Generator pto generator

[Soundguy]

I agree... I have an oscope DVOM with record and hold.. etc..

I checked my utility ( progress energy ) and my output of my northern pto gen, powered by my 1952 ford 8n.. surprisingly.. the utility had looser frequency tolerance. I was constantly getting a +/- 1 hz variation on the utility.. and only rarely getting it on thegen.. on similar electrical loads including incandescent, electronic, and inductive ( power tools ).

Also keep in mind that today.. most electronics are not 'tied' to line frequency anymore for proper operation.. most tv's made in the past decade or more are 50/60 hz models and / or generate ther own timing. Anything with an xformer dumping to dc won't care.. and anything with a switching (triac) power supply should be quite immune... motor starting and running will be the big issues.. and a couple hz won't make a huge difference.

soundguy

The Killawatt is plenty accurate for setting your generator output(and pretty convenient also). It is way more accurate than the tractor or standalone engine governor is People tend to get too concerned with frequency anyway. You don't have to have 60.0000000HZ. You don't even get that from the power company. Most providers probably only advertise +/-10% frequency stability. That is 54-66HZ, and unless you are doing nuclear science, it is perfectly fine to keep the lights on. Most electronic devices these days convert it to DC anyway. In fact, about the only way you might notice you are running 55HZ and not 60HZ without a meter is if you have an old plug in analog clock, as the under freq will cause that type clock to run slow... I would be way more concerned with under or over voltage than under or over freq.

I have compared my Killawatt against my Fluke 87 multimeter, and mine is right on, or at least the errors are way smaller than what it would take to concern me For $22-$30 they are hard to beat, and IMO no one who makes their own power should be without one. They are also real handy to determine exactly how much power you need when choosing a generator.

 

[Soundguy]

I have the 13KW version of this PTO generator from Northern, I run it on a 27HP engine tractor. Works great, our power goes off a lot. I chose a PTO rather than standalone generator because I use the tractor all the time, so I know it will run when I need it. If I bought a standalone I'd have to run it every once in awhile and keep the fuel fresh, one more thing I'll be kicking myself over not doing when it's -20 outside.

Yep.. I know my multi-thousand dollar tractor engine is gonna start.. I'm not so sure about the ?asian? made aluminum whizz-bangs that are being passed as engines for small gas powered appliances these days..

soundguy

 

[amashinga]

Yep.. I know my multi-thousand dollar tractor engine is gonna start.. I'm not so sure about the ?asian? made aluminum whizz-bangs that are being passed as engines for small gas powered appliances these days..

soundguy

Thanks for all the responses. That is exactly my line of thinking Soundguy. I want to maintain one engine, and while I am at it, I would prefer it to be diesel and reliable.

 

[LBrown59]

*First up, I just never have seen the appeal of a PTO generator. JMHO.

But around here you can get a stand alone gas model in the same size and price. And you won't lose the lights and heat if you need to plow the drive or go play on the tractor.

Rob

*Me neither.

 

[Soundguy]

I've been trying to par down my collection of small engine products.. I have it down to a lawnmower and weed wacker and chainsaw.. That's plenty of carbs to rebuild as it is... new gas is junk...

soundguy

Yep.. I know my multi-thousand dollar tractor engine is gonna start.. I'm not so sure about the ?asian? made aluminum whizz-bangs that are being passed as engines for small gas powered appliances these days..

soundguy

 

[Earl Ohl]

You should check out Tiger-power.com. And I think Messicks also sells them. They have a better warranty than most. I have the 15 kw & it runs almost the whole house except the central air.

 

[jimgerken]

Here's another place to consider. I bought their 12Kw model. Its mint, with a fully shock-mounted instrument and control box on top, voltage and frequency meters. Came with a PTO shaft and line cord with plug. All mounted in a super nice tubularsteel frame, 3 point hitch setup.

GenPower

When I bought, it was to replace a nice Honda powered 6500 watt gas powered standalone. I was so sick and tired of cleaning the carb and managing the stale gas (even with stabilizer), and dragging that heavy thing around, and changing the oil, and running it every month just to keep it working, I sold it. Now I spin up the pto powered one every six months with the tractor, and also give the shaft a manual spin a few revs every time I walk by it in the shed, to keep the gearbox gears oil covered. Works for me!

 

[mrutkaus]

Note to Kill a Watt ($30 plug in power meter/freq meter) owners, don't plug it into certain kinds of inverters, it can kill it:

Photovoltaic systems and renewable energy: Solar Electric System Measuring and Monitoring Instruments

Mike

 

[Travelover]

Note to Kill a Watt ($30 plug in power meter/freq meter) owners, don't plug it into certain kinds of inverters, it can kill it:

Photovoltaic systems and renewable energy: Solar Electric System Measuring and Monitoring Instruments

Mike

Tip: Don't plug the Kill-A-Watt meter into a Modified Sine Wave (MSW) inverter. I've read that they can be damaged by doing this.

Good tip, I hadn't heard this before.

 

[schmism]

First up, I just never have seen the appeal of a PTO generator. JMHO.

But around here you can get a stand alone gas model in the same size and price. And you won't lose the lights and heat if you need to plow the drive or go play on the tractor.

Rob

how many engines do you want to maintain? how many fuel sources do you want keep on hand? Do you care how much it cost to run? do you care how efficient it is?

you can really get a 13Kw gas geny for $1350? NorthStar PTO Generator — 13,000 Watt, 24 HP Required | PTO Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment
My search says you cant touch a standalone gas one for less than about twice that.

my tractor already comes easy start because it gets used multi times a week. comes with a 7gal fuel tank. comes with tax free AG fuel in bulk... my tractor was built to run at a constant RPM for long periods...

between a PTO and a stand alone portable gasoline version... PTO wins hands down in my book.

now when considering a permant install standby with transfer switch and all the goodies... then you know im a fan of NG or LP on a 1800rpm engine.