Facts You Need To Know Before Buying a Ground Power Unit

rbl2500 Lithium Ground Power UnitIf you are looking to update and modernise your ground support equipment then you have come to the right place. However, when it comes to ground power units (GPUs), it is especially important that you know what is the right unit for the specific requirements of your aircraft, so take a look at these important facts listed below that you should know before you buy.

 

The Right Power is Vital! 

It may sound obvious, but purchasing a ground power unit with the right level of power for your aircraft is essential. If you are looking to power a general aviation or small aircraft, you will most likely be looking for a 12-volt or 24-volt system, which require 14-volt DC or 28-volt DC power generation. However, for large jets you will be looking at purchasing a GPU in the 400 Hz range, which means that a DC system will not provide enough power for these larger aircrafts.

Of course, if you are not exactly sure what ground power unit you require, feel free to contact us and we will happily inform you what GPU would be best for your aircraft’s specific requirements.

 

Electrical Rectifier Needed? 

These days, all-electrical frequency converters are extremely popular for a number of reasons. Firstly, although they are less portable when compared to gas and diesel power ground power units, they are far quieter – which enables far greater levels of verbal communication – as well as being far more environmentally friendly due to the GPU not requiring gas or diesel power.

However, it is best to check whether you require an all-electrical frequency converter or a gas/diesel powered unit before purchasing.

 

Buying Second-Hand May Be More Costly! 

Let’s be honest, purchasing a ground power unit does not come cheap, whilst the upkeep of them is also quite costly. As a result, many people are tempted to buy a used GPU rather than a new one and, unfortunately, this tends to end up costing far more in the long run. Why? Well, an aircraft GPU is a complex item and, if the second-hand machine you purchased become cantankerous and requires repair, it is actually likely lead to you spending more on fixing the machine than it would have cost you buying a brand new unit that is under warranty.

 

Over-Spending!

When it comes to buying your aircraft GPU, make sure that you are not purchasing a unit that is far more powerful that your aircraft requires. Although it is not dangerous to do this, it means that you end up buying a far more expensive unit than you actually needed, whereas a cheaper, less powerful machine would have been more than appropriate.

At the same time though, make sure that you don’t under-spend either, as purchasing a ground power unit (GPU) that is less powerful than you need will mean that it is unsuitable for your needs and, therefore, will result in your wasted your money.

 

Find the ideal ground power unit for your aircraft thanks to our handy guide, which takes the needs of all individual aircraft into consideration before highlighting the best aircraft GPU for each all manufacturers and models, including Airbus, Beechcraft, Cessna, Cirrus, and EMBRAER.

View our full range of aircraft GPUs here.