Generator PTO Generator Question

[JB4310]

You do realize that some appliances can be damaged by the wrong frequency and voltage. I would at least initially monitor these for each load so you know which loads present a problem. There are many variables here. For example if the generator is lightly loaded and you turn on a load you will probably have a greater voltage and frequency change then if the generator is 1/2 loaded and the same load is turned on. I don't have experience with this, but that is the theory. Does anyone here have direct experience with this? I was not sure from the other comments.

The simple trick I learned was to anticipate the load and set throttle higher, to the high side of acceptable volts and hz then when the load comes on it wont drop out on the low side or at least not as bad.

To bad there was not a way to keep pto speed constant with some kind of electronic control, all these new machines have PCMs/ECMs (mine has cruise control!) seems like it wouldn't be that difficult to implement into the programing. that would be the ultimate in steady, walk away and forget about it, power supply from the pto genny. Not sure what other apps would benefit from such an option but it would be great for the gen.

 

[Soundguy]

All that would need to be done is have computer control of injection pulses and timing.. thus if the ecm kept the engine rpm steady.. then pto rpm would stay steady since it is a locked ratio..

soundguy

 

[JB4310]

It may be different in other states.. but here... ptogen is the cheapest KW's you can make..

soundguy

Especially in the higher kw range (12-15kw and up) even if you can find gassers in that range, that's alot to ask from aluminum combustion chambers running flat out, and diesel stand alones are through the roof$

 

[Chuck-KY]

I appreciate all the information from all the responses. As far as Farmwithjunk's response about the Winpower generator, they do seem to be the premium line available, just out of my price range for no more than I plan on using on. I used to work for a Electrical contractor that sold these units to farmers with large Hog House facilities, they could not be out of fans or water but a few short hours or they had tons of dead hogs, and they depended on their Winpower pto generators for a living, excellant units. And yes they are alternators, not generators, just old habit of referring to them as generators. I am an Electrician just down the road from Farmwithjunk, and we have 4 large 2 pole generators totalling 1600 Megawatts, I'm very familiar with their construction and maintanance, practically all modern generators are 3600 rpm 2-pole construction. I can make do with my 7kw genset I have now, just very bothersome trying to time running the deepwell and everything else. I think my KW load will be about half my KW rating if I use a little common sense, so I think the governor issue will be livable. And I can purchase a 15KW pto unit for $1200 to my house verses $2350 for a standalone of the same KW, plus the fuel usage issue. The standalone has a 30hp gas engine, not terribly fuel efficient by any means compared to the diesel. Thanks again for the information and advise such as JB4310's actual
experience with a similiar setup was appreciated. Thanks again- Chuck

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I don't know of any place i can buy a standalone for cheaper than a ptogenset... I made a post about this in another thread.. I looked in 2 industrial catalogs.. the price difference for the cheapest standalone compared tot he pto genset.. at even KW.. the pto genset was still cheaper.. per KW.. and that was comparing it to a no-brand chinese standalone. All the other more common standalones were 1.5 to 2x$ perKW vs the ptogen.

It may be different in other states.. but here... ptogen is the cheapest KW's you can make..

soundguy

It could be a difference in sizes we are looking at too. I've only ever priced them out online, but I'm looking at the smaller ones in the 6000 to 8000 watt range. That's what my home needs for a back-up, and that's what my tractor will handle.

I checked again at Northern Tool hoping I was wrong, but once again a 7200 Watt PTO Generator including a PTO shaft will be about $1150 and a 7500 Watt standalone $700. I assume shipping will be comparable between the two.

It could also be that there's just not the cheapest of cheap quality PTO genny's like there are in the standalones

 

[aczlan]

It could be a difference in sizes we are looking at too. I've only ever priced them out online, but I'm looking at the smaller ones in the 6000 to 8000 watt range. That's what my home needs for a back-up, and that's what my tractor will handle.

I checked again at Northern Tool hoping I was wrong, but once again a 7200 Watt PTO Generator including a PTO shaft will be about $1150 and a 7500 Watt standalone $700. I assume shipping will be comparable between the two.

you are looking at surge watts, not rated watts, allpower genny is rated for 6000 watts, 7500 surge, the PTO genny is rated for 7200 watts, 7800 surge. a comperable ones would be some like these: Generac GP 7000 Portable Generator 410cc OHV, 8750 Watt, Model# 5625-0, or this: Honeywell Portable Generator 9375 Watt, or even this: Generac GP Portable Generator 8750 Watts, Model# GP7000E
all these are rated for at least 7000 running watts, and at least 7500 surge watts (most are over 8000)
the cheapest is $950 which is only slightly less than the PTO genny's price of $1050 (with the PTO shaft), I would guess that the PTO genny is better built (just from the description) than the other two.
so the cost would be about the same, and the difference would come down to build quality, fuel usage, and convience.

Aaron Z

 

[Soundguy]

I agree... I'd rather pay .. say.. 1000 for a genhead alone.. than 1000 for a genhead and engine.. assuming both genheads made the same KW... IE.. if one head is that much cheaper made that they can throw it together with a lawnmower engine.. i don't think that's what i want to be depending on when the lamps go out!

soundguy