Data center decommissioning
The full teardown sequence, timelines, data-security rules, and how to sell every stream of equipment — including the copper cable plant most sellers forget. Read the guide →
THE DATA CENTER HUB
The Data Center Equipment Hub.
Everything about data center power equipment in one place — how it works, what it is worth used, how decommissioning works, and where to buy and sell it all.
THE HUB
Everything about data center equipment, in one place.
A data center is a building full of two things: computers that cannot ever go dark, and the power infrastructure that makes sure they never do. This hub covers both sides of that equation — how the equipment works, what it is worth used, how decommissioning works, and where to buy and sell every piece of it.
Start with the guides below, or jump straight to decommissioning if you are taking a facility apart, or selling if you already know what you have.
Selling equipment?
We buy the power side of data centers: UPS systems, generators, switchgear, PDUs, busway, and all the copper cable. Send photos for today’s price.
Buying equipment?
Our used equipment buying guide covers auctions, brokers, and what to verify — plus how to check our current inventory.
THE GUIDES
Data center knowledge base
Eight guides, each one the complete picture on its topic.
Data center tiers explained
What Uptime Institute Tiers I through IV actually mean for power infrastructure — and what tier rating means for used equipment value. Read the guide →
Power infrastructure, end to end
Follow electricity from the utility feed through switchgear, UPS, generators, PDUs, and busway to the rack. The single-line diagram every researcher needs. Read the guide →
Selling a used UPS system
Topologies, kVA ratings, battery age, and brands — what makes a used UPS worth money and what to photograph before you call. Read the guide →
Data center copper cable
Feeders, busway copper, PDU whips, grounding grids — the tons of copper hiding in every facility and how it is valued. Read the guide →
Where to buy used equipment
Auctions, brokers, marketplaces, and direct from decommissioning projects — plus what to verify before money changes hands. Read the guide →
Where to sell data center equipment
ITADs, power-equipment buyers, brokers, and auctions compared — and why splitting the IT and power streams earns more. Read the guide →
Sell to Ironcrest directly
We buy UPS systems, generators, switchgear, PDUs, busway, and copper cable from data centers and decommissioning projects. Get an offer →
Retiring electrician?
A lifetime of wire, panels, and tools has real value. Our guide for retired electricians covers what the shop is worth. Read the guide →
THE SHORT VERSION
What a data center is, in one minute
A data center is a facility built around a single promise: the computers inside never lose power and never overheat. Everything in the building serves that promise. Rows of server racks draw enormous electrical loads, so the building needs industrial-scale power distribution — utility feeds, backup generators, uninterruptible power supplies, and dense copper cabling — plus industrial cooling to remove the heat those servers produce.
Why they retire equipment
Servers refresh every 3–5 years, UPS batteries every 3–5 years, and whole facilities get consolidated or closed as companies move to the cloud. Each cycle pushes working power equipment onto the secondary market.
Why used gear has value
Data center power equipment lived an easy life: climate-controlled rooms, professional maintenance, and standby duty. A ten-year-old UPS from a Tier III facility is often a better machine than a new budget unit.
Where the copper is
Thousands of feet of feeder cable, busway, PDU whips, and grounding conductors. In a full decommissioning, the copper cable plant alone can be one of the most valuable streams — and the most commonly overlooked.
GLOSSARY
The 60-second equipment glossary
New to the terminology? Every term below has a full guide behind it.
UPS
Uninterruptible power supply — battery-backed power conditioning that bridges outages. Selling guide →
PDU / RPP
Power distribution unit / remote power panel — steps voltage down and distributes it to rack rows.
Busway
Overhead modular power distribution with plug-in taps — flexible, and full of copper bars.
ATS
Automatic transfer switch — the device that switches the load between utility and generator power in seconds.
CRAC / CRAH
Computer-room air conditioning / air handling — the cooling units that keep racks from overheating.
2N / N+1
Redundancy math: 2N is two complete independent systems; N+1 is one spare of everything. Tiers guide →
QUESTIONS
Data center hub questions, answered.
What is this data center hub?
A free knowledge base covering data center power equipment: how it works, what it is worth used, how decommissioning works, and where to buy and sell it. It is written by Ironcrest Industrial, a buyer of data center power equipment.
Do you buy servers or hard drives?
No. We buy the power side — UPS systems, generators, switchgear, PDUs, busway, and copper cable. For servers, storage, and anything holding data, use a certified IT asset disposition (ITAD) firm with documented data destruction.
I am decommissioning a data center. Where do I start?
Start with our decommissioning guide: the removal sequence, timelines, data-security requirements, and how to sell each equipment stream for the most value.
Where can I buy used data center equipment?
Our buying guide covers auctions, brokers, marketplaces, and buying direct from decommissioning projects — and what to verify before you pay.
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps to an offer.
01Send photos
Photograph the equipment, nameplates, and quantities in place, then send them through the contact form.
02Material review
We review what the equipment is, its condition and quantity, and how it grades for resale versus recovery.
03Receive an offer
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.