractors match the right set to the loads a depot or workshop genuinely draws, not just the rating of the set being replaced
- Fast delivery from the UK and efficient global export - in this case, straight down to Buckinghamshire
Customer Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"3 Days from enquiry to delivery! Excellent service and product!"
Replacing an ageing generator at your depot or yard?
Groundworks, civils, landscaping, plant hire or building contracting: if your existing standby set is past its best or no longer covers the load, our team will help you size the right diesel motor generator to replace it. We supply from our headquarters in Doncaster, UK, with fast nationwide delivery from stock and worldwide export available.
Talk to our power generation experts today. Call us, message us on WhatsApp, or send us an email, and we will be happy to assist.

