Generator PTO Generator questions

[bx24d]

I would like to purchase a PTO Generator to have portable electricity around the property for small power tools and temporary lighting. I don't know much about these but I have read some of the past threads. Still have some questions before I make the plunge.

Are there any PTO Generators that connect to the three point hitch only? What other options are there for easy connection to the tractor and portability?

The PTO Generators I've seen are from Northern Tool and are rated at 7200 and 13000 w. For the time being, I'll be using my BX 23 (17 PTO Horses). I know from reading the threads that 17 horses won't be able to power more than 8000w. However, I'm planning on trading up to a higher horsepower tractor soon (around 35 horse). So, if I purchase the 13000 w generator, can I use my bx 23 with 17 PTO horse to power it at about 60% capacity? Then, when I trade up in tractors, I'll be able to power the full 13000.

There are likely other considerations and I would love to hear them from members who've been there, done that.

 

[Jim_Fisher]

I would like to purchase a PTO Generator to have portable electricity around the property for small power tools and temporary lighting. I don't know much about these but I have read some of the past threads. Still have some questions before I make the plunge.

Are there any PTO Generators that connect to the three point hitch only? What other options are there for easy connection to the tractor and portability?

The PTO Generators I've seen are from Northern Tool and are rated at 7200 and 13000 w. For the time being, I'll be using my BX 23 (17 PTO Horses). I know from reading the threads that 17 horses won't be able to power more than 8000w. However, I'm planning on trading up to a higher horsepower tractor soon (around 35 horse). So, if I purchase the 13000 w generator, can I use my bx 23 with 17 PTO horse to power it at about 60% capacity? Then, when I trade up in tractors, I'll be able to power the full 13000.

There are likely other considerations and I would love to hear them from members who've been there, done that.

Most ag pto generators are mounted on small trailers. I bought a 15kw unit about nine years ago from a local manufacturer and mounted it on a three point carrier that I bought at Tractor Supply. My reason for doing this is that it is easier to use for the non power outage odd jobs that you describe. If I have it mounted and want to use the loader, it serves as a counterweight and I don't have to manage backing a trailer. Another advantage of the three point mount is that you can adjust the drive line alignment to where it is almost straight by setting the height of the three point and leveling it with the top link.

When I bought mine, the conventional wisdom was to size the generator a bit larger than the tractor. That way, an overload will simply pull the tractor engine rpms down without damaging the generator. As far as I know, that is still the case.

With plans to purchase a 35 hp tractor, you might want to consider a 20 - 25 kw unit.

Another consideration is the design speed. The 15kw unit that I have is designed to run at 3600 rpm to deliver current at 60 hertz. Some of the larger units deliver 60 hertz at 1800 rpm, which is said to increase the life of the unit.

When I purchased mine, Y2K was looming on the horizon. Generators of any kind, both new and used, were in short supply. This is no longer the case. If you live in an agricultural area, you may be able to find a used pto generator at a reasonable price.

 

[Squeak n Itch]

Good question.

For "small power tools and portable lighting" the smaller unit would power 72 100 watt light bulbs. I do not know of any small power tools that would come close to using 1/2 of the available power from the smaller unit. The first question for any generator application is always, "what are your maximum power needs?" Once that is answered the rest falls into place nicely.

A PTO unit has the advantage that you are relatively certain that the engine has been maintained and is ready to go.

Good luck.

 

[xlr82v2]

I'm by no means a generator/electrical expert, but to my way of thinking, I'd rather have more HP than necessary rather than less, especially if computers or anything that might be sensitive to frequency might be powered off of the generator. The generator's overload protection (circuit breakers) can handle any overload that should occur. You also have to think about the equipment that you're powering, as well as the generator. Some things don't respond/tolerate well to frequency excursions... (tractor lugging down = frequency dropping below 60 hertz).

That's my way of thinking about it... but like I said, I'm no expert by any means.

 

[John_Mc]

For small power tools and temporary lighting, all you need is a few thousand watts. If that's all you're planning on, either of the units you are considering is overkill. If you're set on a PTO powered unit, I'd go with the smaller one for the uses you describe. (I use a 4,000 watt stand-alone generator for emergency power during outages at home... I do have to manage loads a bit, and I don't have an airconditioning system to run, but I get by fine).

