Do you have the Harbor Freight 15KW PTO Generator? What do you think?

[Turbys_1700]

I purchased a 10 KW generator last year on close out at Northern Tool for $800. It is 7.5 KW continuous and has done fine the few times I have run it. It is a Chinese unit. I personally like the PTO units better. I less engine to keep in running order.. When this one craps out I will certainly look at the HF unit.

 

[dex3361]

I bought the stand alone generator because It seems like every time I needed my generator I also needed my tractor. So after the last long duration outage I decided I needed a back up plan. That is why I got the PTO generator. I found in the long duration wide spread outage that diesel was easier to obtain than gasoline.

 

[Victory Pete]

It doesn't hurt the engine to run at PTO speed. They are designed to run this way. It will purr away and last for thousands of hours. Over the course of 20 years I would likely only put 200- 300 hours on a PTO generator and tractor. If I have the generator on the L4400 the engine speed of the tractor will be around 2300RPM. I also have a little air cooled diesel generator 6.5KW that is used now and I will continue to use it sometimes.

I understand it wont hurt the engine, but burning extra fuel just to maintain normal household load is what I want to avoid, that is why I am thinking of a smaller gas unit. It would be great to have a 3PH generator though for other uses, last year a local store needed power during Irene.

VP

 

[dex3361]

Oh I dont disagree with what you are saying mind you. I hate to put the run time on the tractor too. Fuel usage from 25%-100% load on the engine is dependent on the watts used. Below 25% the efficiency drop off a bit. But I have not seen a diesel inverter generator so running it at PTO speed is how it will have to be done.

 

[Ductape]

But I have not seen a diesel inverter generator so running it at PTO speed is how it will have to be done.

I've done a bunch of googling in the past, and have seen some pictures online of (allegedly) diesel inverter generators. Appeared to be Chinese made (duh !)..... but have never seen one here in the states. Definitely the way to go, and I hope they come here soon. A bunch of gas powered inverter gennys here now, seems like the next logical step.

 

[dex3361]

I know that the honda inverter generators are very fuel efficient with varying loads. i assume a diesel inverter generator would be even better.

 

[Soundguy]

I understand it wont hurt the engine, but burning extra fuel just to maintain normal household load is what I want to avoid, that is why I am thinking of a smaller gas unit. It would be great to have a 3PH generator though for other uses, last year a local store needed power during Irene.

VP

fuel usage should be based upon electrical load ( thus mechanical load )

 

[Victory Pete]

fuel usage should be based upon electrical load ( thus mechanical load )

How can that be variable if the tractor RPM stays constant? There is no governor.

VP

 

[OldBrewer]

How can that be variable if the tractor RPM stays constant? There is no governor.

VP

Please don't bite my head off. Most gas and diesel engines have governors. Even my 1948 8N has a governor. When there is more electrical demand, the engine uses more mechanical energy, and fuel usage increases in order to keep a constant rpm. When there is less electrical & mechanical demand the engine takes less fuel to keep the rpm constant.

 

[OldBrewer]

I hooked it up to the BX1500 and run it for about an hour. I did not hook up any power monitoring equipment yet. I ran about 2000 watts of lighting and also turned on the drill press, belt sander and grinder. It stayed rock solid on 60 HZ and didn't really load the BX1500. I tried to start the Shop compressor but that was really asking to much(240V 5HP 23A full load current). To truly evaluate what it will run I need to hook up a power meter and put measured loads on it. I have quick hitches on both the BX1500 and the L4400 and that leaves a PTO shaft issue. The shaft that came with the generator is just right for the BX but to short for the L4400. I have a PTO shaft on order from Agri supply.

How much too short is the supplied pto shaft? I also have a L4400 (HST). If the shaft is only short by a few inches, what about adding one of the drive shaft extensions, or a slip clutch, or an over running clutch? Extension Adapter - 0271033 | Tractor Supply Company I'm glad you posted your comments, now I know if I buy a HF generator the pto shaft is too short, but not by how much. Thanks http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/images/smilies/new/dance1.gif