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

[dex3361]

sure I'm not doubting your locked rotor amps... but I bet she might kick over with a hard start aid capacitor.. worth a try anyway.. caps are cheap enough.

duration for hi current will be VERY low.

what size breaker is she running in the service panel?

and the genny.. how is it coupled? getting any loss from a long or low sized transfer wire? my transfer cable is decently beefy .. I think it's #4 4 wire.. bigger than my thumb...

Very well may start with a hard start capacitor. I was standing by the motor starter with my hand on the selector switch and it started to turn but just didn't have the umph to get it rolling. I am going to check the Locked Rotor code letter on the motor and see what the KVA per horsepower runs. If it is close I may try to use a hard start capacitor but it really is not that big of deal. I usually am not using much air when the power is out. I have a small airless compressor that I could use if I absolutely had to have compressed air. I am going to hook the generator up and put some resistive loads on it to see how it performs. I need to put a few hours on it to break in the gear box so I can change the gear oil out.

 

[Soundguy]

if it will kick on a start aid that's cool.. if not and you have other air.. you will be fine.

I have a pancake 4g 120v compressor in the garage for car tires.. and a 120v 30g in the horse barn for small air tasks and tractor stuff.. it used to be my main air... then I got smart and put in that 60g.. don't regret that one bit... let me use 3/4" and 1" air tools

 

[dex3361]

if it will kick on a start aid that's cool.. if not and you have other air.. you will be fine.

I have a pancake 4g 120v compressor in the garage for car tires.. and a 120v 30g in the horse barn for small air tasks and tractor stuff.. it used to be my main air... then I got smart and put in that 60g.. don't regret that one bit... let me use 3/4" and 1" air tools

I saved this compressor from the salvage yard about 10 years ago. It is industrial grade 80 gallon horizontal tank with a 2 stage Quincy compressor that makes about 17 CFM. It was a 3 phase but I put a single phase motor on it. It kicks on at 175#PSI and off at 195#PSI but will go up to 210#PSI before it starts into the service factor amps of the motor. The compressor itself will make air up to 500#PSI but it would have to have a larger motor and a higher pressure rated tank. The tank that I have is and ASME rated tank good for 250#. It has to have a size 1 motor starter to start it. Its not much to look at but has been a real tank of a compressor.

 

[Soundguy]

sounds awesome!

 

[dex3361]

sounds awesome!

Sounds better than it looks but runs as good as it sounds.:thumbsup:

 

[Mudfarmer]

I got the HF generator a couple of years ago. It was sitting in my local HF as an unused return item at half price. I used it during the ice storm we had last winter when power was out. What I like best about it is not having to maintain another small engine. Since it always rains here in the winter, I park the tractor halfway out of the shop and pull the overhead door down as far as it will go.The exhaust goes outside from the front of the tractor and the generator stays high and dry. Only issue I had was finding a cable that fit its plug on one end and my house plug on the other. I think I finally got a fifty footer from the local HOnda/Kubota dealer for about $100.
Mf

 

[dex3361]

I got the HF generator a couple of years ago. It was sitting in my local HF as an unused return item at half price. I used it during the ice storm we had last winter when power was out. What I like best about it is not having to maintain another small engine. Since it always rains here in the winter, I park the tractor halfway out of the shop and pull the overhead door down as far as it will go.The exhaust goes outside from the front of the tractor and the generator stays high and dry. Only issue I had was finding a cable that fit its plug on one end and my house plug on the other. I think I finally got a fifty footer from the local HOnda/Kubota dealer for about $100.
Mf

What size are the conductors? Is it a 4 wire cable?

 

[1969grandpa]

Found this for sale locally, it isn't a HF, its a NT. Its bigger than what I need and more $ and more generator than my L3540 28pto HP its rated but it seems like a good deal. I can't talk him down any more. $2k


New Price! Generator; 27,500 Watts (27kW) - 100 Amps @ 240 volts; PTO driven from your tractor or bobcat; very good condition,used very little,on trailer,w/ drive shaft; NorthStar Generator new: $3000.00; trailer new: $700.00; drive shaft new: $300.00; transfer switch new: $400.00; cable with 100A marine plug new: $300.00 Total new: $4700.00! Buy from me,slightly used: $2000.00 Great for remote construction site,or office,barn or hunting club,Will power up to 2000 sq ft home during power outage. Includes Marine style plug,connector,and 100A cable; as well as 200 Amp transfer switch!

 

[1969grandpa]

Found this for sale locally, it isn't a HF, its a NT. Its bigger than what I need and more $ and more generator than my tractor but it seems like a good deal. I can't talk him down any more.


New Price! Generator; 27,500 Watts (27kW) - 100 Amps @ 240 volts; PTO driven from your tractor or bobcat; very good condition,used very little,on trailer,w/ drive shaft; NorthStar Generator new: $3000.00; trailer new: $700.00; drive shaft new: $300.00; transfer switch new: $400.00; cable with 100A marine plug new: $300.00 Total new: $4700.00! Buy from me,slightly used: $2000.00 Great for remote construction site,or office,barn or hunting club,Will power up to 2000 sq ft home during power outage. Includes Marine style plug,connector,and 100A cable; as well as 200 Amp transfer switch!

 

[Soundguy]

my stepdad has the 24kw northern unit. it's a beast... he got his when i got my 12.5k genny. i keep trying to trade him..