If you may have other uses for the extra power, you will not hurt your generator by hooking the larger unit up to your BX23. You just won't be able to get the full power out of it... you'll bog your tractor down long before you max out the 13 KW rating.

 

[Rara Avis]

Tractor-Driven Generators: Producing Quality Power

 

[Soundguy]

As another user pointed out.. you can mount the gennies on a 3pt pallet carrier.

I hav ethe northern tools 12.5kw unit and mounted it that way.

More genny than tractor? That's fine... genny won't ever be thermally worked over..

More tractor than genny? Thgat's fine.. tractor won't lug down under heavy genny loads.

More electrical need than genny or tractor can supply.. no good.. tractor will lug alot..or genny will be over worked.

plan your electrical load, and then buy sligghtly larger.. A 13kw genny running a 7kw load is fine... no bad things happen.. and if you do trade up on tractors.. poof.... you got more electrical capacity.. besides.. the $$ savings betwen a 7kw head and the 13kw head just aren't that much in the long run..

soundguy

I would like to purchase a PTO Generator to have portable electricity around the property for small power tools and temporary lighting. I don't know much about these but I have read some of the past threads. Still have some questions before I make the plunge.

Are there any PTO Generators that connect to the three point hitch only? What other options are there for easy connection to the tractor and portability?

The PTO Generators I've seen are from Northern Tool and are rated at 7200 and 13000 w. For the time being, I'll be using my BX 23 (17 PTO Horses). I know from reading the threads that 17 horses won't be able to power more than 8000w. However, I'm planning on trading up to a higher horsepower tractor soon (around 35 horse). So, if I purchase the 13000 w generator, can I use my bx 23 with 17 PTO horse to power it at about 60% capacity? Then, when I trade up in tractors, I'll be able to power the full 13000.

There are likely other considerations and I would love to hear them from members who've been there, done that.

 

[RonMar]

I would like to purchase a PTO Generator to have portable electricity around the property for small power tools and temporary lighting. I don't know much about these but I have read some of the past threads. Still have some questions before I make the plunge.

Are there any PTO Generators that connect to the three point hitch only? What other options are there for easy connection to the tractor and portability?

The PTO Generators I've seen are from Northern Tool and are rated at 7200 and 13000 w. For the time being, I'll be using my BX 23 (17 PTO Horses). I know from reading the threads that 17 horses won't be able to power more than 8000w. However, I'm planning on trading up to a higher horsepower tractor soon (around 35 horse). So, if I purchase the 13000 w generator, can I use my bx 23 with 17 PTO horse to power it at about 60% capacity? Then, when I trade up in tractors, I'll be able to power the full 13000.

There are likely other considerations and I would love to hear them from members who've been there, done that.

Quite a few of the 3PH generators I have seen were homemade, but I am sure there are some manufacturers out there, as it is too good of an idea for someone not to market it.

You are correct, your 17HP will be good for about 8KW continous. It will run that 13KW generator just fine, up to about a 8KW load. You also have to understand that tractor governors are not as good at regulating speed as they don't typically have full throttle/rack authority. This means that you need to keep a closer eye on frequency output, and you will have larger excursions with large load changes. A mismatch of available engine power to generator size is not as efficient, as is a grosly oversized generator to electrical load. The blower on an oversized genny will eat HP unnecessarilly moving unneeded cooling air if the generator is never loaded to capacity. But it will make power. hte larger spinning mass will also be better for surge loads like a well pumnp or air compressor starting, and it will make power. It will also be a good size to your upcomming larger tractor. The governor on that 35HP tractor will also be better at maintaining RPM under large genny load changes.

You might have to re-configure to a possibly different catagory 3PH on the larger tractor though?

 

[Tigers1981]

Check this link out. It may be of some help.

IMD, LLC PTO Generator Accessories

 

[RWolf]

I think you'll find that a 13kw unit will have enough power to handle a medium sized house. If you can ask your electric provider I think you will find that most residencial transformers are in the 10kw neighborhood. I have found that I can run just about anything I need on a 4kw unit. I'm in the process of converting an older 3kw onan rv generator to LP. The conversion is less than $200. I'll get slightly less power but not enough to matter.

However I have thought about getting a PTO generator but I would worry about inclement weather and how they would hold up. That's primarily where I want emergency power for. Also the PTO generator (13kw) out of Northern tools I thought required 45PTO HP. Not sure.

Richard